Resume Writing Tips – The Do’s and Don’ts

The Do’s of Resume Writing

• Use a chronological format, which lists your work experience starting with your most recent experience, unless you have significant gaps in your work history or are changing careers.
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General Resume Writing Guidelines

Every worker should have an up to date resume to market skills to potential employers. The information below can help write a successful and land your next job.

General Resume Writing Guidelines

• Your resume should be 1 or 2 pages long.
• Work on a computer. The computer will set margins and spacing for you. Use 10-12 point font size.
• Your resume should be free of errors.
• Use white, beige or gray bonded paper. Your envelope and cover letter paper should match your resume paper.
• Use skills statements with examples to show you are qualified for the job.
• Describe your skills accurately.
• Use work experience, volunteer experience, commendations and awards, formal training, education, internships, licenses or certifications to document your skills.
• Have a separate reference sheet.

Special Situations on Your Resume by Mass DoWD

This section examines areas of resume writing that are potentially challenging. The goal is to provide you with ideas, suggestions, and advice on how to handle these special issues.

Displaying Career Changers on Your Resume

Employers admit to being picky and giving preference to the applicantwhose experience and expertise are in the same industry or who has workexperience in a company that is similar to theirs. Entering a new career ornew industry is not impossible, it just requires planning, researching, and perseverance.

Resume With More Than One Position From the Same Company by Mass DoWD

Creating Your Resume with Multiple Positions

You now have a list of duties and functions you have performed, skills you have utilized, and a sense of your accomplishments. Let’s create some powerful accomplishment statements utilizing the PAR MODEL. PAR stands for Problem-Action-Results and is made up of two processes.

Creating Your Resume: Think Like an Employer!

When Creating Your Resume – Start Thinking Like an Employer

As a job seeker, you will be successful if you take on the role of a salesperson. Your task is to know as much as possible about the product you are selling (your skills and abilities) and the markets you are trying to reach (specific industries and employers). This means developing a marketing strategy. To do this, begin with a self assessment. You must identify what you have to offer and then package it for employers. Once you have identified your skills, abilities, and accomplishments, you must identify the industries you are interested in and target specific employers within those industries.

Examples of Identifying Industries for your Resume

Resumes that are tailored to specific industries, employers, and job announce-ments are the most effective. In targeting your resume and cover letter to a particular company and job opening, your format and language need to be tailored to match what the employer is looking for. Employers will be more likely to call you for an interview if your resume has language that is familiar to them and lists the qualifications for which they are looking. You can ensure this by paying close attention to adjectives and phrases (buzz words) used in job postings and advertisements.

Advice from Massachusetts Employers by Mass DoWD

Making the First Cut

Screening usually takes place in the Human Resource Department or the Personnel Department of the company.Employers use similar strategies during the first round of screening. Your resume is scanned for 9 to 30 seconds. During this process, the qualifications listed on your resume are compared with the qualifications listed in the job announcement. Specifically, the company is looking at how well your qualifications match the qualifications listed for the job. The company also looks at your employment record which should include the dates and previous positions. Some employers also review cover letters at this point.

Resumes that pass this initial screening are then sent to the appropriate department head for further review. Sometimes applicants are called for a telephone interview before the resumes are sent for departmental review. Primarily, the phone call is made to check salary re-quirements and to answer any questions not explained in the resume.

What is an Effective Resume? by Mass DoWD

How to Write an Effective Resume

Employers who contributed to this guide represent large and small companies from diverse industries across the state.Most employers explained that they skim resumes quickly and appreciate only those that are easy to read. An effective resume highlights the qualifications an employer is looking for and makes it easy for the employer to find these qualifications. A resume should sell your skills, experience and accomplishments to the reader with little effort. The employer will be looking for a match between the qualifications and skills needed to do the job and your experience. An effective resume increases the employer’s interest enough so that you are called for an interview. A resume can get you the interview, but you must get the job!! Resumes are only the first step. The likelihood of getting a job offer will depend on your interview with the employer and your ability to demonstrate how your skills fit the company’s need.