As I head into a busy week of training and I put together my one day workshop on career development I decided that with the buzz today on the struggles we face in this economy I want to address an issue I find crucial to today’s workforce.
Below is an article I picked up on Yahoo! hotjobs
Resume Writing 101
Simply put, a resume
is an advertisement that makes the reader act and if your resume is
well-written, the reader should want to interview you. So here are a few tips.
Keep It Simple
Employers want resumes that are simple to understand,
especially when it comes to the skills needed to perform the job and employment
history.
Be sure your resume clearly communicates that you possess
the knowledge and experience needed to perform the job in question. Use the job
description to tailor your resume to the position. Try to avoid industry jargon
and geek words such as "facilitated" or "value-added" when
describing your skills and experiences.
Your resume should also include your dates of employment.
The absence of dates makes recruiters scrutinize your employment history even
more closely.
Features vs. Benefits
Your resume should show how you can benefit an employer --
not just list your features and skills. Past performance is often an indicator of future
performance.
Think about instances where you went above and beyond the
call of duty. Look at past performance reviews to refresh your memory.
Employers want the best employees, and your resume should reflect your value.
Truth in Advertising
You have to have done what you claim you have done on your
resume.
Many employers today take steps to ensure that you have the
background you claim. They have a wide variety of background checking tools at
their disposal.
Background checks can include:
• Reference checks
• Credit checks
• Criminal background checks
• Past employment verification
• Education verification
• Social security number traces to verify identity
If you're dishonest in the hiring process, odds are that
you'll be caught. Rather than waste the employers time -- and your time -- be
truthful on your resume. It's not only the right thing to do, but the smart
thing.
It Takes Two
You can't create a strong resume alone. Everyone needs help,
so do your research, get some assistance then let a fresh eye review your work.
Don't rely on automatic spelling and grammar checking
programs. You need to find an editor you trust. If no one in your immediate
circle of family or friends can help, try other resources. Yahoo! HotJobs and
Monster offer valuable resume tips and advice. Monster has many great tools so
use them. Also remember your local workforce development center or employment
center can help you with mountains of tools to get your resume looking simple
and spectacular.
Staff at your state's employment development office may be
available to review your resume. Staffing agency recruiters may also volunteer
to help you. Writing an effective resume requires practice and feedback. But
once you get the basics down, interviews are sure to follow.
Every word on your resume counts in today's competitive job
market. But some words count more than others -- especially those that refer to
soft skills.
“Soft Skills” are increasingly important in the workplace.
In fact, 86 percent of employers considered soft skills to be among their most
important hiring criteria in a recent survey conducted by a University of
Massachusetts economist.
'Teamwork'
Teamwork is more important than ever in the workplace. The ability to work well with others to accomplish a common
goal is vital for a harmonious workplace.
'Flexibility'
Employers value workers who are flexible and able to juggle
multiple tasks simultaneously. In other words, it's sometimes just as important
to be a jack-of-all-trades as a master of one.
'Detail-Oriented'
Employers want to know that they can trust workers to handle
a project down to the last detail.Bei ng "detail-oriented" means being organized and
meticulous about your work, it also implies that you can work without constant
supervision and act accordingly.
'Self-Motivated'
Employers value employees who are self-starters. These
workers can generate their own ideas and follow them through to fruition. A self-motivated worker goes the extra mile. She regularly
takes on tasks that may not be part of her job description. She's inspired to
work hard not just to reap rewards but also for personal satisfaction.
Enjoy the thrill and satisfaction of putting your
professional life on paper.
