Tips on Writing a Resume

A resume is one thing, but an effective resume is a marketing tool.  It’s your opportunity to sell yourself to a new employer, to convince them to call you and invite you in for an interview.  But how do you go about writing a resume that’s effective, one that’s motivating?

1) Cover the basics.  Despite what you may think, spelling, grammar, and formatting really do matter.  It’s important that your resume looks good and is clear.  Clutter and mess can get between you and your reader, interfering with the real message that you’re trying to send.  Instead, the message they get is “I don’t care that much about this job,” or “I’m not a very detailed person, and I don’t pay attention to the little things,” or even worse, “I just don’t take pride in my work.”

2) Focus on what you can do for an employer.  While it seems like this is the right place to address what you want in a job, what you don’t want, or any requirements you might have, someone’s first look at you isn’t the time to do it.  Your resume really is an employer’s first impression, and since we know how important it is to make good impressions, you want to bring the right message.  That message is what you can offer your employer.  Again, you’re selling yourself right from the beginning, so push the benefits that someone would receive if they hired you.

3) Highlight accomplishments.  Instead of focusing on things that you’ve done, try featuring things that you’ve accomplished instead.  Accomplishments show that you are effective in your job, that you don’t just show up and go through the motions of doing work.  It will carry much more weight to illustrate ways that you’ve succeeded.  Employers are likely to be looking for someone that can make things happen, get things done.  You want to show them that you are that person, so call out specific examples of any ‘wins’ you’ve had that will show it.

4) Sound motivated.  Once again, an employer wants someone that will be able to get things done.  Your resume should make you sound energetic, ambitious (in the work sense, not necessarily the career ladder sense), and productive.  Try to word things in an active voice, with an eye towards the future, as if you’re waiting for that next challenge to come along.  Convince your future employer that you are ready to work hard.

Follow these tips and your resume will be more effective than ever.