THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL JOB SEARCH: THE IMPRESSIVE RESUME

The résumé is your number one tool in helping you secure an employment interview. It must convince a prospective employer that you are an outstanding candidate and that you have something of value to contribute to their organization. The key word here is VALUE. A good résumé should emphasize your major contributions and accomplishments in a neat and concise manner. Key characteristics of a good résumé are:

• A neat appearance
  
• A well-organized format
  
• Type that is easily and quickly read
  
• A reasonable length (not too long or short)
  
• Highly visible key information
  
• Brief, concise job descriptions
  
• A clear depiction of key accomplishments
  
• Comprehensiveness -- a clear account of your key areas of interest

Before you begin to write, a few 'golden rules' must be followed:

• KNOW YOUR READER. The person reading your résumé will see hundreds every day. Your résumé only has a few precious seconds to make a good first impression.
• TAKE INVENTORY. Before you begin, write down all of your skills and accomplishments with their appropriate dates and designations. It's always better to dig up all this information before you start the writing process.
• SELECT THE APPROPRIATE FORMAT. The three major résumé formats are: Chronological, Functional, and Targeted.

The Chronologically formatted résumé organizes your experience and accomplishments by time, starting with your most recent employer. The order then details your experiences heading backward to your schooling. This format gives your most recent employment experience greater emphasis than your previous experiences. The advantage of this format is that it is easy to follow and well understood. It is also excellent for individuals who have very little work experience, or those who have recently held a good working position. The drawback of this format are that it emphasizes recent experience, which may hold you back if you are looking to change employment fields.

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME - Click for example

The Functionally formatted résumé organizes your experience and accomplishments under functional headings (e.g., Sales Management/Promotions). This format can downplay an irrelevant or a poor work record. The advantage of this format is that it organizes under job target headings, and it stresses areas of experience or expertise where you may not have had a job. This format is good for those re-entering the job market, changing positions, or starting out on their first job. The main drawback of this position is that it may appear confusing, and suggest that you are "hiding" information.

FUNCTIONAL RESUME - Click for example

A Targeted résumé format looks to the future. Where the two previous formats do not require "job objectives," this format demands a specific job target. The strongest advantage of this format is that it asks the reader to picture your success at tasks where you may not have any experience. The drawback of this format is that it's high degree of specificity demands that you remodel the résumé for each separate job application.

TARGETED RESUME - Click for example

Writing style is a critical factor in the résumé preparation process, and it can make or break the end product. An effective résumé should say things in a clear, concise and direct manner. You must do all that you can to draw attention to your abilities, and good writing style guarantees that you will generate a powerful first impression.

Résumé writing is not like regular writing, in that many of the normal structural rules do not apply. Here are some examples:

• Avoid using the pronoun "I" in the text of your résumé. Since this is your résumé, "I" is understood
• It is not always necessary to write in full sentences to communicate effectively. Descriptive phrases and clauses are acceptable as long as they convey a complete thought and are clearly understood
• Where possible, start sentences with an action word (see examples below) followed by a noun or an adjective. This creates a dynamic, eye-catching document

Action Words

• The use of quantitative terms to describe your position and accomplishments makes a résumé easier and more exciting to read
• Condense.......condense.....condense. Where possible, eliminate all nonessential information which adds little or no meaning to your employment qualifications

When you are finished preparing your résumé, it is essential that you have it proofread Ask someone with experience in reviewing résumés; a personnel manager, a recruiter, or someone with experience in your field. Be sure to ask for feedback on what you might improve, not just for approval on what you have done. Ensure that the document is checked for proper spelling and grammar, clarity and organization, and that it accurately describes your working history.

Print your résumé on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper, preferably of top quality and light in color (beige, cream, buff, gray). Use one side of the page only.

CREATING PERFECT COVER LETTERS

A well-done, individually prepared cover letter sent with your résumé is almost equivalent to a personal introduction for an interview. It adds a personal touch to your résumé, giving you an opportunity to let your individual style, personality, and strengths stand out from the crowd. Cover letters should always be kept brief, to a maximum of one page, four paragraphs in length, and should be neatly typed business correspondence. The general format rules for creating cover letters are: