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How To Write A Resume
Jennifer Anthony, Resume Expert
Figure out what you want to do.
You can't write an effective resume if you have no job target.
What I mean by this is you need to tailor your resume to the
specific job you want to apply to. Gone are the days of sending
out 400 copies of the same resume.
Make a list of the jobs you have held that have relevance to
the new job target.
If none exists, what skills did you acquire from those jobs that
apply to the one you are seeking? For instance, if you are
applying for an administrative assistant position, it is
possible that your fast food job does not apply and should be
left off. However, one exception would be if you were in a
managerial position and had restaurant paperwork you were
responsible for (like inventory, ordering, reports, and bank
deposits).
Know what things you should NOT put on your resume. (See
Common Resume Mistakes
http://www.resumeasap.com/common-resume-mistakes.htm).
Make sure you stand out without being excessive.
Start with a blank page (no templates) and work on a design. Now
is not the time to be overly colorful or super creative. Put
yourself in the shoes of a hiring manager. Imagine you have
received 345 e-mails from job seekers within 12 hours of posting
a position. What would catch your eye? Think of what would be a
refreshing change and go for it.
Now for the actual resume content.
There are typically five basic sections in a resume.
* Contact Information - Powerful and complete.
* Headline - State what you are offering.
* Skills Summary - Quickly highlight your relevant skills.
* Professional Experience - Relevant and accomplishment
oriented. Use action verbs to start your sentences and avoid the
word "I".
* Education - List college or trade schools only. Leave off high
school unless you are a recent graduate without experience.
Notice I did not list objective statement. For the reason why,
visit my section on common resume mistakes
(http://www.resumeasap.com/common-resume-mistakes.htm).
Proofread it, have your friends proofread it, and then do it
two more times.
I want to stress how important it is to do this. Check for
spelling errors that the spell checker missed. Print it out and
review it, because this seems to make you read over it more
thoroughly. Watch out for poor grammar, punctuation errors, and
redundancy.
Always send it with a cover letter.
Address the cover letter specifically to the company and job
posting. Make a note of how you heard of the opening and why you
are the best candidate. Hit the highlights of what you have to
offer them so they are intrigued and interested in reading your
resume.
About the author:
=======================================================
Jennifer Anthony is the owner of ResumeASAP, offering
professional and affordable resume writing services.
She also moderates the forums over at Free
-Resume-Advice.com. Come visit us if you need resume advice
or have specific questions about your re
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