Many job seekers have the misconception that creating a great resume will help them score a job. But this is actually not the case. The great resume actually scores the interview—and if the interview is great, then you may score the job.

In other words, if you want a company to call you in for an interview, you need to create a resume that encourages a hiring manager to do so. But why not take it one step further by not only writing a resume that prompts a callback but one that shapes the course of the interview? This type of resume is known as an interviewable resume.

Understanding the Interviewable Resume

The interviewable resume is unique in that it does more than make a hiring manager interested enough to want to learn more about you in an interview; it actually provides such intriguing information that it sculpts the interview questions.

For instance, if you write in your resume that your responsibilities include filing documents, the interviewer may feel the need to come up with his or her own questions to learn whether you can develop your own filing system.

But if you write in your resume that you “coordinated efforts with company president to innovate a companywide standardized filing system,” the interviewer may want to know what steps you took to develop the system—and even how you were able to coordinate efforts with the company’s president to make it happen. See the difference?

Creating Your Own Interviewable Resume

So how can you develop a resume that effectively intrigues hiring managers? Here are a few steps to consider:

1. Think in terms of employer needs: Keep in mind that a resume is always about what you can do for the company, not what the company can do for you. So when you create the interviewable resume, your first step is to write examples of what you’ve done for previous companies based on what you know the prospective employer wants from the person who wins the job.
2. Deliver a consistent message: A great way to get an employer to ask more about what you’ve written in your resume is to deliver a consistent message that tells the story of how you plan to transform the position based on your previous experience. If you deliver this message in your resume, the employer will certainly want to learn more in an interview.
3. Make use of action words: Also, as noted in the previous section, you want to make use of action words like “correlated” or “developed” to show you were not just handed responsibilities but actually initiated your own projects. This proves you’re a leader with great ideas to share in an interview.

The more you present yourself as an active leader with innovate ideas, the more you’ll pique the interest of an employer. So as you write your resume, make sure the information you provide is so impressive that the interviewer can’t wait to learn more.

Author Byline: Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of http://www.greatresumesfast.com is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Author Website: http://www.greatresumesfast.com

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

In a time when millions of workers are unemployed and competition for positions is higher than ever, you want to make sure that you’re able to stand out among your competition. But how can your resume make an impact when so many others are applying? Take a look at these three steps to creating an attention-grabbing resume:

Start with Visual Attractiveness

It may seem that creating a visually attractive resume isn’t important, but nothing could be further from the truth. While you don’t need to spend your time adding pretty borders or cutesy fonts, you do need to ensure that your document is readable.

Creating white space with the use of bullet points and subheadings improves readability tenfold. Also, ensuring your fonts are professional can make a huge difference in guaranteeing your resume will be read by a hiring manager.

Create a Standout Branding Statement

When a hiring manager reads your resume, he or she wants to determine within a few seconds that you’re right for the position. Creating a solid branding statement helps to deliver this message.

The branding statement, which is typically situated near the top of your resume below your name and contact information, allows you to brand yourself by stating your title, disclosing your contributions to other companies, and communicating your expectations of making a difference in the future.

The branding statement can absolutely encourage the hiring manager to read the rest of your resume. In fact, if written correctly, it could help you get the interview call you want most.

Add a Career Summary or Certification/Training Section

Another great section to add to your resume—typically directly below the branding statement—is the career summary or certification/training section.

In your branding statement, you’ve outlined your contributions to previous employers. Now you want to highlight top moments in your career that show you’ve made a huge difference—whether you’ve raised tons of money, or perhaps changed the direction of a company for the better. You can also use this section to list your expertise in the form of certifications and training courses.

As you write your resume, you always want to consider qualifications that make you stand out as a top candidate. What value do you bring to the table and how can it make a difference for the company you’re applying with? By making these considerations when tailoring your resume you can prove you are indeed the right person for the job.

Author Byline: Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of http://www.greatresumesfast.com is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Author Website: http://www.greatresumesfast.com

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

The U.S. economy is slowly but surely making space for the green industry. As many products and services place their focus on energy preservation, more jobs are cropping up to accommodate those needs.

If you’ve been thinking about going green in your career, you’re about to enter a fresh and exciting industry. Of course, you need a new and exciting resume to match. Here are some tips for helping you to write a resume that can facilitate your transition into a green-collar career.

1. Learn Green Industry Keywords

As with any other industry, it’s important to immerse yourself in the keywords. Not only will this be important when trying to get your electronic resume past scanning software, but it will be necessary to show—when your resume is viewed by human eyes—that you know the industry.

There are a number of keywords to make note of—and of course, you want to make sure the ones you choose match the job you’re applying for—but some to consider adding are: green audit, recycling, precycling, carbon trading, and ecoflation in order to increase your chances of snagging an interview.

2. Show That Your Previous Experience Aligns With Employers’ Needs

Many candidates have never worked in the green industry because it is so new. Employers understand this and don’t always expect your experience to be an exact match. But if you want to show that you’re the best fit for a position, it’s good to highlight all of the experience you have that aligns closely to each job’s requirements. You’re likely to have more transferrable skills than you think.

3. Prove You Care About the Planet

If you currently belong to a recycling program, have ever volunteered for a green organization, or have made other green efforts, your resume is the place to mention it. Also, if the company you apply to asks for a paper resume, send it on recycled, chlorine-free paper with a matching envelope to show your commitment to living the green lifestyle.

4. Get Help From a Green Insider

Also, don’t be shy about asking for help from a person who is already working in the green industry. Get tips on ways to impress hiring managers, as well as how to get more involved in the industry on both the professional and personal levels. Your hard work in officially “going green” will pay off.

There’s nothing more rewarding than dedicating your life to enhancing the planet. So if you are serious about working in the green industry, start with creating a great resume that can help you get your foot in the door of a company that’s truly making a difference.

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of GreatResumesFast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Writing an executive resume is challenging; tough decisions must be made along the way, including which career information should and should not be included.  If you’re perplexed by how to push forward, you could always adopt the mentality of an executive resume writer.  Here are some tips for taking this approach:

Quantity Speaks Volumes

An executive resume writer works diligently to position you and your resume in a way that is consistent with your career objective—and in a manner that will secure interviews.  Securing interviews is one reason why they work so hard to quantify your achievements.

How can you do the same?  By sharing how many projects you initiated and/or managed in how many days, while leading how many team members, and bringing in how much revenue, etc.  These are general examples, but how you quantify the experience in your resume should be related to two points: First, the requirements of the position/needs of the company—and second, it should be consistent with your career goals.  For example, if your goal is to stop managing people and start managing processes, then don’t focus on numbers related to your management of employees; instead, quantify your experience on the processes side.

Ask the Right Questions

Executive resume writers are great data miners.  They can go past the surface of your career to really draw attention to achievements that you may not initially remember, didn’t think were important, or may be vital to the position and meeting the needs of the organization.  In order to do this, they ask you a lot of questions.

For instance, have you ever asked yourself what contributions you have made to the companies for which you’ve worked?  Are they better companies now because you have worked for them?  What initiatives did you bring to the table that made you stand out from other executives who had previously worked in your position?

These questions are often difficult to answer but are necessary in setting you apart from your competition.  Your contributions are probably greater than you think, but it’s up to you to identify the difference you’ve made and then express this difference in your resume.

Walk Away for a While

Everyone needs some perspective and some time to clear their head.  Take time to get a little distance from the resume.  When you come back with a fresh mind, you have the opportunity to read and edit your resume from a third-party perspective—or you may have remembered critically important details that you’d initially left out.

Call in Another Team Player

Even some of the best executive resume writers in the industry will have another set of eyes review the resume for errors or inconsistencies.  Some writers even rely on very meticulous and detail-oriented copy editors to review each client’s project before the client ever sees the document, thereby ensuring its flawlessness.  At the very least, you should have one person review the resume for you prior to sending it out, but a second or third person can never hurt.

Executive resume writers are great at what they do because they know about current trends, have written thousands more resumes in their lifetime than you ever have, and they have an objective, third-party view of you and your qualifications.  Ever heard the phrase, “It’s easier to write about someone else than it is yourself”?  A phenomenal executive resume writer will invest time and effort getting to know your career history and your current career goals.  They’ll strategize with you on how to overcome any obstacles your resume may face and will collaborate with you to develop a strategy to effectively tackle these challenges and garner you interviews.  You are a hard-working executive with a proven track record, so be sure to work as hard on your resume as you would expect a professional writer to.  Or, if you can use some third-party objectivity, consider hiring an executive resume writer to develop your brand, strategize your action plan, and craft an interview-winning resume.

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

There’s nothing like adding distinctive talents to your resume to help you stand out from the other candidates sitting in the same stack of resumes.  But how do you find those skills that prove you’re unique?  And how do you choose which ones to list?  Here are some tips to help you decide:

1. Look to Your Hobbies

You may be surprised to discover that your hobbies are a great place to begin looking for some of your unique abilities.  Very often, dedication to your passion transfers easily to a job.  For instance, if you’re a part-time dance instructor, this proficiency could showcase your ability to lead others in a work environment.

2. Think About Your Volunteer Efforts

The same goes for your volunteer efforts.  If you spend time building houses for Habitat for Humanity, you not only bring dedication to the table—in the eyes of an employer, you come with a big heart—something a hiring manager just might be looking for.

3. Ask Your Friends and Family

Your friends and family may also be able to give you some insight into areas of expertise you’ve forgotten about.  For example, your old roommate could remind you that while you were in college you volunteered briefly for a teen hotline.  And although the stint may not have been a long one, it shows your compassion and could push you over the hump—depending on the employer.

You are a matchless person who brings plenty to the table as a job candidate.  Show off those irreplaceable skills that make you stand out from the dozens of other candidates competing for the same opportunity.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

I often tell job seekers how passionate I am about helping them be successful.  I really do have a heart for helping those in the job hunt secure interviews and offers.  When possible, I try to provide as much free advice as I can.  Thinking about how passionate I am about what I do made me wonder about how passionate you are about what you do!

Does your passion come across in your resume and cover letter?  When a hiring manager reads your resume can he tell that you’re passionate about what you do?  If you want to show the hiring manager that you’re passionate about what you do and that you’ll bring that enthusiasm and zeal to your new position here are three ways to do that:

1. Use quotes and recommendations from previous supervisors.  Someone else’s viewpoint will reinforce your talent, passion, and brand.
2. Accomplishment-based statements substantiate the results and value you would bring to the employer.
3. A personal branding statement is a great way to communicate your passion and vision for what you do—as well as what you’re known for.

Create a focused, branded, and passion-filled resume and cover letter—wrapped nicely in a compelling presentation—and you’ve packaged yourself in a way that will secure interviews.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

The evolution of the resume has been quite extensive and trends change as fast as those of technology or fashion. Add to that an increasingly competitive job market and more and more highly qualified individuals applying for the same jobs. So, why are so many people using old, antiquated resume templates? More importantly, what can you do to break away from the boring old resume template your counterparts are using? Here are some innovative, but acceptable ways to break the old resume rules:

Breakable Rule #1: Resumes must be one page. This rule flies out the window once you gain ten or so years of professional experience – especially if you have a lot to show for your experiences. However, the old rule still stands that it needs to be either one or two full pages – never present a page-and-a-half as it looks like you ran out of steam along the way.

Breakable Rule #2: Resumes must start with an objective. No, no, no! Objectives are passé and focus too much on you. Start your resume with a bold, attention-getting title and a short, concise summary paragraph stating what you have to offer – not what you want from your career. This sets a commanding and powerful tone for the rest of your resume.

Breakable Rule #3: Resumes should give a detailed account of your history. Wrong. You should leave the reader interested in learning more about your history instead of explaining every detail in your resume. Tell them you increased sales by 50% after orchestrating a massive marketing campaign, but save the details for the interview.

Breakable Rule #4: Resumes must present employment, education, and tech skills. Period. There are so many other relevant talents and experiences you have to offer! Not only should you list memberships, awards, additional languages, corporate trainings, certifications, etc., but you should list them in order to present yourself in the best light. If you just finished your Master’s degree and your work experience is limited, list education first. If you are in IT, list your technical competencies first. Grab their attention right away with what YOU have to offer.

Breakable Rule #5: Resumes should be in Times New Roman. The fastest way to bore a reader is to use Times New Roman like everyone else. It is okay to get a bit creative with Garamond, Book Antiqua, or even Candara. However, stay away from fonts that may be difficult to read (Mistral, Vivaldi) or are too cutsy (Lucida, Pristina).

Your resume is your best marketing tool and it should be organized, compelling, and unique. Don’t be afraid to make yourself stand out by breaking the old, outdated resume rules!

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

A frequent theme of our blogs is limiting your resume to information that’s truly relevant to the position for which you’re applying.  You should feel free to leave off your high school job serving fast food or your college job working retail if you have years of subsequent work experience.  Also, listing only the achievements from your previous jobs can actually omit an important component of your career: your personal story.

Many of the clients I work with put themselves through graduate programs years into their career, while they were working full-time.  This is no small feat!  If you know anyone who has gone to grad school while they were working, you probably remember that period of their life as one of high stress and limited play.  However, making this career move almost always pays off with greater career opportunities and a higher salary.  It requires (and displays) real ambition to return to school when you already have a job.  So, if you’re one of the many people who has done this, one way to highlight it on your resume is to stick it right into the job summary:

Manager, ABC Company

Managed a department of 20 employees.  Directed all sales and billing.  Earned MBA while working full-time.

Many job seekers have also performed years of consulting services on the side.  Some do not include this on their resume, as they think of it as irrelevant additional information.  Not so!  If you have the business wherewithal to handle some amount of self-employment in addition to your regular job, that’s a valuable skill.  And even if you don’t end up getting the job for which you applied, you may just gain yourself a new client!

Another way to spark great interview conversation is by including any education or work relevant to your personal passions or hobbies.  I’m not suggesting that you put “likes to play golf” on your resume, but if you’re good enough to have won numerous tournaments, that shows dedication and skill that most people don’t possess.  I recently worked with a woman who had taken more than 30 classes at her local culinary school over the years.  I jokingly asked her if her retirement plan was to open a restaurant, and guess what … it was!

Ninety-nine percent of your resume’s content should relate directly to the position you’re targeting.  However, don’t be afraid to sprinkle in a few sentences that differentiate you from the other candidates in the pile.  After all, hiring managers want to work with interesting people!

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

What one strategy is most likely to attract more attention to your resume from hiring managers and recruiters? Providing the potential employer with a picture of what you accomplished at your previous employers is one of the best ways to illustrate what you can deliver to their organization. Employers are looking for results; and when contemplating hiring decisions, they’ll choose the candidate with the best experience and most applicable prior successes. If they have a need—and you’ve demonstrated you can deliver—then you’re essentially showing them you are a perfect fit.

Allow me to explain. When I review a resume, I’m thinking: What can this person do for my company? Does he or she have the results to back up the experience? Is it the right candidate for this particular position?

The best way to communicate this to a potential employer is through accomplishment- and contribution-based resumes. Duties and responsibilities are subpar. Accomplishments and contributions are much better.

Don’t sell yourself short either. If you’re not in sales—and you don’t have hard numbers—that is okay; not every profession will. When I sit down with a client to put together a resume, I basically interview them, just as if I were interviewing them for the job they’re trying to get. I like to know about their entire history at their previous employer—not just what is on their current resume. I can discover a lot more about a client that way—and better relate this information on his or her resume. It is amazing to me, how many people don’t know what to say or how to say it on their resume. When compiling a list of accomplishments to place on your resume, start with these three questions:

1. Name the three things you are most proud of in your career.
2. What do you feel are your biggest strengths? Name three.
3. What makes you unique? Why should this employer hire you over another qualified candidate?

Okay, now take the answers to those questions and find a great way to incorporate them into your resume.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Nothing else you need to know. Avoid these phrases…

The economy seems to be picking up a little and more and more job seekers are coming to us and letting us know about internal opportunities within their organization that they would like to apply to.  But even as more opportunities open up, the competition is as strong (or stronger) than ever before.  Here are seven ways your resume isn’t quite cutting it.  So take it out, brush it off, and let’s kick it up a notch.

It’s still sporting that outdated objective.

If your resume is utilizing an objective, you really should trash it and start all over with a fresh, powerful introduction that incorporates a personal branding statement.  A tailored career summary and polished personal branding statement will catch the employer’s attention and give him or her the best information up front—the information he or she needs to make a decision to call you to schedule an interview.

The design/format is generic or elementary for your professional level and experience.

There is a strategy behind resume formatting and design.  If you are an executive, yet you are using an entry level resume format, you will look unprofessional and under-qualified.

It’s missing important keywords.

Omit keywords and the software system scanning your resume can’t find you.  The recruiter giving your resume a quick once-over is looking for specific keywords as well.  Leave them out and you’ll be left out of the interview process.

Generic and/or vague statements.

Avoid using the same old terminology that everyone else uses in their resumes.  Yes, we know you can problem solve.  But instead of telling me you’re a problem solver, show me the result of a problem you solved.

Soft skills vs. hard skills.

And the championship goes to … hard skills.  I used to be a full-time recruiter, and I used Monster and CareerBuilder to search for candidates.  Not once did I ever enter the search terms: great communicator, excellent verbal skills, detail-oriented.  These are universal statements that millions use to describe themselves.  Give me something tangible and relevant to the position I am trying to fill.

Duties and responsibilities

Instead of wasting valuable real estate on your resume providing me with a rundown of your job description (the same one I’ve read a million times as a hiring manager), show me what you achieved, what you accomplished, and what you contributed in the past.  WOW me with something other than the predictable, mundane job description.  I want to know the challenges you faced in your previous roles, how you addressed them, and the results you obtained.  This makes you different from everyone else.  No two people will have the exact same experiences.  Your experiences are what make you outshine your competition—USE THEM TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

Are you passive or active?

Using terminology that is passive is boring and lacks action.  Instead of using phrases like ‘served as’, ‘duties included’, ‘promoted to’, ‘worked with’ … choose strong action verbs.  Action verbs do just what they say: they convey action and, ultimately, results.  The hiring manager is interested in results you can provide about what you did along the way.  Choose terms like: Launched, Catapulted, Spearheaded, and Pioneered.  These terms tell me something.  They show me the action you took and captivate my attention so that I want to read on to discover the results you achieved.

Global resume authority Jessica Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Here’s a little humor to brighten your day. The 150 Funniest Resume Mistakes, Bloopers and Blunders Ever should provide a much needed laugh.

Among my favorites:

Objective: “career on the Information Supper Highway”

a resume… was printed on the back of the person’s current employer’s letterhead.

Candidate explained an arrest by stating, “We stole a pig, but it was a really small pig.”

“I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse.”

You can check out the rest of the list here.

Enjoy!

BullsEye Resumes has an interesting blog post up which goes over some of the reasons (other than your resume) that you may be having trouble landing a job. Don’t Always Blame the Resume in the Job Search has some great insight as to things you can check before you take the time to completely rewrite your resume.

I could spend some time and highlight some of the tips, but it’s probably best if you check it out yourself. There’s a lot to read, but it just might change your perspective.

Enjoy!

Great post over at Keppie Careers called Does your resume need to grow up? It’s an eye opening piece about ensuring that your resume style is current enough to get noticed by a progressive employer.

One particular quote caught my eye:

Many job seekers fail to move their “Education” section to the bottom of their resume once they have a position and enough experience under their belt (and no specific reason to keep Education on top). A few still list their high school diploma, even when they have a bachelor’s degree.

Wow. This just highlights the importance of updating not only your experience and education, but also your resume style.

Check out Does your resume need to grow up? It will help show you the importance of keeping your resume style current.

Let’s face it. Once you send your resume to an employer, it’s a crap shoot as to whether they will notice it. And while no one trick will be able to change this, there are some things that you can do to help ensure your resume has the best shot at standing out:

• Keywords: Take a hard look at the job description and write down a list of the keywords it contains. Do your best to integrate these keywords into the body of your resume in a natural way.

• Tailoring: Tailor each resume to a specific job. Include only the skills, experience, and education that are relevant to the position (assuming that you have more information than you need to include).

• Focus On Results: Instead of listing your job responsibilities, focus on your achievements. If possible, quantify every result with percentages (ie. “increased X by 25%” or “added an additional 4% to the bottom line”).

• Unique Formatting: Instead of using tired, old resume templates, create your own. Make it visually appealing and it is more likely to catch their eye.

These are just some of the ways you can improve your chances of being noticed. I’m sure that there are many other tricks that you can use to make your resume stand out. Feel free to share your best tricks on the message boards!

The 8 Hours.com blog recently posted their list of the most common resume blunders that job hunters make. Ten Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid is a reasonably comprehensive list of potential mistakes that you will want to check for prior to sending out your resume.

And while it hits on some of the most common problems (spelling, grammar, incorrect information, over-exaggeration, etc…), there is also some other advice that you don’t see on similar lists.

My favorite:

No personal branding: Why you? Differentiate yourself from the pack. Turned around a project, calmed down an irate customer, walked on water …. don’t be modest on your resume.

The key point here is not to be “modest on your resume”. Your resume is your first (and often only) chance to sell yourself to a potential employer. If you aren’t able to take the bull by the horns and convey a strong, powerful message on your resume, it is almost guaranteed to go unnoticed. And an unnoticed resume is an ineffective resume.

Either way, this is a great checklist to go over prior to sending out you next resume. Read it here.

In an effort to help you craft your resume, here’s a look at some of the best resources I’ve come across in the last few weeks:

• Worst Resume Mistakes: A look at some of the “best” resume blunders as shared by employers and HR professionals.
• Will Your Resume Get You the Job You Want?: Beverly Macy shares some tips on getting your resume noticed with the Personal Branding Blog.
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae?: The Lawrence University Career Center’s guide to whether you need a Resume or CV to land the job you want.
• Say No to the Objective Statement: Rebecca Metschke’s argument on why you don’t need an Objective Statement.
• Resume Writing Tips for a Technology-Savvy World: A great article from About.com with some excellent resume crafting tips.

Too many great resources, so little time.

Enjoy!

I have a big problem with resume books, resume templates, and “Job-Board” resumes. To me, a resume is something that needs to be crafted by you as a job seeker in a way that will emphasize your specific skills relative to the job opening.

The problem with resume books and resume templates is that they set you up to look like every other job seeker. Rest assured that if you take the Microsoft Template approach, your chances of standing out from the crowd will go way down.

In my book, Overcoming Gradversity, I talk a lot about resumes and what they should include. More importantly, there isn’t a single sample resume included anywhere in the book (the same goes for cover letters). The temptation is too great to copy or borrow from what you find.

Instead, my goal is to help ensure that you have included all of the information that is required. Beyond that, how you make it look and how you choose to stand out, is up to you.

So what do you need to include?

• Contact Information: They need to know how to get in touch with you. Simple as that
• Education: Where you went to school. As a New Grad looking for an Entry Level Job, this will be your biggest selling point. Make sure you include your degree/diploma/certificate and dates you attended.
• Experience: Before you start writing your resume, make a list of all of the work experiences that you have (most likely from summer jobs, part time work, and volunteer experience at this point). Then, as you are applying to jobs, include the most relevant/impressive experiences that you have had. Remember to tailor them to the job opening and highlight quantifiable accomplishments.
• Awards: Have you won any awards (academic, athletic, social, volunteer, etc.)? Make sure that you include them as this will help differentiate you from other new grads and Entry Level Job seekers.
• Extra-Curriculars: Also a key differentiator. If you were involved in sports, clubs, or student governments, include them. Don’t forget to also include years, titles and accomplishments.
• References: If you still have room, include your references. If not, make a note that they will be available upon request.

So that’s it in a nutshell. Take all of the information you need and use it to craft a great resume!