Interview Killing Resume Screw Ups and How to Avoid them

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Resume Articles : Interview Killing Resume Screw Ups and How to Avoid them by Nick Moseley

So, you're about to start making or updating your resume so you can go find your dream job (or hey maybe, just ANY job...in credit crunch 2008 that might be the best you can do for now). I know that it can seem impossibly difficult but it's not that hard at all. However, it IS very easy to make a mess of it - And messed up resumes and CVs get "round filed" real fast (thrown in the bin) and round filed = no job interview. Yep, a poor resume means you stand 100% no chance. So you want to get it right - right?
Fear not. It's not that hard at all - once you know what to avoid - and that's what I'll tell you now.

So what are the common mistakes that will mess your resume up?

**John Doe - No contact information**

Many people feel that because they're sending a cover letter, they don't need to include their name, address, phone number and email address at the top of their resume.

However it's very common for cover letters to be separated from resumes by HR departments who then pass the resume to various other staff members for review. At this stage your contact information is very likely to be lost forever! And I can tell you that it's very frustrating for a manager to receive a good resume that has all of the qualifications that he or she is looking for in an employee without a name or any contact information.

So - Very important - Include all of your contact information at the top of your resume. Name, address, phone, email.

**What do you want to do? No objective**

Large organizations may have dozens of ads for employees advertised. If your resume goes first to an HR admin person for filtering then how will he or she know what job you're applying for unless you state this in your resume as well as cover letter (again same dangers of lost cover letters apply so put it on the CV header too)

**What do you want to achieve? No goals or ambition?**

Not necessary in all cases. Use common sense. Under your name and contact information should be a heading about your career objective. You can break this into two categories. One should be for the position which you are seeking. The other can be what you hope to attain in the future.

If, for example, you're hunting a job as a news reporter and have a career aim to be an editor or a features writer, then you could state this briefly in your resume as a career goal. This can be a handy indication that you're a long term strategic thinker as well as a loyal employee who is keen to develop new skills and add value to the business.

As I say use common sense. If applying to small companies it may not be wise to indicate that you want the job of the person who's recruiting you!

**You don't many or any skills, bye bye! They're not psychic you know!**

In any job no matter how junior there are skills required even if it's just a summer job selling ice cream on the beach (hey that's customer facing with a bit of sales you know!) Way to many CVs are thin on evidence of relevant skills.

To many applicants lump all their tasks in a short paragraph, which will not impress many possible employers.

So don't understate your past experience ' Include all of the tasks you performed at your old job, or know how to do, that concern to the position which you are seeking.

It's good to list all of the tasks and knowledge in bullet point format so that it makes it easier for the employer to see just what you can do. This is not the time to be shy or modest. Highlighting your accomplishments, knowledge and past experience can not be too underestimated when it comes to your resume.

**Got fired or saying my current job and company are rubbish - Writing why you left or are leaving**

Not necessary at all and looked at unprofessional. You will most likely be asked why you left your prior employment during your interview. Don't badmouth your last place of employment, even if your boss was a reincarnation of the Devil! Just say that you are seeking an opportunity for new development.

**I want, I want! Talking money right off the block**

NEVER put down how much you are making at your current job or how much money you expect to pull in at the new job.

While some employers will ask that you state your salary qualifications in your cover letter, this is never acceptable on a CV.

Many employees who ask that prospective employees state their salary requirements in their cover letter tend to pay low wages and do not want to waste their time with anyone who expects to be paid enough money to make a living.

**Your resume looks like a 5 year olds "art" project**

For a 5 year old it's cute. For a resume it's death. Coloured paper, fancy fonts and pics may look really nice but is generally considered to be amateurish. Use white paper. Black ink. Standard fonts. Standard lower and upper caps and make it simple to read.

**Uneducated barbarians need not apply**

You didn't spring into existence from nowhere so make sure that you put down your educational experience from the last college or university that you attended to the first.

If you have a post graduate degree, that should come first under the Education heading, along with the degree and any awards.

Your undergraduate university or college should come second along with degrees and accomplishments. If you have a post grad degree you don't have to put down high school information ' That's a given.

**No autobiographies please!**

Pages of life story filler are a sure way to get round filed fast. With that said, it's a context thing. Don't hesitate to make your CV more than one page if your accomplishments, experience and education warrants this in the context of the position applied for.

It's better not to underestimate yourself than to keep your resume short and sweet. On the other hand don't pout down long lists of hobbies, and non work related achievements, your junior schools, places lived in, travel done and so on. It's filler and noted as such immediately. Black mark.

**Summary**

So, avoid these clangers and you'll be well on your way to creating an interview magnet of a resume that will reflect all of the reasons why you are the best person for the job as well as a resume that reflects your personality.

About the Author
From London where he was an expert job hopper Nick now lives in Stockholm with wife Lena and Gunnar a Border Terrier. He likes long forest and lake walks, is learning Swedish, sells on ebay and publishes career help websites, for example http://www.thecareerdomain.info where you can find resume and interview help ideas and tips.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=881467

What Does Expert Resume Writing involve

Resume articlces : What Does Expert Resume Writing involve by Aseriah Jordan

A resume has one primary purpose. That is, to convince an employer to invite you to an interview. If you are successful in doing this, than you wrote an effective resume.

Many people think that a resume is suppose to be a summary of your entire life and career, or a vehicle for self expression or even as their own personal statement. When people write their own resume, they often stick in everything they've ever done and every bit of information about themselves as if to say:

"Hey, I've done a lot, I'm nice, and I've had an interesting life. Why not help me out by giving me a job?

This is the biggest mistake anyone can make because employers are not in the business of helping nice, interesting or busy people by handing out jobs.It is important to prepare a resume with the attention to create interest and persuade the employer to call you. A resume written with that in mind will look very different from a piece written merely as a catalog of your work history.

Some of the techniques you will use to create a resume that gets you interviews include using...

• White space to focus the reader's attention
• Bullets to help the reader zero in on your most outstanding achievements
• Specific numbers and details that add credibility to your accomplishments
• Action words and phrases that make you sound like a doer and an achiever

In Summary

The more you make yourself look like someone who can achieve results for the employer, the more interviews you will get, keep that in mind. If you need help in writing a professionally looking resume head on over to shibaresumes.com Or if you already have a resume you can Post if for FREE at HotResumes.com

About the Author
Aseriah is a senior writer at Shiba Resume and has written over 300 professional, entry-level, and recent graduate resume. His clients have had an incredible successful interview landing rate of 100%. If you are in need of a professional resume writing service you can find his services at http://www.shibaresumes.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=880910

How to Outline to Make a Resume

Friday, May 23, 2008

Resume Articles : How to Outline to Make a Resume by Aseriah Jordan

Every resume you will ever write will contain the same components. No matter what format you use, so make sure you have this information on hand before you start writing your Resume...
Basic Components of Every Resume

Job Objective (or Summary of Qualifications)
Experience (employers, dates of employment, job titles)
Accomplishments (what the you've achieved on the job, including exact numbers if available)
Capabilities (skills you would bring to the job applying for)
Education (schools, diplomas, honors, majors, thesis topics, etc.)
However, remember that it is not just that you have the above outline components, it is how you use them-you will have a different level of experience, or education than someone else. So don't just go and copy an example you find off the internet, is not recommended.

Example of Resume 1

Here is some basic components explained a little better.

Ojective Section:Here you will enter a clear, tightly focused job objective cooresponding to the job you are applying for.

Experience Section:In this section you enter data about the various jobs you've held, starting with the most recent and working backwards and down the page.

Education Section:Filling out this section is similar to filling in the experience section. You start by writing down the highest or most recent degree first. Usually these are the same thing, but if they aren't put the most relevant one first.

Extra:Using bullets when listing your accomplishments, education, and capabilities helps the employer read your resume quickly. Also, if it is relevant, you can add sections for volunteer work, languages, publications, seminars attended, licenses, special skills, honors and awards or affiliations (e.g. professional associations).

In Summary
The outline to make a resume is rather simple and you will fulfill most of the questions an employer will have before they call you in for an interview. If you need help in writing a professionally written resume head on over to shibaresumes.com Or if you already have a resume you can Post if for FREE at HotResumes.com

Best of Luck in Your Job Search.

About the Author
Aseriah is a senior writer at Shiba Resume and has written over 300 professional, entry-level, and recent graduate resume. His clients have had an incredible successful interview landing rate of 100%. If you are in need of a professional resume writing service you can find his services at http://www.shibaresumes.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?search_title=resume&l=10&c=none&D1=advanced&s=41

Steps to writing a Cover Letter for Resume

Free Resume Cover Letter Articles : Steps to writing a Cover Letter for Resume by Aseriah Jordan

The cover letter is used to dress up a resume. Despite their importance, people still send their resumes without a cover letter. Not sending a cover letter makes hiring managers feel like the applicant is lazy, unprofessional and not very interested in the job.
A cover letter is much more than just an introduction to the resume. Actually, the name cover letter does little justice to this highly strategic piece of marketing. It really should be called an Interview Generating Letter because, like the resume, it's purpose is to impress an employer so he'll call you for the interview.

The cover letter must do one of two things:

1)Get the Employer to read the resume or
2)Get the Employer to call you for an interview.

Preferably Both.

A eye catching cover letter shouldnt be you rambling on, it is extremely focused (one page tops) and it completely supports the specific job objective of the resume. And, like the resume, it should have a secret structure that induces a prospective employer to take action on both a conscious and subconscious level.

Stellar Cover Letter 1, 2, 3!

1.First, you make a connection with the employer and grab their attention
2.You prove to him that you are the best person for the job.
3. Finally, you move them to take action-call you for an interview.

It is absolutely important to follow this sequence in order to write an effective cover letter. Just the Facts, man.

In Summary

The cover letter is the most important document seen by the employer because it tells them if your resume is even worth looking at. Read the article twice to get a real grasp of the information. If you need help in writing a professional looking resume head on over to shibaresumes.com Or if you already have a resume you can Post if for FREE at HotResumes.com

About the Author
Aseriah is a senior writer at Shiba Resume and has written over 300 professional, entry-level, and recent graduate resume. His clients have had an incredible successful interview landing rate of 100%. If you are in need of a professional resume writing service you can find his services at http://www.shibaresumes.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=877307

Free Resume Examples

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Please click job position below to see samples of resume. The resume examples can be modified based on your education, skills, and working experience.

Accountant Accounting Manager Actor Actress Actuarial Analyst Administration Aircraft echanic Aircraft Pilot Resume Architect Arts Attorney Banking Executive Bar Attendant Biotech CFO - Chief Financial Officer Chemical Engineer Communication Resume Computer Engineer Computer Programmer Computer Service Assistant Computers Resume Customer Services Database Administrator Education Resume Engineer Executive Resume Finance Financial Analyst Financial Manager Hairstylist Health Administration HR Administration Human Resources Manager Landscape Architect Resume Legal Resume Marketing Director Marketing Manager Medical Network Administrator Nursing Production Manager Sales Sales and Marketing Sales Manager Sales Representative Scientist Services Social Services Software Engineer Student Resume Teacher Technical Resume Technician Web Designer

CV / Resumes Writing Tips for Professionals

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Curriculum Vitae Articles : CV / Resumes Writing Tips for Professionals by Mike Kelley at First Impressions

Conducting a job search is like marketing and selling a product -- with YOU as the product. The best way to market yourself is to go through this sales sequence. In sales you have the "Features and Benefits" of the service or product provided. When selling yourself these can be communicated as your "Skills and Achievements".

Your abilities can be overlooked and difficult to understand especially if you are coming from a different background. The recruiter or employer may feel that the language used or "buzz words" do not match. If the recruiter is forced to decipher too much information or jargon, he or she may be unable to see the experience they seek. With a little innovation, and change in CV style, you will effectively position yourself as a worthy candidate and make the transition to another job or job area.

The first step for the transition is for you, the applicant to understand your skills and abilities, and how those abilities relate to your intended job target / business or industry. These can be indexed on the front page of the CV for IMPACT, in business they can be anything from Leadership, Human Resources, to Policy-making and Strategic Planning. Everyone's talking about "key words and key skills" in all professions not only in business. If you possess plenty of experience and have attained a number of achievements you should start thinking about writing an "ABCV".

The targeting and visual presentation of your skills and achievement based CV is critical. Readers should be immediately impressed with the appearance, and the way your CV communicates the "value" you can bring to the vacancy. For more information and to view ABCV examples please visit http://www.cv-service.org

About the Author
Mike Kelley probale has unrivalled CV writing experience. He has written over 5000 in the past 15 years. Dealing within international job search,emigration consultation, and management recruitment. (Not an agency).

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=59181

Why Your CV/Resume Is Not Generating Interview Offers

Curriculum Vitae Articles : Why Your CV/Resume Is Not Generating Interview Offers by Gerard McLoughlin

If your current CV or resume is not generating the interview offers you want, it is time to start assessing it. Check to see that the following descriptors apply: *Begins with a succinct, clearly stated career objective tailored to the particular job for which you are applying. *Highlights how your skills and qualifications match the company's specific needs.

*Employs appropriate titles for previous jobs to demonstrate clearly that you are suitably qualified for the advertised position.

*Gives a concise description of your previous employers - their products, services, industry, etc. - and your role in the company.

*Uses PAR statements to describe your accomplishments. P identifies the 'problem' you faced; A describes the 'action' you took to solve the problem; R describes the 'result' of the action you took.

*Quantifies your accomplishments using numbers, percentages, etc.

*Makes effective use of the key words and phrases contained in the job advertisement to describe your skills and areas of expertise.

*Every sentence starts with an action word, for example: "increased production by 20% while saving £200,000 in operating costs" Examples of effective action words are: compiled, conducted, created, designed, developed, established, implemented, introduced, invented, maintained, negotiated, operated, organized, produced, and published.

*Explains how, in your previous jobs, you increased sales and profits, improved productivity, saved time and costs, and established good customer relationships.

*Provides evidence of the competencies most valued by employers, for example: your communication and interpersonal skills, flexibility, initiative, organisational ability, and teamwork.

*Includes any pertinent awards or honours you may have received.

*Provides your educational history and details of training related to the position you are seeking.

*Employment history is logical and consistent; and gaps of more than one year between your jobs are clearly explained.

*The layout is neat and uncluttered, with an easy-to-read sequence of sections and no large blocks of text.

*Contains no errors in spelling or grammar; and all unnecessary words have been eliminated.

*Hobbies and interests have been included only if they serve to reveal characteristics, skills or accomplishments that support your career objective.

Visit the author's website at http://www.assignmentsplus.com

About the Author
Gerard McLoughlin, Director of Assignments Plus Communications, has contributed career-related articles to a wide range of recruitment companies, websites and publications throughout the world: USA Today, JobBankUSA.com, US-Recruiters.com; Jobs1.co.uk, Nurse-Recruiter.com, Recruitireland.com, AutomationTechies.com, EcruitingInc.com, etc.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=55044

How to Write a catchy CV

Curriculum Vitae Articles : How to Write a catchy CV by Lieutenant Colonel Anil Kumar Nigam

Writing a Catchy CV

What is a CV for? A CV or resume is quite simply an advertisement to sell yourself to an employer. The purpose of your CV is to make you attractive, interesting, worth considering to the company and so is helps you to get short-listed for interview or the written test.

An employer may have several hundred enquiries about a single job; he or she will only choose a few people who appear suitable for interview. Therefore, your CV must be as good as you can make it.

Your CV should be designed to differentiate you from rest of the crowd: For that it should have following characteristics: - ·Be both informative and persuasive ·Highlight your marketable skills; abilities and work experience which are most useful to an employer and which match the job requirements. ·Outline all relevant information about your education and work experience, which are most useful to the job or, type of job you have targeted. ·Identify the selling points that set you aside from other candidates. ·Communicate your most relevant qualifications and achievements to potential employers. ·Present your positive aspects in a concise and well-structured document.

Stick to the Basic Rules ·The term "Bio-data" is out of fashion. Curriculum Vitae (CV) is more suitable to be used and leaves a better impact on the person reading it.

·Before writing your CV sit down and think as to what information you want to highlight.

·Include your achievements, your hobbies and interests, academic qualifications, details of your work experience (if any) and your job objectives. Don't write a final CV without including all these.

·Begin your CV with a section on personal particulars. Exclude family background. Write your date of birth and not your age by this you do not have to change your CV each time you send an application.

·Your CV must be easy to read, short and attractive and must distinguish you from others.

There are two communication principles to remember:

·'KISS' - 'keep it simple, stupid'. It should be simple and yet attractive.

·'If they didn't hear it, you didn't say it'. It simply means that you should so design it that a person should be able to catch the highlights of your CV even if he just scans through it, may be, just for a minute. The salient and important points must draw his attention instead of he searching for the main features of it.

What to include: CV should include following points positively: -

·Personal details ·Education ·Work experience ·Achievements ·Extracurricular activities ·Interests ·Skills ·References
for details visit

http://www.lulu.com/content/207853
http://www.lulu.com/content/206787
http://www.lulu.com/anilkumar

About the Author
Author has 28 years of experience in the field of Teaching and Management. He is M. Tech from IIT Kanpur and has worked in different capacities including Signal corps Indian Army, Regional Manager for a Telecom Company. Currently he is Professor with ITM, Gurgaon that is rated as best Engineering colleges of North India.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=48199

7 Things To Never Include In A Resume

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Free Resume Articles : 7 Things To Never Include In A Resume by Aseriah Jordan

Writing a Resume takes more than just jotting down your job history. To help you in writing a wonderful resume I will start by giving you tips on what Not to include in a resume. Enjoy

1. Salary expectations/history. Even if you are responding to an ad that specifically asks for this information, don't do it! If your expectations or salary history are too high, a prospective employer will weed you out right from the start. If it's too low, you have lost the bargaining power, or - worse - you will be hired possibly thousands less than you are worth. It's a no-win situation. Remember: It's always best to discuss salary requirements at the interview.

2. Personal data. This is a big waste of precious resume space. No employer will make the interview call based on your age, marital status, or "excellent" health. If you are in excellent health is directly related to the position they are seeking (maybe a warehouse job where you has to lift heavy objects), the time to bring that up is in the interview. We would like to think that there are enough legal protections against discrimination that disclosing information such as age, etc., would not be an issue, but unfortunately, you would just be fooling yourself.

3. Hobbies or personal interests. The only time that including these on a resume is a good idea is when your your interests are relevant to the position for which you are applying. For the most part, you can cover this in the actual interview.

4. Cutesy gimmicks. Cute or funny graphics on a resume immediately send the message that you are not to be taken seriously. Plus, they divert the employer's attention away from your achievements and qualifications. I once received a resume from a woman named Candy Kayn. Trying to capitalize on the "cuteness" of her name, she stuck candy cane graphics all over her resume. Within seconds, it was in the trash.

5. Your picture. Once again, discrimination protections notwithstanding, pictures simply give employers another reason to reject a resume. If they don't like your looks - if they think you look too young, too old, too fat, too thin, too good-looking, not good-looking, etc. - the resume may get tossed out unread. You want the employer to judge on the basis of your talents and qualifications - not on looks. So never include a picture. (Models and performing artists are the exception to this rule, since their appearance is part of their qualifications for some jobs. However, they generally submit 8"x10" photos separately - not on the resume itself.)

6. Reasons for leaving previous jobs. These never count in your favor. If you left a job involuntarily, that's a strike against you ("laid off" always sounds a bit like "fired" to some employers). If you left voluntarily, that's also a strike against you. "Maybe," the employer thinks, "he won't stick with this job either." The best course is to never raise the issue.

7. "References Available Upon Request." The only information on the resumes you create should be whatever is specifically related to the job your trying to land...reference sheets can be presented and discussed during the interview.

In Summary

Keep these little put hugely affecting things out of your resume and you will have success. By impressing an employer with your resume, they will be more than happy to set up an interview with you.

If you need help in writing a professional looking resume head on over to shibaresumes.com Or if you already have a resume you can Post if for FREE at HotResumes.com

Good Luck in your Job Search!

About the Author
Aseriah is a senior writer at Shiba Resume and has written over 300 professional, entry-level, and recent graduate resume. His clients have had an incredible successful interview landing rate of 100%. If you are in need of a professional resume writing service you can find his services at http://www.shibaresumes.com

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=876896

Resume Ideas That Really Work

Free Resume Articles : Resume Ideas That Really Work by Lisa McGrimmon

It's easy to come up with resume ideas that get noticed. What requires a little practice and finesse is coming up with resume ideas that get noticed for the right reasons and get taken seriously.

In the hunt for tips on writing a good resume, it can be easy to get caught up in gimmicks and tricks. Unfortunately, most of the resume gimmicks you'll come across are the equivalent of wearing a clown costume to your next job interview. Sure you'll be remembered, but not in the right way. Unless you want to join the circus, it's not going to get you hired.

Below you'll find several gimmicks that may look good on the surface, but they just don't work, followed by some resume ideas that aren't as sexy and exciting, but they truly work.

Resume Ideas That Just Don't Work

1. Fancy Designs
You may be tempted to include a logo that you've created yourself or obtained from other sources, or print your resume on paper with fancy designs to make your resume stand out from the crowd. There is never ever a good reason to print your resume on paper with fancy designs, and there's rarely a good reason to include your own design or logo on your resume. This strategy may work for a very small percentage of job seekers in highly creative fields (like graphic design) where their design skills matter. If that is not you, avoid using graphic designs on your resume.

2. Multi-Colored Text
Bold, italics, all caps and underlines are effective ways to highlight text on your resume. Multi-colored text is not. Your resume may not fax or copy well if your text color is light, and this type of resume design is seen by most hiring managers as nothing more than a gimmick.

3. White Text on Black Paper or Grey Text Boxes
White text on a black background is very difficult to read. Further, this type of resume does not copy well, will not be readable when faxed, and like the other resume strategies, just doesn't work because it comes across as being too contrived.

Most employers are put off by the use of these extreme resume strategies. Unless there's a very good reason for you to show off your graphic design skills to an employer, they should be avoided. HR professionals will look at a contrived, highly stylized resume and wonder what's missing in this person's set of skills and experience that they feel they can't speak for themselves on a more traditional resume. Ultimately, they'll feel you are hiding behind all of the graphics and fancy fonts.

Less Sexy Resume Ideas That Truly Work

1. Use a Slightly Different Font
If you want to make your resume stand out and still look professional, try a font that is slightly different from the standard fonts. For example, Times New Roman is the serif font more commonly used on resumes, instead, try using a similar, but less common font, like Georgia instead. I know, not sexy, and definitely not exciting, but it works. This strategy makes your resume stand out from the others without venturing into clown costume territory.

Don't go wild with this tip, employers do not want to see resumes written in Comic Sans font.

2. Use Good Quality White or Off-White Paper.
Sure this is old advice, but no one actually takes it, so if you do, you'll stand out from the crowd. It's amazing how well nice quality, slightly heavy weight paper stands out in a pile of resumes printed on standard paper.

Again, these resume ideas may not be as sexy or exciting as adding a flashy logo or fancy design to your resume, but unlike those flashy strategies, the more understated approach actually works. It gets you noticed in the right way, and it can help to get you to the interview.

Isn't that really your goal? A new job and a new, fat paycheck; now that is something to get excited about.

About the Author
Lisa McGrimmon publishes Career Choice Guide, an in-depth job search and career choice guide. Visit www.careerchoiceguide.com/resume-ideas.html for plenty of resume ideas that really work.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=876107

Best Resume Format - Chronological or Functional?

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Free Resume Articles : Best Resume Format - Chronological or Functional? by Mike Woods

A resume is basically a summary of your past employment history, achievements, skills, educational attainments and competencies acquired through the years. Your resume is your sales letter to a prospective employer to tell them that you are the best candidate for the role. It is generally made up of one to two pages and often comes in two distinct resume formats:

Chronological and Functional. So which one is best suited for you?

To decide which resume format is best for your current requirement, let us briefly discuss the structure and merits of the two.

Chronological Resume Format

Chronological is described as something that is arranged according to the order of time. A chronological resume format, therefore, is where your professional experiences and educational attainment are arranged in the order they were obtained. In a resume, this is usually done by starting out with the latest or most current experience followed by the one before that. This is why, it is also often called as a reverse chronological resume.

Most employers prefer this type of resume format as they can easily assess your qualifications by reviewing your recent and past employment history and educational background. Putting your most recent employment first can help them gauge your suitability to the role. It is a known fact that most employers would prefer someone who had recent experience with a role than someone who had experience with it five years ago.

When using a chronological resume format, you should list your most recently held position followed by two to four other positions arranged in reverse order. Also include the months and years you were employed. You don't necessarily have to provide the exact date. Be sure to be able to explain gaps in your employment if there are any as this will be most noticeable in this type of resume format. You can do this in your cover letter. A chronological resume format works best when you have acquired some professional experience and not fresh out from college.

Functional Resume Format

If you are fresh out of school and have no substantial professional experience to talk of, it is best to use a functional resume format. This type of resume format puts more focus on your qualifications and skills rather than your employment and professional history. So, rather than listing positions held in reverse order you will be listing out key competencies that are required and relevant to the role. An example could be "People Management" or "Customer Relations". Then proceed to enumerate tasks or duties you performed whether at school, part time jobs or at community projects that help to reinforce this skill.

A functional resume format is also applicable for career changers as their professional experience might vary considerably from what is being offered. But more often than not, they will have acquired some skills from their previous career that are applicable to the new career path they have chosen.

Choosing which resume format to use is entirely up to you. But it is important to keep these key differences and advantages in mind in deciding which one you are going to choose. In many cases, you might be able to use both types and it is often termed as a combination resume format. If you do opt to combine the strengths of both resume formats, just make sure to limit the length of your resume and stick to information relevant to the role.

About the Author
Fact: Most of the resumes submitted will end up as trash. Don't let that happen to you. Learn effective ways on how to write a resume that gets the job and which resume format attracts employers.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=873432

Hot Tips For Resume Tips That Work For Sales Executives

Free Resume Articles : Hot Tips For Resume Tips That Work For Sales Executives by Rita Ashley, Job Search Coach

MAKE YOUR RESUME SELL YOU It's Not Bragging - It's Data
Employers need information to determine you are the right person for the job. The interview and the resume are the conduit for that information. If you don't let employers know you are the best candidate for the job, how will they find out?

One coaching client, I will call him Marty, is a sales executive with excellent credentials. He built low turnover teams who broke quota and attended president's club events (top performers only) for 16 years. Yet those accomplishments were not on his resume.

He explains, "I'm not a bragger. I just wasn't raised that way." During a practice interview, he responded to "How did you and your teams deliver such high performance so consistently, regardless of where you worked?" with the generic, "I coach, teach and motivate" not realizing his answer was not compelling. Every executive is expected to coach, teach and motivate.

After a lot of probing, we determined his management techniques included:

* Holding weekly one-on-one meetings to review forecasts and learn what was needed to close business.

* Clearing the way so sales force could focus on sales, not internal issues.

* Field visits with each sales person to review presentations and accounts.

* In depth product training.

* Assisting with final negotiations and closing big deals.

* Constantly evaluating performance and intervening when required.

* Encouraging focus on key accounts resulting in 200% increase in revenue.

These are exactly tasks employers use to evaluate candidates for sales executive positions. Marty's accomplishments are impressive and needed to be highlighted in the resume and be part of his interview. His version of his resume simply stated he has 25 years' successful sales experience and hoped to find a new employer where he can contribute: Standard introduction to a resume and it included no data to seize the employer's interest.

When Marty included his accomplishments, it compelled the reader to learn more:

* Generated revenue of $200+ million in a four year period

* Managed and grew a sales team of over thirty sales executives who achieved account penetration of 800+ new-name Fortune 1000 accounts in a five year period

* Grew regional sales to Fortune 500 clients from $6.0 million to $60+ million/year in less than nine years

* Generated over 35% of company revenue with a team of eight

Now that's data employers can use. It wasn't until Marty realized it is data, not bragging, that he was able to include the information in his interviews. He used these guidelines:

1. Organize your resume and interview to include your accomplishments.

2. List accomplishments in terms of dollars, time saved or other metrics for success.

Numbers and statistics are required to demonstrate accomplishments. It is not enough to say, for instance, that you created a business plan and presented it to the Board. That it was accepted, implemented and delivered measurable results is what wins you an interview or a job offer.

3. From that list, take each bullet and list all the tasks you performed but omit any words like managed, oversaw, was responsible for, coached, mentored or guided. Instead use words like negotiated, conducted, created, delivered, provided, developed, monitored, achieved, sold, introduced, built or generated.

4. List all metrics for success that include time saved, money saved or revenue generated and low turn over if appropriate. Statistics that demonstrate % of company revenue generated or speed of new product introduction and numbers that demonstrate effectiveness capture attention.

5. From these lists, extract those accomplishment and tasks in which you believe employers would be most interested. Create bullets and use the most impressive in the Summary section of your resume.

Once you are comfortable with stating your accomplishments with a metric, practice introducing the data into conversation. It is exactly what prospective employers need to learn about you. When you lead with accomplishments, you give the employer reason to talk to you to learn more. The company has a need to hire. It is your job to help the employer see you are the right person. Remember, it's not bragging, it's data.

About the Author
http://WWW.Jobsearchdebugged.com "Job Search Debugged, Insider's Guide to Job Search for Executives and Technology Professionals" Better Control, Faster Results.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=870044

Resume Mistakes That Could Cost You

Free Resume Articles : Resume Mistakes That Could Cost You by Dawn Summerdale

Accepted resume practices change over time, sometimes due to preferences of hiring managers and other times due to changes in technology. Using outdate resume techniques can make you look like you don’t keep up with the times, or even that you are unwilling to learn new skills, which of course will not work to your advantage in your job search. So what should you avoid including in your resume?

References First, employers really don’t need this information at this stage of the game. Second, even the “references available upon request” tag is outdated and generally assumed by employers. Save this space for information that will set you apart from the competition. You should have your list of references available on a separate sheet for the interview process.

Salary Information Salary information is personal, and frankly not an indicator of worth. Your current salary could be high or low, so letting a potential employer make a judgment based on your current salary without knowing the circumstances could do you more harm than good. You will likely have to divulge this information, but do so in the interview, no in your resume.

Personal Information Employers are very way of any personal information that could end up in a lawsuit under fair hiring laws, so don’t include information on your personal interests, marital status, children, race, age, height, weight, sexual preference, religion or ethnic heritage. While in some countries this is common practice in CV’s, it is inappropriate in the United States.

Photo Unless you are applying for a position where headshots are typically requested such as acting roles, there is no good reason to include a photo on your resume.

Reasons For Leaving Your resume is your chance to provide positive information on your background, so including this information is counterproductive.

Work or Inappropriate Email Address Using your work e-mail address compromises not only the ability to keep your job search efforts from your current employer, it could show your potential employer that you don’t have a problem using their resources for personal gain. If your personal e-mail address contains any inappropriate terms, like hotmama@email.com, it would be best to create a separate e-mail for your job search efforts.

About the Author
Dawn Summerdale is Chief Resume Officer of http://www.freeresumereviewonline.com, an online resume firm for Executives.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=870019

How to Write A Resume

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Resume Articles : How to Write A Resume by Sven Ignok

Resumes are a major piece of the employment puzzle. That being said, it's easy to understand how they can be daunting. Putting a resume together is often a strenuous task to most people. That's why I've chosen to put this article together. I want to ease your fears and give you some simple instructions that will help you put it all together.

I only recently came into close quarters with resume writing. Before this experience I had never put one together. My jobs all came through the application process, and in one case just walking into the store. However, it's not often that the only job requirement is a warm body and a set of hands and eyes. For most of us we don't encounter our first resumes until we get a little older and a bit more serious. It happens around the same time that we stop looking for jobs and start searching for careers. And this is exactly where I found myself, contemplating how to put a resume together.

First you need to think about what kind of resume you are constructing. What is the end you hope to achieve through this resume. All this should be put together for the resume objective, which is a way of stating what you want to accomplish. The objective should describe your immediate goals and future goals. A good example should sound something like this "To obtain a position in the entertainment magazine industry with excellent mobility and room to grow." Short and to the point

Now for the body of the document. With the resume object available, we can now construct something around it that will help us achieve our goals.

At the top you'll need a header that gives all of your personal contact information. Make sure that this is well thought out and laid out. You want your employer to be able to find the information he needs, without a lot of hassle. If the information is hidden or hard to see, it's doubtful the person looking at your application will search very hard to find it.

Next is the part of the resume where summarize your objectives or qualifications. It used to be that people would use this part of the resume to explain their pipe dreams. Today employers are more interested in hearing you talk about how you feel qualified to do the job they are offering you. Make sure you utilize this space. If it's not well thought out it's doubtful the reader will go beyond this point.

Underneath the summary you want to list your work experience. Experiences should be listed in chronological order, with you latest job at the top. Be sure to explain any gaps in between jobs. Also, if you were at a large number of jobs for a short period of time, be sure to have an explanation. Never use your resume as a place to blame another employer or justify the lose of a job.

Place your education here. Be sure to list any education that could be practical. Any kind of training that may have taken place in unorthodox places. Education can have a varying impact on whether or not you get the job. But it's worth your time to list it here.

And now it's time to list your skills. Think about everything you can do and don't be shy. Sometimes you might not get hired on for the job you were going for, but a skill you listed might get you another opening in the same company. You never really know what a company is looking for, and that summer you spent making leather wallets might come in handy. However, be sure to list the most relevant skills at the top.

Remember that being honest is the best road to take. Sometimes a lie or an exaggeration can come back to haunt you. Plus, most employers will appreciate your honesty.

Also, you should think about what is out there on the internet. These days it's not hard for an employer to do a quick search of your name. What they find can often have a big impact on whether or night they hire you.

Here's an example of a resume for marc jenson.

About the Author
Sven is a web professional and writes articles on a variety of subjects.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=869949

Resume Format - How to Do it Right

Resume Articles : Resume Format - How to Do it Right by Mike Woods

Your resume format is something that you should give importance aside from all the details in your resume. In this highly competitive job market, it is very probable that for every position you apply to, you will be competing with a number of hopeful candidates. It is no wonder then that most employers would only give submitted resumes a quick scan and decide whether to continue reading or not. Aside from all the usual skills and experiences being thrown at him, the resume format is one thing that he will normally notice first.

You may send your resume by mail or as an email attachment. Whatever the case, if your resume format is not very appealing, chances are the employer will reject it outright after giving that quick scan.

The internet is teeming with programs and templates promising to offer the best resume format applicable to today's job market. It is just a matter of doing your careful and thorough research. While these easily accessible resume formats are a good guide in making your own, there are a few items you need to keep in mind to ensure that your resume is worth reading.

Guidelines for a Good Resume Format

Avoid writing a resume that feels and looks like a novel. Your resume format must be arranged so that you will have at most two pages. Come on. Employers are busy people. You won't really expect them to spend their whole time reading your resume. Even if you have a lot of other stuff you want to include, focus on putting only the experiences and skills that will apply to the position you are seeking.

If you are contemplating on adding some images on your resume, don't. It is completely unnecessary and will distract the employer from your most important assets. You can present your creativity in other ways. The best resume formats are those that are simple but professional.

Allow for margins on your pages. A good resume format uses a margin of about an inch on all sides, and the top and bottom of the content. Use left-justification. Do not make all your resume content centered. It doesn't look very professional. Keep the font size and style uniform. It is best to use one font style while varying the font size among headlines and other content. Presentable resume formats normally have headlines that are set at a maximum font size of 14 points while the font size of other contents are generally set at a 12-point maximum.

Know how to make effective use of tabs and spaces. Understand that the employer might be reading your resume using another word processor. Consider this when formatting your resume or otherwise he will be reading a disoriented jumble of content. That is why it is best to use basic fonts, styles, spacing and markers.

After you have finished modifying the resume format to your satisfaction, get a print out. Don't use colored papers. Use a white and clean paper. Ensure that the resume format from the print-out appears exactly like the one set in your computer - correct margins, font styles and spacing. Make good use of white space. Avoid crowding the contents on one side while leaving another side with plenty of white space. It won't appear attractive.

After you are completely satisfied with the resume format you are using, ask for constructive criticism from your friends or family. Their view may differ from yours and you will definitely be able to gain a lot of useful insight. This is especially true if they have some experience regarding resume writing.

Following these basic guidelines will ensure that your resume format is pleasing to the reader.

About the Author
Most of the resumes submitted will end up as trash. Don't let that happen to you. Learn about effective resume writing and how to make a good resume format.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=868389

Resume Objective - Should You Have One?

Friday, May 2, 2008

Free Resume Articles : Resume Objective - Should You Have One? by Mike Woods


Every time we submit a job application, we are oftentimes confronted with the predicament on whether to put a resume objective in our CV or not. If you go and ask career experts, you most probably will get varied views and opinions. Some career advisers would say that a resume objective must be included to provide the employer an idea on what types of roles you are interested in and would likely perform best. Other advisers, on the other hand, would be saying that including a resume objective would be a complete waste of time as it is often ignored by employers and sometimes would turn their interest off.

Whatever the case, the decision to put a resume objective in your job application is a matter of personal preference. While it is true that some employers would regard it as nothing more than hype and would ignore it, there are also a number of employers who want to see a resume objective in place to get an immediate insight on whether you are the right person for the role being offered. The reality of the matter is, you can never please everybody. But by making that early decision on whether or not to include a resume objective will make the process of job seeking one step easier.

If you do make the decision to write a resume objective, there are a few important points that you need to take into consideration to make sure that it is up to standard and not be the reason why your application will be declined.

Make sure that your resume objective is relevant to the role that you are seeking.

Do not include a resume objective for the simple reason of just having one. Prospective recruiters can immediately identify whether the resume objective addresses the key competencies required of the position. If found to be irrelevant, it usually ends up in your application being declined on the spot. This is not what you want to happen. You want to get the position so you need to ensure that your resume objective encourages employers to know more about you and discuss your competencies through an interview.

Your resume objective must be simple and must be clear.

You don't want it to be too vague to be understandable only by you and not your prospective employer. Keep in mind that you are trying to sell yourself to them. The resume objective must clearly define your potential without being boastful. While it is perfectly fine to give them an insight on your key skills and competencies that your can bring to a role, be honest. Outright lies can easily be found out during the interview and gone will be your chances of being hired. Honesty still pays but it is not good to be too modest either. Your resume objective must also be written to sell.

Ensure your resume objective focuses on what you can bring to a role.

You are the one seeking for a position so it will be in your best interest to make sure that your resume objective puts you in a positive light in the employer's view. It should clearly communicate the message that you have something beneficial to offer if ever hired. We are not referring to monetary items but specific competencies and skills required of the role.

While the preference to write a resume objective in your CV depends entirely on you, these important points can make the decision process a whole lot easier. However, you have to remember that your goal is to acquire the job you desire and while there are a lot of other factors that bear an impact on that goal, a properly written resume objective can bring you one step closer to achieving that.


About the Author
Fact: Most resumes end up in the trash before spending any useful time in the employer's hand. Don't let yours end up with the same fate. Learn how to write a resume that works and how your resume objective can play a part in finally getting that interview.


Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=868383

IT Resume Tips For More Interviews

Free Resume Articles : Information Technology (IT) Resume Tips For More Interviews by P Johnson

As the recruitment firm that introduced Information Technology (IT) contracting to Australia we have put together a list of do's and don'ts for your next resume. If you are in IT and want more success out of your applications then you need to follow this advice. The fact is we still only work in the IT industry, and our advice is what is getting results for our clients today. So these tips are not theoretically, they are what work in real life situations everyday. You should use these tips yourself to ensure your resume stands out over all the other candidates when you apply for an attractive job.

As you know, IT work is generally technical in nature, which can sometimes make it is easy for candidates to get lost in the detail of their work and forget about formatting and the nature of the content. The goal of this article is to provide you with advice that will increase the probability that you'll be selected for an interview. That is after all the only goal your resume should have. After that its up to you to showcase your skills and experience in person. Therefore, without any more time, here are some very important resume tips that you should follow when putting together your next resume.

* Use bullet points, rather than having big chunks of text that is hard to scan through.

* Use MS Word, in preference to a pdf file.

* Use standard font types and minimal effects such as fancy borders or colors. Use only several font type and size combinations throughout the whole document. This will minimize potential compatibility issues between different Word application versions and minimize reader distractions.

* Tailor each resume and cover letter for the position you are applying. If possible, try to use similar terminology that which was used in the advertisement or job description.

* A resume of between 3 and up to a maximum of 10 pages is reasonable if you have an established career. Beyond this, it may be worth reviewing and removing irrelevant information.

* Remember, 'white space' is important. Set out your resume so that it does not appear cramped, and ensure there is enough space between relevant sections.

* Providing a technical skills matrix means that whoever is reviewing your resume can see at a glance your areas of expertise. You may wish to indicate your skill level for each skills listed (e.g. Advanced, Intermediate etc.), or indicate how many years of experience you have for each.

* Providing information on the technical environment per position gives an idea of how relevant and up to date your skills are, and the depth & breadth of the environment in which you worked.
* Give an insight into the organization/ company you worked for. Is it a large multi-national? How many employees? What is the nature of the business? Don't assume the reader has heard of the company or understands what it is the organization does.

* If you were working on a particular project, provide details of the size and budget of the project, in terms of how many resources were involved and the dollar value of the project.

* Personal skills - you can either incorporate your key strengths in your personal profile, or list these separately. This gives the reader a more in-depth understanding of exactly what you as an individual can offer.

* Avoid putting a photo on your resume. Keep other graphical images to a minimum.

* Use the past tense and choose strong descriptive verbs - i.e. Managed a team of 8 Developers.

* Avoid speaking about yourself in the third person. i.e. John Smith is an IT Professional ... , rather it should read ... An IT Professional with 8 years experience

* SPELL CHECK your resume. Additionally, get another person to check that it reads correctly and that there are no other errors or grammatical mistakes.

If you are looking for an IT position in Australia (or elsewhere), be sure to follow these exact tips, as they will help you to stand out over your competitors and land you more interviews.

About the Author
ADAPS IT Recruitment specializes in IT Recruitment in Sydney and Melbourne Australia. Click here to visit www.adaps.com.au for jobs and tips on how to get your next IT job.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=867901

Sample Resumes for Computer Positions

Thursday, May 1, 2008

There are a number of resume samples and templates for computer job positions. The resume must be modified for a specific job position. This will show differentiation between job seekers. Below are some of computer job title.

Application Software Resume Example
Applications Programmer Resume Example
Computer Architecture Resume Example
Computer Operator Resume Example
Computer Operator Supervisor Resume Example
Computer Technician Resume Example
Database Administrator Resume Example
Developmental Engineer Resume Example
Director Of Information Services Resume Example
Hardware Engineer Resume Example
Information Analyst Resume Example
Information Technology Director Resume Example
LAN Administrator Resume Example
Manager Of Network Administration Resume Example
MIS Manager Resume Example
Operations Analyst Resume Example
Product Support Manager Resume Example
Professional Service Resume Example
Programmer Resume Example
Project Manager Resume Example
Software Analyst Resume Example
Software Application Programmer Resume Example
Software Engineering Resume Example
Software Sales and Marketing Resume Example
Statistician Resume Example
System Analyst Resume Example
System Engineer Resume Example
Systems Programmer Resume Example
Technical Engineer Resume Example

Other computer position related to hardware, software, and application products in the market, such as IBM Server, Sun Server, HP Server, Oracle Database, IBM DB2 Database, Microsoft SQL Server, SAP ERP Application, Oracle ERP Application, SAS Business Intelligence Software, and CISCO Networking Products.