Building A Resume

When setting out building a resume always keep in mind the decision to interview a candidate is more often than not based on an overall first impression of your resume. Hard as it may seem, the top half of the first page of your resume will either make you or break you. By the time the hiring manager has read the first few lines, you have either caught their interest, or your resume has crashed and burned.

So What are the key ingredients to building a resume?

A great resume has two sections. The first section is where you tell the hiring manager about your abilities, qualities and achievements/accomplishments. You're letting them know your the right person for the job. You need to write in a manner that makes the reader immediately perk up and realize that you are someone special. Got that?

The second section is where you back up the first with evidence that you actually did what you said you did. You also need to outline the jobs you have held and of course your education etc.

Remember the juice is in the first section. When the hiring manager finishes reading your resume, you want them to immediately reach for the phone to invite you in to interview. You don't want them informed. You want them interested and excited.

Try and keep in mind when building a resume to leave the reader wanting more. You are giving them even more of a reason to reach for the phone!

Okay, that sounds good, but what are these two sections broken down into then?

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When you start building a resume, the first part is where you assert yourself. HIRE ME!

Start with an OBJECTIVE - Why you are the perfect person for the job. Use an objective if you are a career changer or graduate.

Or use a SUMMARY - This is best when you are staying in the same job field. Write several concise statements that focus the reader's attention on the most important qualities, achievements and abilities you have to offer. It is your one and only chance to attract and hold their attention, to get across what is most important, and to entice the employer to keep reading.

Follow that with SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS - Remember you are still building a resume to sell yourself to the reader, not to inform them. Basically, you do what you did in the previous section, but go into more detail.

Now for the second part, THE EVIDENCE SECTION - By evidence I mean all the standard information you must include when building a resume, such as work history (summarize your work experience here and list your work history in reverse chronological order), dates, education, affiliations, list of software mastered, etc. If you put all this at the top of your resume, anyone reading it will feel like they are reading an income tax form! Let's face it, this stuff is mind numbing no matter how extraordinary you are. All this evidence is best placed in the second half of the resume. Put the hot stuff in the beginning, and all this less exciting information afterward.

Finally you can put "References available upon request" at the end of your resume. Voila!