How to Create a Winning Resume

The first step in creating a great resume is collecting all of the relevant information about your work history and your professional skills. A good place to start is by collecting all old copies of your resume for review. Next you will want to collect any job descriptions for positions you will be applying for. This will help you to keep the focus in your resume on the positions being applied for rather than your past experience.

Now in order to come up with all of your most relevant skills, accomplishments and work history, you will want to go through a couple of Steps:

Step 1: Read the job descriptions that you have collected, make a list of the positions most important tasks and responsibilities. Next to each task, write down all of the skills necessary to preform those duties, and then write down any accomplishments that you have in that area. Try to phrase your accomplishments in terms of saving time, saving money, or making money whenever possible.

Step 2: Remember, that companies are looking for problem solvers, each position in their company is there because there is a problem that needs to be fixed. Look at your current position and try to determine the problems that you fix each day. Make a list of these problems, what your solutions are to these problems and the results. This is very similar to preparing for a S.T.A.R. Interview, Think of the problem (situation), think of the solution you came up with (Action) and then tell about the outcome (result).

Step 3: Make a list of all Relevant Skills you can think of. This can include any software you use regularly, your telephone or customer service skills, any certifications you have, and any relevant personality traits(i.e.- being self motivated, fast learner, etc.)

Step 4: Make a list of your education and work history, including job title, company name, dates, responsibilities and any other information that you can think of.

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Now that you have collected all of your skills and accomplishments, it is time to format your best attributes into a resume that will sell you as the best candidate. But what format do you choose? Well there are three different acceptable formats, Chronological, Functional and Combination.

Chronological is the most frequently used format. It is great for those who have had steady growth within their chosen profession. It is not good for those who have moved around a lot, who have not had much advancement in their career (but would like to), or for those that are interested in changing professions or taking a new direction.

Functional is the best format for those who have been unemployed for a long period of time, those who have changed jobs frequently, or those who are looking to change directions in their career. The functional Resume is used to draw attention away from negative aspects and focus on your skills and responsibilities. It is written with a focus on the career that is sought, placing most relevant experience first, and de-emphasizes employment dates and job titles by placing them at the end. This format allows you to focus on specific job skills without putting an emphasis on where and when you acquired these skills.

Combination is just as it sounds, a format which combines aspects of the Functional and Chronological Resume. This format is used when you do not have any work history that you wish to de-emphasize. The combination format begins with a brief personal summary and then a list of professional skills related to the position desired. It then moves into a Chronological Work History, which explains the when, how and where you developed your professional skills.

You will notice that each format has the ability to highlight strengths and to de-emphasize weaknesses. Remember that your resume will remain with the company long after your interview has passed, and will most likely be reviewed by the interviewer again just before the hiring decision is made. Making sure that you have the best format to highlight your skills, and sell yourself to the interviewer can be the difference between receiving an offer or not.

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Functions of the Cover Letter

Your Cover Letter is your way of speaking to each person looking at your resume. It is your chance to explain why you are the best candidate for the position. There are several objectives of your Cover Letter:

• Informing the Employer what position you are interested in.
• Explaining the objectives of your resume or expanding upon your objectives.
• Impressing the Employer with your knowledge of the company, it's current problems and how you can fix them, or the company's accomplishments.
• Showcasing your written communication abilities.
• Giving your potential employer a sneak peak at your personality and enticing them to want to learn more.

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Cover Letter Structure

1st Paragraph
The goal of your first paragraph is to explain why you are writing. This paragraph is used to introduce yourself and to inform the employer of what position you are applying. Be specific about the position and what you can offer to the company.

2nd Paragraph
The goal of your second paragraph is to explain your qualifications for the position. This is your chance to describe how your past experience and education will help you to excel in the position.

3rd Paragraph
The Goal of the Third Paragraph is to explain why you are right for this position. Give details of why you should be considered for this position, relating yourself to the atmosphere or moral compass of the company. This is a great opportunity to show your knowledge about the company or the industry.

4th Paragraph
The fourth paragraph is your closing paragraph. Just as you would ask for a sale in a sales letter, you will ask for the interview in the closing of your cover letter. Inform the Employer that you will be contacting them within a set amount of time to schedule an interview. You will also want to include your contact information in this paragraph.

Creating an Attention Grabbing Opening Paragraph

Your opening paragraph needs to entice readers to want to learn more about you. You already know the information that needs to be included in the opening paragraph, but now you need to find a way to put some interest into the facts to make the reader want to continue reading. Compare these two examples:

Example 1 - The Straight Facts
Dear Ms. Sandborne,
I am writing to express my interest in the Bank Teller position listed on CareerBuilder.com.

Example 2 - The Interest Grabber
Dear Ms. Sandborne,
My excellent attention to detail and my ten years of customer relations experience make me an strong candidate for the Bank Teller position which you recently listed on CareerBuilder.com