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Tips for a Successful Resume

Filed under Resumes and Cover Letters
Posted by Libraries, July 22, 2009
View all posts for July 2009

If you are currently job hunting and are in need of some assistance with your resume, you might want to consider reading Jane Porter’s article: Careers — 90 Days: Fine-Tuning Your Resume For Maximum Impact from the Wall Street Journal. Porter points out that while it might be your first instinct to immediately get your resume out there, it might pay off to do some planning and follow these 6 recommended steps:

• Make a Wish List: You should have an idea and list of places you want to apply to before writing your resume. This way you can tailor it to each specific job.
• Use Keywords: Include words that relate to the position you are applying. For example, try to incorporate keywords found in the job description into your resume.
• Tell Your Story: While it is common to use bullet points to format your resume, make sure you do not sell yourself short or leave out information. One suggestion is to first write out every aspect of a previous job or skills acquired and then create your bullet points by including the most beneficial details.
• Find an Insider: Network. Network. Network. Making and having contacts at places you are applying or who know people where you are applying is crucial. This can help place your resume in the right person’s hands and better yet, having a previous connection might mean not having to use your resume immediately.
• Try a Personal Touch: Adding a personal touch such as a handwritten note, attached to your resume, mentioning something you know about the company or research you have done, can help you stand out. “The ultimate goal is to catch an executive’s attention.”
• Re-evaluate Regularly: If you have not heard a response after a month or so, take some time to reassess your resume. For example, check to see if you are including effective keywords.

Visit the Career Resource Library website for more information on resumes, job hunting online, or job search tools.

Also, for resume and cover letter help, contact a Career Counselor from the Career Education Center. They are experts on editing and formatting highly effective resumes, cover letters, and more!

blogged by Tracy Vingo