Work Dish

There’s a basic problem with the idea of the resume, and that’s the fact that it’s impossible to reduce a person to a list on a piece of paper. However, necessity requires that employers have some way to preview candidates before selecting which ones to interview, and the resume does serve its purpose here. The good news is that you can use this system to make your own resume stand out, and hopefully get a chance to show off your skills and personality face-to-face.Clarity is one of the keywords to keep in mind. This refers not only to keeping your resume from getting too cluttered, but also to being specific in your information. In some (if not all) cases, the way you present your information will depend on the type of jobs you are actively searching for. Your actual titles at your previous job may not accurately describe your duties at those jobsduties which could make you more attractive to potential employers. Instead of heading your experience with generic categories like “Computer Skills” or “Financial Experience,” emphasize the specific skills you used at those jobs which make you qualified for this new position.Whenever possible, quantify. Numbers stand out on the resume and help to create a sense of scale for employers. For example, you could say “Managed a workforce of 30 people” or “Networked with 5 high-profile clients.” Notice how those examples start with strong action verbsanother way to quickly create a strong sense of achievement about yourself. These words are known as Power Words and should be related to the position you want. If you are looking for a sales position, you should use Power Words from that category: “sold,” “negotiated,” “profited,” etc.If you’ve been exploring resume formats online, you may have come across a debate over which works better: the Chronological format or the Functional format. According to Yana Parker, author of the Damn Good Resume Guide (www.damngood.com), the answer is almost always the Chronological one. This makes it easier for employers to see how you’ve used your skills to rise in a particular field. The main opportunity to use a Functional format is if you’re trying to change fields. In this case, emphasizing the skills which you would be able to bring to your new career can help persuade an employer to give you a chance. However, you should always include a chronological history as well.What’s the appropriate length? For most people, it should be a single page. If you possess an advanced degree or more than ten years of experience, 2 pages is acceptable. In most cases, you should not pass this limit. Keep in mind that this does not mean you should fill every inch of the page with textthe point is to be easy to read, so there should be enough empty space to point out the skills and experience that you really want people paying attention to.