11 Steps to a Job Winning Resume
  1. Use the “Action = Results” Formula
    Content is imperative, so specific information that demonstrates your abilities, accomplishments and past experiences are crucial to making your resume stand out. A beautifully designed resume that lacks substance won’t earn an interview.
    Carefully analyze your background to illustrate the right information required to successfully do the job. Stress the action, then be sure to follow it up with the result of that action, such as “Managed the entire financial restructuring of two subsidiaries, which decreased staff and overhead, saving $550,000 annually.”
  2. Be Visually Appealing
    The appearance of your resume can’t be overemphasized. It should catch the eye. Watch for spacing and margins, allow for lots of white space and borders and emphasize your important points with text styles such as italics, CAPITALS, underlining, boldface, indentation and bullets.
    Also, use a computer and get a laser-printed copy of your resume to give it a sharp, professional look, and use high-quality linen or woven paper in white or cream. (It photo copies best in this way)
  3. Be Brief, Concise and Accurate
    Employers scan resumes and decide in less than 60 seconds if you’re worth a call, so brief resumes work best. Be sure to include the features (education, duties & responsibilities) of your job and the benefits to your employers by your performance in that job (what you did to did to add revenue, cut cost, increase product or service quality, save time, etc.). Employers hire benefits not just features!
  4. Target Your Resume
    Employers want specifics on how you can do the job for them. Vague, general resumes that cover many possible job options often get lost among the competition. Target each resume to the job you seek. Although you may qualify for several different positions, it’s better to create a different resume for each job and incorporate only the information pertinent to the specific job title. This will alleviate the tendency to crowd your resume with too much non-related information. Employers react only to related specifics.
  5. Use a Summary of Qualifications
    This is the most important part of your resume. The “Summary of Qualifications” section powerfully illustrates your top selling points in five to six sentences. Employers say this is an ideal way to get noticed – fast.
  6. Show Accomplishments
    Employers like proof that you can do the job. Be sure to demonstrate results of your work and how your former employers benefited (remember employers buy “benefits” not features). Include evidence of your productivity by noting any cost or time savings, and mention innovations, changes or actions that show you actively produce desired results.
  7. Use Action Verbs
    Descriptive action verbs – such as established, analyzed, implemented, created, streamlined, and organized – add power to your sentences. Start each sentence using an action verb.
  8. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread Hands down this was number one with every hiring manager and HR person in the survey. They hate spelling mistakes and typos. Many said, “I stop reading when I find a spelling mistake.” Also, typos scream, “Don’t hire me!” Employers say typos reflect the poor quality of work they can expect from you. And many said they’ve seen mistakes even from high-level executives.
    Proofread! Perfection is a necessity to remain competitive. So don’t simply trust computer spell checker, but read every word to be sure it’s correct.
  9. Be a Skillful Editor
    State your skills, qualifications and experience as positively without exaggerating or misstating the truth. Be sure your job responsibilities are adequately described by your job title and indicate the true level of your abilities. Also show dates of employment and the companies where you’ve worked.
  10. Don’t Include Personal Data or References
    It’s no longer considered professional or wise to include information about marital status, gender, height, weight or health on your resume. This information violates discrimination laws and most organizations are pleased when you don’t include it. Employers know you’ll provide references upon request, so it isn’t necessary to say so at the end of your resume.
  11. The Final Test
    Be sure that your resume answers the following questions: Does it clearly and quickly communicate to employers that you can do the job? Do your strengths come across? Does everything support the job you’re targeting? Should anything be removed? Does it really sell your skills?