10 Vital Tips for Writing a Resume

Your resume or cv, combined with the cover letter,
are the master keys to opening the prospective employer's
mind and door so that you can proceed to the next step in the process.
- the dreaded interview!

WRITING TIPS AND STRATEGIES

Below are 10 valuable tips for anyone writing their own resume.
These tips will be valuable for you to compile a readable
yet attractive resume.


1. Keep It Focused

A resume should be specific and all business.
Don't try to be too smart or cute. After all, you are asking
an employer to invest significant time and money by choosing you
over many other similarly qualified people. Employers mainly want
to know whether you are appropriately qualified and experienced,
and if you are what they are looking for.


2. No More Than Two Pages or It's Too Much

For students, recent university or college graduates, or
people with only a few years of experience, try to keep your resume to one page,
two as an absolute maximum. Even a resume for someone with
30 years or more of extensive working experience, should not exceed three pages.


3. Get the Grammar and Words Spot On

Make sure the grammar, spelling, and punctuation in your resume are perfect.
Any obvious mistakes will hurt your credibility.
Also, be sure to keep the language clear and simple. If you draft it yourself,
have someone with excellent writing skills do an editorial review and a
careful proofread of it.
Use an accepted English language if you want to be sure
of the finer points of word usage, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations, etc.


4. Read Between the Lines

Customize the resume to match the stated requirements of the job that you are
applying for, without being misleading. Review and analyze the job advertisement
carefully. Look for, and itemize the key qualifications, skills, and abilities
the employer is seeking. Then identify certain key words that are usually repeated
in such ads.


5. Make Sure It Looks Great

Use a clean, simple presentation format for a professional looking resume.
Just a bit of simple line work done with standard word processing
software will do the trick. If you don't have the aptitude for this, there is most
likely someone among your friends or in your office who can help you achieve a
professional presentation. For a good simple layout, but it will make a world
of difference to the product.


6. What are you able to do Today

Focus, first and foremost, on your recent experience that is most relevant
to the position at hand. Less relevant and or dated experience should be either
eliminated or summarized in brief point form near the end of your resume.
When reviewing your resume information, a prospective employer wants to know
what you are doing now, what you have done recently, and how that relates
to the job requirements of the post they are trying to fill.

7. Be Honest

Be completely honest. When people lie on their resume,
they are almost invariably exposed, sooner or later. Think about it - who really
wants to get a job based on a lie(s) and then have to live in fear of eventually
being found out?

8. Follow the Instructions

Submit your resume in exactly the form that the prospective employer requests.
If they say e-mail or fax is okay, do it that way. However, if they ask for it
by regular mail, send it the way they ask. They must have reasons for requesting
it in such a form and they are geared up to process it that way. If your resume
is to be sent by snail mail, use the complete address that they specify,
or it could go to the wrong office.

9. Don't Get Lost In the Mail

Be careful to respect certain conventions that the prospective employer
may require in your resume. For example, make sure that the cover
letter mentions the exact name of the specific position you are applying for.
Sometimes an employer will
request that the job title and/or number be printed on the outside of the envelope.
You would not want to miss out on a job because you didn't follow minor
administrative requirements.

10. Don't Repeat Yourself

In the cover letter, don't repeat what is already detailed in the body of the
attached resume. It is a "cover" letter. It should be short and to the point.
Introduce yourself first, and then briefly summarize why you believe that you
have the qualifications and experience to fulfill the duties of the position
better than anyone else. Express enthusiasm about the job and the company.
Close by stating how you are looking forward to hearing more from them soon,
and that you will follow-up if necessary.Do not include your photo.
Perspective employers sometimes judge you by your appearance.