THE PERFECT RESUME
The resume is what initially speaks for you. It is a vital document that has the potential of impressing the employer and clinching the job for you. It is an important tool in your hand that might just get you the job you want. Therefore, it is imperative that your resume be nothing less than perfect!
Where do I begin?
IDENTIFY YOUR GOAL: before you begin, it is important that you identify the kind of work you want to do. For example, if you want to continue in the same field and job profile you have been working on till now, you don’t need to think much, but in case you want switch your job profile or diversify into a related field, you will have to identify your goal. This may require you to introspect and do some self assessment.
Once you have identified your goal, you have a target job in mind. This will help you to include all the details that will be relevant to the job you are seeking.
UNEARTH ALL YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Spot out and write down all your qualifications and achievements till date. This will include your educational qualifications, work history and/or training certifications on the job or otherwise, special achievements and strengths. Your special achievements and skill strengths will set you apart from other candidates with similar qualifications. It is ideal if your achievements have been in the field pertinent to your target position.
How do I identify my strengths and achievements?
Sometimes people find it difficult to recognize their best skills and may overlook some of their finest attainments. To help you find out what have been your achievements, look at the work you are currently doing or have done till now from the employer’s viewpoint. Has your work benefited your organization? And if so in what way?
If you have done something in your work, you feel particularly proud of, and then it is accomplishment. If possible, analyze it in terms of a challenge, action and result form. For example, what was the challenge and what was the subsequent action that you took? What was the result of your action? If possible quantify your result. You could mention percentages, money amounts or time frames etc., which could add that much needed punch to your resume.
THE VISUAL EFFECT
Analyze your resume impartially. Does it have it in it to stand out among a pile? Will your goals, qualifications and achievements catch the employer’s eye?
The visual effect of your resume is extremely important. It is not necessary to restrict yourself to a single page. What is more important is that you present your most pertinent qualifications and skills with clarity and in a concise manner.
THE FIRST 15 SECONDS
Most employers spend only 15 to 20 seconds in their first glance through a resume. Your resume should be able to catch his attention in this initial 15 seconds, encouraging him to read more. Keep this in mind while you write your initial summary, weeding out irrelevant facts.
The characteristics of an effective resume are:
– A resume should be visually effective that draws attention of the employer. The font should be clear and clean
– A summary of your qualifications that is authoritative and commanding that aims at the job you are applying for
– You should include your achievents in the summary as well as the work history, in order to reinforce them.
– The relevant keywords and phrases highlighted and placed suitably throughout your resume
– An effective and clearly written work history which highlights earlier job profiles which are most relevant to your target job
– A section on your qualifications which will include your educational qualifications, and professional developments such as workshops, seminars attended or training sessions and certifications.
– A list of technical skills if so required
THE INTIAL SUMMARY
The initial summary which you will write on your resume is like the catch line of an advertisement. It will serve to ‘sell’ you to the employer. Highlight and mention all your skills, strengths and capabilities which relate most to the job you are applying. Apart from this, the quality of your writing matters too. You should write concisely, using your best language. Use strong effective words which will make an impact.
WORK HISTORY
Don’t fill up your resume with a list of all the jobs you have held since high school. Mention the jobs which best illustrate your skills and strengths for the present job you are eyeing, and your experience of other jobs can be included separately under additional experience. Validate everything you wrote about your skills and work experience in the summary by going into a little detail. Mention how your skills benefited the organization you worked in. Here too, organize the information such that you mention your most pertinent work experience.
EDUCATION
An outline of your educational qualifications comes at the end. However, if some of your qualifications are relevant to the job you’re seeking, you can mention the synopsis earlier after your initial summary.
Be sure to mention details like the degree, college or institution, location and the grades achieved. Include any seminars attended and any certifications acquired in the continuing education section.
ADDITIONAL POINTS:
You are on the verge of a strong resume. Remember these additional points and you are almost done!
– Write down all relevant personal data. it should include your contact numbers and e mail
– References are only included at a later stage when your candidature is well under consideration.
