Any experienced and successful resume writers around?

[Displaced Flames fan]

I need to put together a resume but I REALLY don't know what a good resume includes these days. How much work history if any? Should there be an objective line? It won't be targetted to a specific job opening so I know I probably don't want a cover letter.

I guess to explain how this is going...I need/want to write a good resume but I have zero confidence in my ability to do so. Why? I have no idea. I have excellent communication skills...but...this...just scares me.

[icarus]

Is the US Postal Service losing one of its finest?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by icarus

Is the US Postal Service losing one of its finest?

I'd like to make that very thing happen.

Let's put it this way, I may be 'coming full circle' in my career.

[arsenal]

Objective line is nice, but i find unless you are targeting a specific job market, it seems almost useless.

As far as job experience go, all job experience is good. But highlight certain aspects of each job that you feel highlight your skill set and the type of job you are applying for.
Also, if you can, highlight people skills, team skills, and an ability to learn new things.
Those things are what companies usually look for.

Hope that helps.

[greatbigC]

I just went through the process a couple months ago and things have changed since I did it the time before that.

The first page is supposed to be your accomplishments. Basically as many successes that you can think of from your employment history. A success could be something you did to help your company improve a practice or initiate a policy. Anything that you may have done that can be seen as a positive.

Then on to your employment history, etc. Don't ever put anything negative about yourself and supply references when asked rather then include them with your resume.

Go to jobshop or another employment site and check around there, they typically have resources to help.

Just a couple of things that I could think of off the top of my head. Good luck and hope all goes well for you.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I need to put together a resume but I REALLY don't know what a good resume includes these days. How much work history if any? Should there be an objective line? It won't be targetted to a specific job opening so I know I probably don't want a cover letter.

I guess to explain how this is going...I need/want to write a good resume but I have zero confidence in my ability to do so. Why? I have no idea. I have excellent communication skills...but...this...just scares me.

If you can read and write proper English, you've already a leg up on 2/3 of the people handing in resumes, even to professional positions. You'd be surprised how few resumes are actually properly presented and thought out, most of them are just explosions of facts littered higgedly-piggedly across the pages.

In general, your cover page is as important as the resume - craft a specific cover page for any job where you are applying directly (as opposed to on a job listing site or talent agency). Look up the company on the internet and mention a couple things relevant to their business to show that you actually took the time to find something out about them, and this is not just a spampplication.

In the resume itself, be reasonably complete but concise. Do not mention your hobbies unless they have a direct bearing on the job - for example, if you are applying for an IT job and you have a server farm in your basement where you tinker around with the latest software and technologies (loser!) then mention it, but nobody cares if you breed attack rabbits. You need to get across three things: your work history; your education and certifications; your personal qualities and suitability for the position.

If you have large gaps in your job history, be absolutely sure to explain exactly where you were and what you were doing during that time - if you were off in Europe for a year on a sabbatical, explain that. If you were actually lying around the house collecting pogey, use phrases like "Due to a downturn in the industry at this time, I spent some time looking for work before I was able to find a job where I fit in and where I felt comfortable with the company."

One other thing - grab some resumes off the internet, and blatantly rip-off the format of one that you like (or, if that makes you feel bad, use one to "research" your own style. Whatever). It's not a novel, it's more of a form letter mixed with a bit of essay writing skill - you don't get points for originality, unless I guess maybe if you're applying at a marketing firm...

[HelloHockeyFans]

Yes, rather than make it a "what skills I have" type resume, summarize your accomplishments -- specifically -- for each job.

[Phanuthier]

What kind of job are you looking to get Dis? I think that should be important to formulate your resume appropriately.

Also, resumes get about 15-20 seconds attention. Its your job to get their attention.

jammies, I put hobbies et al on my resume. My resume is a for technical positions, but I put on there that I like to travel and what sports I do. Granted, it covers about 3 lines of a 2 page resume, and its the last 3 lines.

PS : congrants on taking a new step

[Winsor_Pilates]

Always use a cover page IMO. It just seems professional, even if you don't tailor it to every position. A generic CL is fine for many jobs/industries.

Your resume needs to highlight skills/accomplishments related to the job being applied for. If you're applying all over the map this can be hard, so if that's the case consider creating multiple resumes and sending the right one for the right job.

When I was last job hunting I had 4 resumes and 4-5 cover letters. I was applying to different industries and used a different resume for each that highlighted what I could bring to that industry.

A skill based resume is also a good way to go if you don't have a lot of experience in the field your trying to get in to. Focuses on related skills, and draws less attention to the limited experience. This got me into Real Estate with absolutely no real estate experience. I don't think a regular resume would have worked as well for me.

[Daradon]

If your still looking, IM me on here, I can give advice and even give you a draft if you give me the info. I have done many professional work documents including resumes and business plans for start-ups.

I'll check my IM's tomorrow.

[kermitology]

My current resume has gotten me four straight job offers.

[Cube Inmate]

I highly recommend using Comic Sans MS font in a bold colour...you know, just to show your potential employer that you`re not bound by conventions and tradition...or intelligence.

[Flames89]

PAR statements. Problem. Action. Result.

[fredr123]

A good resume is highly dependent on the job you're applying for. If you're looking for an entry-level position or trying to join the King's team, then a cover letter is probably not necessary and even the simplest inventory of your skills and experience would probably do in the resume itself. If you're applying for some kind of executive or professional position then the cover letter becomes critical. Every word, every bit of punctuation and formatting, heck even the white space in your resume needs to be scrutinized.

Jammies offered fantastic tips for resume writing aimed at jobs approaching the latter category. I endorse his comments without reservation. I would caution against Winsor_Pilates approach unless, like him, you are applying broadly to different industries for a wide variety of positions. Even then I would suggest you customize your cover letter to each employer you are addressing.

[Flashpoint]

I always like it when it is only a 1 page resume. It forces people to distill down to what is really important.

Education (nobody cares about your marks BTW, just the degree), work history, other qualifications. I look for hobbies that involve groups (team sports, fight clubs, gun running) because it indicates you can work with others.

Cover letter should indicate you know something about the company, why you want to work specifically there, and why you are a good fit. Form letters will be smelled a mile away, and are a big no-no. Take the extra 20 minutes to customize your cover letter.

[mykalberta]

Think of a resume as a forum topic.

If the first page blows, you ignore it.

Also, personalize the resume for the specific company, dont just make a generic resume to send to all. I personally only send 2 pages.

All I send is a cover letter and a first page highlight reel per say. I also personalize a shaw personal web space page for that company that includes all the other information they might need that others might include in the resume.

[Muta]

I've made a 2-page resume, for which I tailor to each job I apply for.

Even if it's entry-level, I still write a cover letter. As someone who has hired in the past, the shorter the cover letter the better.

I make sure that on my resume, my education and skills I can bring are listed first. I re-arrange it to put all the skills that can benefit the company in that position, first.

It's almost like a science. However, I'm not preprared to get my resume critiqued professionally - and that mainly has to do with a pride issue.

[Tyler]

PM Me with your email address, and Ill send you a .pdf on how to write a professional resume

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by fotze

You got job offers without an interview? That is impressive.

My resume is filled with sublimI'mAwesomeinal messages

[Option84]

Imo it's a bad idea to write "references available upon request", first of all you are just stating the obvious and second of all you are forcing extra work upon the recruiter since they have to contact you again. It's better just to include them and their contact information on your resume imo.