|
|
Why Can't You...
Create a Great Resume?
 his page is designed to give you information and resources that
will help you design a resume that will be professional, creative,
and effective. School only lasts for so long and it is
important to realize that you should have a career after school.
We want you to be able to enter the job market with confidence and
the ability to present yourself and your abilities in the best
possible way. |
|
|
Resume Sites |
TheResumeBuilder.com
Instantly create a professional resume
in less than 10 minutes with this website. The site offers a
self-guided resume wizard which lets you create, edit, and view your
resume. Simply fill in the necessary information and the site
will build your resume for you!
Click Here to Start Building Your Resume Now!
Visit the main site at
http://www.theresumebuilder.com/
 |
|
|
|
How Not to Write a Resume |
You
can learn a lot about how to do something right by first learning
what NOT to do. Take resumes, for example. I review
about 200-300 a month, and most have at least 2-3 mistakes. Yet, all
those hundreds of mistakes can be grouped into just a handful of
categories, which you would do well to avoid. Read on and
learn how to write a better resume by avoiding the mistakes of
others, some of them unintentionally hilarious ...
Mistake #1: "Golden Retriever Syndrome"
Never talk about yourself in terms that could also describe a
hunting dog, like the following language, which appears
in far too many resumes I see:
"Hard-working, self-motivated and dependable individual."
Tired
phrases like that mean nothing to employers, because they could
apply to almost anyone ... or almost anyone's dog.
Instead, dump the empty assertions and back
up the claims in your resume with facts, like this:
"Proven sales skills. Ranked in top 3 among 78 reps for 5 straight
years, exceeding sales quotas for 18 of 20 quarters." See the
difference?
Mistake #2: A Verbal Jungle
To improve your resume (or anything you write), read it out loud.
Since writing is just words on paper, reading it aloud will help you
write as you would speak.
Here's an example of language so dense, you'll need a machete to
find any meaning:
"Directed assembly of elements from business units in engineering,
development, program management, distribution, and legal to effect
market research, proposal responses, and contract management into
comprehensive, virtual,
successful teams ..." After reading that three times, I'm
still baffled.
Worse, do you think employers have time to read a resume three times
to figure it out? No. As a result, that job seeker is still looking
for work, I'll wager.
Solution: Read your resume out loud before
sending it out.
|
If you
find yourself gasping for breath halfway through a sentence, stick a
period or dash in there and break it in two. And if anything
you write sounds less than 100% clear when you read it aloud, revise
until it would make sense to your mother. Doing so will ensure that
your resume resonates with readers at all levels, from HR managers
to your future boss.
Mistake #3: Negative Nuance
Just one stray word can derail a whole sentence. You know that. But
in a resume, the wrong choice of words can brand you as
unprofessional or careless in the eyes of employers.
Here's an example of resume wording that gives off the wrong nuance,
even though the facts are clear enough:
"Spearheaded use of resources in Vietnam in spite of resistance from
senior management ..."
I
don't know about you, but "Spearheaded," "Vietnam" and "resistance"
in the same sentence make me think of a John Wayne movie. Which
detracts from what the job seeker is trying to say.
Before sending your resume to employers,
send it to at least 2-3 friends whose judgment you trust.
Ask them to read it for grammar and punctuation, but also for
unintended meanings. Revise as needed.
Mistake #4: Jumbles of Jargon
Some resumes pile on the buzzwords in a vain effort to impress.
Like this:
"New-media pioneer working with technical and business professionals
to create new ways of presenting content
and impactful tools for producing content and organizing workflow."
We'll
pass on "impactful" for now -- what does a "new-media pioneer" do,
exactly? I've got a picture in my head of covered wagons and HD-TV,
but I don't think that's right ....
Again, you can nip most crud in the bud by
reading your resume out loud and then sending it to a friend for
honest input. Because friends don't let friends embarrass
themselves.
Here's hoping that exposing these 4 common resume gaffes will help
you avoid them!
Article by Kevin Donlin, President of Guaranteed Resumes
http://www.gresumes.com
|
|
Seven Tips for Effective Resume Writing |
- Pay
attention to detail—Don't cut corners by, for instance,
not proofreading the cover letter, failing to include information
the hiring manager asked for, or beginning the cover letter "Dear
Sir or Madam" when the hiring manager's name is on the company web
site. Take the time to make sure the correspondence and
information sent is correct and error-free.
- Do the
basics—Proofread for spelling, grammar, and tone, and
make sure you have followed the instructions of the employer.
Firing off an e-mail is a convenient method of communication.
However, don't let the sloppy nature and informality of e-mail
correspondence seep into your communications—whether it's e-mailed
or written—with potential employers.
-
Construct an effective resume—Organize your information
in a logical fashion and keep descriptions clear and to the point.
Include as much work experience as possible, even if it obviously
doesn't relate to the job you are seeking. Also, use a simple,
easy-to-read font.
-
Customize their response—Address the hiring manager
directly, and include the name of the company and the position for
which it is hiring in your cover letter/e-mail response.
- Make it
easy for the hiring manager—Use your name and the word
"resume" in your e-mail header so it's easy to identify. If the
employer asks for information—such as references or writing
samples—provide it.
- Focus
on what you bring to the employer, not what you want from the job—This
is an opportunity for you to market yourself and stand out from
the other candidates. What can you do to make the hiring manager's
life easier? What can you do to help the company?
- Be
professional—You won't be taken seriously if you don't
have e-mail or voice mail/answering machine. If you don't have
e-mail, set up a free account through Yahoo! and Hotmail. Provide
the recruiter with a cell phone number if your voice
mail/answering machine doesn't pick up when you are online. Also,
it's a good idea to ditch the cute e-mail address or voice
mail/answering machine messages in favor of something that sounds
professional.
Sources:
Newsday and
Job Choices
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
Shouting macaw scares of burglar at pet
store
Thursday - January 10
BOSTON (Reuters) - Watch dogs are a pretty common first line of security
for U.S. homes and businesses. Watch birds not so much...
See Full Article |
Couple find nearly $12K in 'cold cash'
Thursday - January 10
JANESVILLE, Wis. - A Janesville couple are hoping they will be allowed to
keep the nearly $12,000 in cash they found in their refrigerator when they
moved into an apartment.
See Full Article |
|
National News links: |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Local
News links: |
|
 |
|
