How to Create a Resume

How to create a resume that helps you to be successful in your job search is a crucial skill to learn.

Your resume gives the first impression about you and as they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression.

An excellent way to make a resume is to try and learn to think like an employer. They are going to receive probably between 40 and 100 applications for every vacancy so they need to find a way of quickly sifting through the resumes to form a short list of those they feel are most suitable for interview. They will probably be looking for between 5 and 10 candidates so it is crucial that you create your resume to reflect you as the best possible applicant.

Your resume should paint a picture of you, using action words, that makes you a viable candidate for the job and a benefit to the employer. Screeners are only human and in the real world they are likely to skim read resumes which makes it vitally important that your opening statements stand out from all the others.

Here are a few things to avoid if you don't want to find your resume going straight into the round file.

• An anonymous address such as "Dear Sir/Madam" "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Recruiter" etc.


• Incorrect title, name or company of the person to whom you are writing


• Forgetting to include a real person's name


• A single, visible spelling or typographical mistake

So if you are job hunting you need to learn how to create a resume and make it presentable and attractive to the screener.

Resume Objectives should be placed at the very start of your resume. They should provide an insight into the type of position you are seeking and highlight your career objectives. When writing your resume objectives you have to give consideration to your future career. If you sit down and map out what you would like to do, taking into account your interests, you should be able to formulate your objectives from your findings.

The resume objectives are probably the first thing a prospective employer looks at, so it is very important that you get them right. Your objectives focus on you, so make sure that you take into account the position you are applying for. If they do not match, you will not even get to the first interview stage. Because of this, you will probably want to write several different objectives if you are applying for a number of different positions.

If you are not looking for a specific position, you can leave out the objectives without detracting from your resume. This could be advantageous in these circumstances, as there may be available positions that don't tie in with your objectives.

Resume Objectives would be of particular benefit if you had recently graduated or you were looking for a career change. As a new graduate your objectives allow you to put over why you are looking for a particular career. If you are changing careers, you can use your objectives to demonstrate how the skills and experience you have gained would be applicable to the new position.

Because many employers are looking for motivated goal orientated staff, when you make a resume, a good objectives section could be what makes your resume stand out from the crowd.

These styles used in the correct way, are a key fundamental in helping you to gain an advantage over the other applicants who are competing against you for a position.

There are many different styles that can be used when composing your resume. The two most common being Chronological and Functional.

A Chronological Resume lists your work experience starting with the most recent first. You should write a short description of each position you have held. This style of resume has a number of advantages being easy to read and showing your career development. It does, however, have a number of disadvantages as it doesn't demonstrate your main achievements or draw attention to your other skills. This can be a really good style of resume if you can demonstrate a continuous progression in your career. If you are staying within the same field of employment a Chronological Resume could well be the best.

On the other hand, a Functional Skills Resume starts with your skills and main accomplishments and ends with your job history. This style of resume allows you to highlight your major achievements. It's main disadvantage is it makes following your work experience difficult for a prospective employer.

If you haven't progressed when changing positions, or you are looking for a career in an area where you have little or no experience, using a Functional Resume style would be to your advantage. This resume style would also be worth considering if you have lots of gaps in your employment history or you are continually changing jobs.

Other Resume styles would include Targeted, Imaginative and Combination.

The Targeted style of Resume is totally focused on one specific target or position, with only relevant supporting material being presented, it is very focused. A big advantage is that you can prepare a different one for each position you are applying for.

An Imaginative Resume style would be used when applying for a position in areas like graphic design and would be similar to a mini-portfolio.

The Combination Resume Style is, as its name implies, a combination of the Functional and Chronological Styles. By using different elements from each you would have a lot more flexibility.

The differences in Resume Styles are a reflection of the way you present your skills and experience and must be carefully considered in the light of the position you are applying for. Don't be afraid to adapt the resume style to suit you and not the other way round.

Now that your application is complete you need to write a cover letter for your resume. You must spend some time getting this right as you have to make your application stand out and give yourself the best possible chance. A good looking, well put together, cover letter could give you a major advantage over the other candidates.

Use your cover letter to impress the prospective employer that you have the experience and skills necessary for the vacancy.

Normally you do not want to write more than one page for a cover letter.

Start by saying why you have written the letter and ensure that you discuss the position you are seeking.

The main part of your cover letter must be used to show that your skills and experience are relevant and ensure that you back them up with proof.

Tips To Write A .Cover Letter for Resume

Use these seven tips to help you create a well written attractive cover letter.

1. Your Cover Letter Must Be Personalized

Make sure you address the letter to the person responsible for hiring. If necessary, contact the company and make inquiries.

2. Put Your Most Impressive Information First

Draw attention to your most outstanding qualities first. Say why you should be considered to be the best person for the job. You must grab the hirer's attention quickly as they are unlikely to read the whole letter.

3. Make Your Cover Letter Pass The Scan Test

The HR department may well receive hundreds of applications every day and they do not have time to go through them all. Grab their attention by making a list of your most important points in bullet form. Realize that your application will only be scanned, so get innovative to make sure yours makes an immediate impact.

4. Take The Initiative

After the employer has received your letter, make a point of getting in touch with them to find out the specific date when a decision will have been made about your application.

5. Check Your Spelling

Don't fall at the first hurdle by making silly mistakes. Check your spelling. Print out your letter and have a friend check it, then check it again. It is often easier to spot mistakes in hard copy than on a computer screen.

6. Look Professional

Print your cover letter on a high quality paper. Ensure you letter looks professional and is well laid out.

7. Proofread Your Letter

Don't forget to check you have used proper grammar. Get someone to read it out loud to you and see if it sounds right.

If you follow these seven steps you should get great results with your cover letter for your resume.