10 tips for writing the perfect resume

A resume is the most powerful document in your job search arsenal. A good resume can open doors to a variety of career opportunities. While writing the ideal resume can be a significant challenge for many of us, you can simplify the process by incorporating the following steps:

1. Decide if your summary should be chronological or functional. A chronological resume emphasizes your employment history, with your most recent position listed first, while a functional resume focuses on your skills and experience. Opt for a chronological resume if you have a consistent work history. Conversely, if there are significant gaps in your employment, a functional resume may be a better option.

two. Focus on accomplishments, not job responsibilities. This is perhaps the biggest mistake I see on resumes. Your resume should not consist of a list of your duties and responsibilities. You must tell potential employers what you have accomplished. For example, don’t just say you were responsible for managing a $10 million budget, discuss how you were able to reduce expenses by 10 percent and save $1 million. This makes a much more powerful statement about what you can bring to an organization.

3. Use specific examples to demonstrate your accomplishments. For example, if you are a salesperson, describe the time you persuaded a reluctant customer to buy your product. If you’re a training specialist, check out the online training courses you’ve developed that significantly reduced educational expenses. If you are a marketing manager, describe the promotional strategy you developed to increase the company’s sales.

Four. Create a keyword-rich resume. You can do this by reading job descriptions and company information, and then making a list of keywords used by the employer. For example, if an organization is looking for “results-oriented” and “reliable” candidates, they should include these terms on their resume. Also, if a position is looking for someone with “HTML programming” experience, it should include this phrase.

5. Pay attention to the length of the resume. Generally speaking, new entrants to the workforce should have a one page resume, seasoned professionals may have a two page resume, and senior executives may use a three or four page resume. Academic resumes, also known as resumes, can be more extensive. However, never make your resume longer than necessary.

6. Use a run summary, not a run goal. A career summary tells employers what you have to offer, while a career objective tells them what you want. It is better to communicate the value you bring to an organization. Additionally, your cover letter will communicate your career goal. Remember, your career summary should be a brief statement about the skills and credentials that qualify you for a particular position.

7. Tailor your resume to a particular vacancy. Don’t create a single, all-purpose resume to send out for every job opening. Rather, think of your resume as a template that you’ll modify based on the requirements of a particular job opening. Don’t worry, you just have to make minor adjustments for different openings on the same field.

8. Develop multiple resumes. If you are applying for jobs in different occupational areas (for example, marketing and human resources), you should create more than one resume. This also applies if you will be seeking opportunities in the same occupation, but in different industries (for example, manufacturing and education). Resumes won’t be too different, but they should reflect differences in job expectations and keyword usage.

9. Include well-written and accurate content. Your resume is a reflection of your professionalism. Bad grammar and misspelled words will diminish your perceived experience and credibility. Worse still is using inaccurate or false information. Most of the time, wrong resume information won’t help you get a job and can come back to haunt you.

10 Check, check and correct again. Yes, read your entire resume at least three times. Then ask a friend or colleague to proofread it for you. They will find errors that you have not seen, even if you have reviewed it several times.