How To Write A Successful Resume

Your resume should be one to two pages long summarizing your professional career to date, your career objectives, achievements, and education.

The heading of the resume should contain your name, address and contact information.

Your resume should be broken down into sections: career objectives, profile, experience, achievements, education, and references. (if requested)

Your profile should highlight how your skills and experience would apply to the job you are interested in. Your profile, as well as other parts of your resume, should not contain personal information that is not directly related to your career.

Your personal profile should contain a few well-written sentences that will sell you to your prospective employer. Keep it professional and brief.

List references only if they have been requested.

When learning how to write a successful resume, make sure that there is nothing that would raise questions, show your prospective employer that you are a polished, detail-oriented professional. Your resume should show your previous professional life in the best possible light, you need to make sure that your resume showcases your integrity and sincerity. Many employers have no tolerance policy against dishonesty. Make sure that all of the information on your resume is truthful. Intentional lies on a resume are not acceptable.

Always list your exact title, and explain what you do in your area of the industry.

If you are unsure when you started or ended a job, call the company and ask about your employment dates. Always verify information you are unsure about before including it on your resume.

It is ok to have gaps in your employment history; most professionals have gaps in their experience for a variety of reasons. Do not try to hide this from your potential employers.

Do not worry about qualifications you may not have, instead highlight your work experience and achievements. Work on quantifying your accomplishments and presenting yourself in the best possible light.

One of the main areas of how to write a successful resume has to do with your professional experience. When writing your resume, try and answer the following questions.

What is your career objective?

What experience do you have to date that will help in meeting your goals?

Are you looking for professional growth or changing careers?

To begin, list all your previous experience, in order, starting with your latest job. List dates of employment, your job title and the company name.

The best idea is not to exceed the most recent five jobs you have held. It is not necessary to list every job you've ever had to showcase your qualifications and years of experience. If you have a long professional career, list the last three to five jobs, and use the profile to highlight the number of years you have spent in a certain industry, and the skills you have aquired.

Work on highlighting responsibilities that are transferable across various industries with your current career objective in mind.

The most commonly made mistake in writing a successful resume is not including a cover letter. If you are mailing your resume, make sure your cover letter arrives before the resume. Not including a cover letter with your resume will appear unprofessional. A well-written cover letter will let your prospective employer show how you present yourself as a professional.

Address your cover letter to the appropriate person. Do not use lines, such as "To whom it may concern," this is not acceptable on a cover letter.

Be confident and express yourself clearly. Highlight the qualifications that make you the best candidate for the position.

Make sure you aim your cover letter directly at the position you are applying for. Your prospective employer will see this as professional and prepared.

Make sure you include how the position fits with your professional goals, and what you can do to benefit your employer.

End your cover letter by letting your potential employer know that you intend to follow up on your application. Stipulate when and how you will do so.

Proof read your cover letter!

Now we have covered all the main points on how to write a successful resume make sure that you properly proof read the final document.

A poorly written resume will let your employer know that you have not paid enough attention to detail. Take the extra time and care to complete a comprehensive review of your resume. A well written and flawless document will definitely grab your prospective employers attention.

Enlist the help of a friend or family member to proof read your resume.

Ask for constructive criticism and ways to improve your resume.

If you spend the time, and learn how to write a successful resume, your chances of success will be much higher.

Composing an excellent resume tailored and targeted to the exact position you are after will ensure that you are at the very least, 50% of the way towards landing your dream job.