Layoff Aid
@ layoffaid.com
Updating your Resume
In today's competitive job market, a well-written resume is the single most important factor in getting
your foot in the door and on your way to landing your preferred position. In other words, the specific purpose
of a resume is to get you an interview.
Stop thinking of your Resume as a list of past jobs & education, you need to realize and consider it your premium marketing tool! A great resume doesn't just tell them what you have done but makes the same assertion that all good ads do: If you buy this product, you will get these specific, direct benefits. It presents you in the best light and convinces the employer that you have what it takes to be successful in their position and company.
Focus on your accomplishments rather your basic job responsibilities; how you performed and what you accomplished in those past jobs (especially the accomplishments most relevant to the work/job you are aiming for). If your company was able to land a large client due to your research, graphics, presentation or whatever .. put that on your resume. If your company implemented a new management or accounting system due to your suggestions, put it on the resume. This can be called PAR statements. First you explain the Problem that existed in your workplace, then describe what Action you took to fix it and finally describe the Results your actions created. Remember, you are marketing yourself and giving a potential employer a good overview of how YOU can benefit THEIR COMPANY, will give you a leg up over those submitting the normal 'list of employers and duties' type of resume.
Make a different resume for each type of job objective you are working towards.
If you plan to advertise yourself to several different types of job positions, it's much more beneficial to construct a seperate resume for each target rather than offering a generic. This puts you in the drivers seat to showcase experience and capabilities suited to that exact field.
Put yourself in the new employers position. Think to yourself, 'if I were doing the hiring, what would make the perfect candidate for a new employee'. For this you need to find out exactly what the employer is looking for. If you are experienced in that particular field, chances are you already have a good insight. However, if you are targetting employment with a company you are not familiar with its in your best interest to take notes first. Ask friends in the field or call the company itself and ask exactly what it is they'd like to find in an employee.
You also need to understand that the person hiring is only going to scan through the stack of resumes he/she recieves. It's sad but true and you need to know this because you have a very short time to grab attention to your resume!
Stop thinking of your Resume as a list of past jobs & education, you need to realize and consider it your premium marketing tool! A great resume doesn't just tell them what you have done but makes the same assertion that all good ads do: If you buy this product, you will get these specific, direct benefits. It presents you in the best light and convinces the employer that you have what it takes to be successful in their position and company.
Focus on your accomplishments rather your basic job responsibilities; how you performed and what you accomplished in those past jobs (especially the accomplishments most relevant to the work/job you are aiming for). If your company was able to land a large client due to your research, graphics, presentation or whatever .. put that on your resume. If your company implemented a new management or accounting system due to your suggestions, put it on the resume. This can be called PAR statements. First you explain the Problem that existed in your workplace, then describe what Action you took to fix it and finally describe the Results your actions created. Remember, you are marketing yourself and giving a potential employer a good overview of how YOU can benefit THEIR COMPANY, will give you a leg up over those submitting the normal 'list of employers and duties' type of resume.
Make a different resume for each type of job objective you are working towards.
If you plan to advertise yourself to several different types of job positions, it's much more beneficial to construct a seperate resume for each target rather than offering a generic. This puts you in the drivers seat to showcase experience and capabilities suited to that exact field.
Put yourself in the new employers position. Think to yourself, 'if I were doing the hiring, what would make the perfect candidate for a new employee'. For this you need to find out exactly what the employer is looking for. If you are experienced in that particular field, chances are you already have a good insight. However, if you are targetting employment with a company you are not familiar with its in your best interest to take notes first. Ask friends in the field or call the company itself and ask exactly what it is they'd like to find in an employee.
You also need to understand that the person hiring is only going to scan through the stack of resumes he/she recieves. It's sad but true and you need to know this because you have a very short time to grab attention to your resume!