| Which word is more scarier to you? If someone | | | | employer, while certainly interested in what you |
| yelled "fire!" or if someone whispered, "resume"? | | | | want, is far more concerned with your |
| To most people, hearing the word "resume" | | | | qualifications and what you can do for the |
| induces panic attacks and beads of sweat across | | | | company. |
| the forehead. | | | | The idea isn't all bad, though. It just needs a little |
| Writing a resume is hard work. You must write | | | | tweaking. Instead of an objective, try creating a |
| your resume correctly; it must be perfect! Any | | | | positioning statement.; it functions on the same |
| blunders in your resume could cost you the job. | | | | way as an objective but puts the focus on you. |
| The entire resume-writing process can be | | | | Take a look at these examples: |
| confusing. We've all asked ourselves these | | | | Objective: To become an associate editor of |
| questions: "Which information goes in?" "Which | | | | children's books at a major publishing house. |
| stays out?" "How exactly should I format my | | | | Positioning Statement: Children's book editor with |
| resume?" | | | | 10 years of experience in publishing. |
| If you jumped into a pile of books and articles on | | | | These are loose examples, of course, but you |
| resume writing, you'd drown in words, sentences | | | | get the idea; put the focus on you and the |
| and advice that all sound the same. So what in | | | | employer will take notice. |
| the world will make your resume leap out of the | | | | THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL |
| pile and scream, "Grab me! I am the person you | | | | Be specific about what exactly you've done. Your |
| want to hire!" | | | | former job responsibilities and achievements are |
| Writing a resume is both an art and a science. We | | | | excellent selling points in your resume. Avoid being |
| need to know a successful formula of words, | | | | vague, unless you want your resume to read like |
| sentences, format and finesse to convey | | | | everyone else's. Think about your previous jobs: |
| effectively our selling points. The following tips are | | | | what exactly did you do and how does that |
| shortcuts to write a stellar resume for whatever | | | | qualify you for a new position? For instance, don't |
| job you desire. | | | | write that you "assisted the senior editor with a |
| FORMAT WITH CAUTION | | | | number of editorial duties." Instead, write |
| Your professional history will strongly dictate your | | | | "contributed to editorial copy and content editing, |
| resume format. We must choose one of three | | | | cover design and overall concept of several major |
| basic resume types: chronological, functional or | | | | projects." Detailing your specific job duties and |
| combination. | | | | accomplishments show the employer what you're |
| THE CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME - This is the | | | | capable of and what he or she can expect from |
| most common type of resume, the one that | | | | you as an employee. |
| comes to mind when the word is mentioned. A | | | | SHOW THEM WHAT YOU CAN DO |
| chronological resume is appropriate if you've had | | | | It's tempting to outline your responsibilities to save |
| steady work experience with little to no breaks, | | | | some space and not appear overly conceited, but |
| have kept each of your jobs for long periods of | | | | remember—you're here to sell to yourself. You |
| time, or have industry-related experience that | | | | have one shot to make an impression. Chances |
| shows your working toward a specific goal. The | | | | are good that the employer will already know a |
| Chronological Resume is comprised of: | | | | bit about the duties of your last job (especially if |
| Objective (which we'll discuss in a few paragraphs) | | | | it's linked to this job), so they need to read about |
| Employment history (starting from your most | | | | what you've accomplished as opposed to what |
| recent job) | | | | you did. Anyone could go through the motions of |
| Education | | | | a nine-to-five day, but what did you actually |
| Optional section (for things such as military | | | | achieve? What were the results of your work? |
| experience or any special skills/intereststhat may | | | | Don't be modest with this; if a book you edited |
| pertain to the job at hand) | | | | hit the best-seller list, then by all means, let the |
| References | | | | employer know. Never withhold important |
| THE FUNCTIONAL RESUME - A variation of the | | | | information about your achievements. |
| chronological resume, a functional resume intends | | | | WORD IT WELL |
| to highlight skills found outside of work | | | | The words you use in your resume are just as |
| experience; it's useful if you're in the process of | | | | important as the results you've achieved or the |
| changing careers, have little to no work | | | | jobs you've held. Make sure you use lively, |
| experience or have held several, seemingly | | | | engaging words and always avoid the passive |
| unrelated jobs. This sort of resume is comprised | | | | voice; it reads in a boring, trite manner. Always |
| of: | | | | write in active voice so you sound more formal |
| Qualifications summary (a bulleted list of | | | | and direct. Stay concise—are you using more |
| achievements or interests that qualify youfor the | | | | words that necessary? Would a great action verb |
| job for which you're applying). | | | | effectively replace a whole sentence? Are there |
| Employment history | | | | any obvious clichés, like "great customer |
| Education | | | | service skills"? Strive to say things in the most |
| Optional section | | | | interesting manner possible, and make sure you |
| References | | | | spell all words correctly. There's nothing worse |
| THE COMBINATION RESUME - A combination | | | | than a typo on a resume, as it leaves the |
| resume is what it sounds like: a combination of | | | | impression that "if this person doesn't care enough |
| the chronological and functional formats. It tends | | | | to spellcheck their resume," the employer thinks, |
| to be slightly more useful than the functional | | | | "then how in the world will they care enough to |
| resume, as that format sometimes makes an | | | | do this job well?" |
| employer suspicious that you're hiding something | | | | PERFECT THE PRESENTATION |
| (such as a lack of experience). The combination | | | | Resume presentation is another crucial aspect to |
| resume is comprised of: | | | | the resume-writing process. How your resume |
| Qualifications summary | | | | looks will serve as the employer's first impression |
| Education (especially if it's a particularly strong | | | | of you; if it looks bad, or amateurish, your |
| area for you) | | | | resume may not get a second glance. Make sure |
| Employment history (in reverse order as the | | | | the visual formatting is correct (consult a resume |
| chronological resume) | | | | guide book for samples of formatting) and always |
| Optional section | | | | leave lots of white space; this makes it easier for |
| References | | | | an employer to skim through your resume and |
| RETHINK YOUR OBJECTIVE | | | | find the information they need. Use an easily |
| Many books and articles extol the virtues of an | | | | readable font, such as Arial or Times New |
| objective; it is, after all, a great way to position | | | | Roman; print it on high-quality white stock (no |
| yourself within a job and show an employer what | | | | photocopies!); and send it in a white or manila |
| you want and how willing you are to get it. A lot | | | | envelope with a printed mailing label. And always, |
| of job-seekers have been ditching the objective in | | | | always, always remember to include your contact |
| favor of a qualifications summary, and employers | | | | information, even your email address; it'll be hard |
| seem to be responding well. The reason for this is | | | | to land that new position if the employer can't |
| simple: objectives are, by nature, focused heavily | | | | even get in touch with you. |
| on you and not the employer. Your potential | | | | |