A good resume is more than a list of jobs and duties performed. Generally speaking, a good resume shows employers, as well as recruiters, that you can go beyond what’s required of you to make a difference in the organization. Your resume is written for the employer, not for you. Its main purpose is to answer the following questions: How do you present yourself to others? What have you done in the past? What are you likely to accomplish in the future?
So, how do you create a resume that gets noticed? Let’s start with the basics. Three things to keep in mind are:
-
- Leave some white space on the page for the eye to rest.
- Don’t write your resume in first or third person.
- Your resume should be no longer than two pages.
Contact Information
You can choose to list or not list your career objective. If your objective doesn’t match the recruiter’s needs you may miss out on a golden opportunity. However, a clearly stated career objective can help your recruiter find your ideal career match.
Career Objective
Include phone, mail and e-mail contact information. Your voicemail message should be professional. A message that is too casual can create a negative impression.
Summary Statement
Your summary should be brief. First, include your title and years of experience. Second, list pertinent skills. Third, discuss your character traits or work style.
Example: “Financial Accountant with over 10 years’ experience with two Fortune 500 companies. Technical skills include P&L, budgeting, forecasting and variance reporting. Bilingual in Spanish and English. Self-starter who approaches every project in a detailed, analytical manner.”
Professional Experience
List each position held in reverse chronological order, dating back at least ten years. If you held multiple positions within the same company, list them all to show advancement and growth. The body of each position description should describe your responsibilities and accomplishments.
Other Components
Include education, professional training, affiliations/appointments, licenses, technical skills and languages.
Personal Information
Do not include personal information such as marital status.
Top 12 Accomplishments Employers Want to See
- Increased revenues
- Saved money
- Increased efficiencies
- Cut overhead
- Increased sales
- Improved workplace safety
- Purchasing accomplishments
- New products/new lines
- Improved record keeping process
- Increased productivity
- Successful advertising campaign
- Effective budgeting