Writing an Effective Résumé
Your executive
résumé represents you and your personality, but even a
well-focused and informative résumé can get you only the chance
to appear for an interview. Before you get that chance to speak with your
prospective employer, it's your résumé that reaches the table.
Even a single infelicitous sentence can reduce your chances of being invited
to interview. So before sitting down to write, consider the following to
make your résumé a powerful and effective statement.
Objective
Before creating your statement of objective, be clear about the difference
between a job and a career. Ask yourself what jobs you're prepared to do
to build the career you're after. Write a specific, one-sentence career
objective that describes your short- and long-term career objectives.
The order in which you assemble the rest of the elements is up to you.
Tailor the order depending on the specific job you're applying for.
Education
Start with your most recent certificate, diploma, or degree program, including
degree, name of the school and its location, number of years you attended,
major field of study or some courses you took, and grades or average grades.
Work Experience
The record of your professional experience shows how well you've performed
in the past and indicates to the prospective employer how you'll do in the
future. Write down what you did at each job, including responsibilities, major
accomplishments, and duties you performed. Try to group your duties and skills
into three or four general skill areas. You can list the number of years worked,
positions held, and organization names and locations in a section called Relevant
Skills and Experience. Starting with the most recent employer, describe your
work history by listing the name of the organization where you're currently
employed and then previous employments. Include dates of employment, positions
held (job titles), responsibilities, and accomplishments.
Honors and Achievements
If you have been awarded scholarships or work-related or sports awards or
honors, include them in this section.
Additional Highlights
You can add further résumé sections so as to highlight achievements,
extracurricular activities, and special skills. Examples are sections called
Community and Technical Services, Volunteer Experience, Military Experience,
Special Training, Leadership Experience, Special Skills and Interests, Research
Experience, and Personal Interests (of a nonreligious nature). Even such an
expression as "Training in firefighting" or "Training in first
aid" can make a big difference in your favor.
Also list your memberships in professional and nonprofessional organizations.
Memberships in professional associations show your commitment to a career
field; memberships in nonprofessional organizations demonstrate other, wider
interests that say you're well-rounded.
Do not include a reference list with your résumé, but do state
the following, centered, at the end of the résumé:
References available on request.
That way prospective employers can inquire about you. Be sure to ask your
references in advance for their permission to include them on your list so
that when they're contacted to speak on your behalf with a prospective employer,
they're prepared to describe your (great!) qualities. If you learn that they
were contacted, send a message of thanks.
Important Factors
A résumé should be concise and specific. If possible, limit
your résumé to a maximum of two or three pages. Your résumé
should say the most about you in the fewest words. There should be a reason
for everything in it. Leave out personal information such as race, sex, age,
height, weight, marital status, and political and religious affiliations.
The only time to include photographs is in a very extensive portfolio and
if the job description requires it.
Be careful not to include a large number of jobs even if you have had a large
number of jobs. Try to keep the employment section relevant or specific to
the position you're seeking.
Be both precise and truthful about all information you're providing; incorrect
or false information could become a reason for termination once you're on
the job.
And there's usually no need to use fancy binders or folders; they add nothing
to the résumé's substance.
Consult a reliable and experienced editorial services company that offers
résumé
writing services because such professional editorial and writing services
can make your résumé stand out from others.
About the author
PAULA PLANTIER is a recognized expert in the field of executive resume review
and resume writing services.