Sunday, June 19, 2011

Will Your Resume Get Employers To Pick Up The Phone And Call You For An Interview?

Some job seekers regard the resume as "just a piece of paper." But in today's highly competitive job market, where many advertised job openings will receive hundreds of responses, it takes an effective, well-crafted resume to actually get interviews.
A poll taken last month of a number of Columbia, SC job seekers by resume designer Julia Gray, president of Success Communications Resume Preparation Service, found that the majority of people that she spoke with did not think their resumes represented them as well as they could.  Many of them actually believe that their resumes have actually ruined their chances of getting an interview.
Julia has come up with 5 helpful hints for creating a winning resume:
1.  Always have a job objective.  The first line of your resume should state the position you are seeking.  Your objective shows an employer that you are focused in your career goals and know exactly what you want.
2.  Use powerful action words.  One of the most effective ways to impress an employer is by describing the work you've done with strong action words.  For example, instead of saying you were "responsible for" a department (passive), say you "managed" that department (active).  Some of the strongest words to use on a resume are: managed, developed, authored, negotiated and conceptualized.
3.  Use bullets generously.  This is how you catch an employer's eye instantly.  When you use bullets to highlight your qualifications, achievements and capabilities, you force him to read them.  Bullets also break up blocks of text, creating more white space and making your resume more visually appealing.
4.   Be focused and selective.  Apply for only one job at a time and include only information that supports your specific job objective.  If you believe that some information may actually hurt your chances of getting an interview, leave it off your resume.  You might for example, omit an advanced degree so you won't appear overqualified for a particular position.
5.  Call an expert.  When you don't have time to write your own resume, you can always call a professional.  Professional resume writers know how to set you apart from the competition, ensure that your resume gets read and prompt the reader to take action by calling you for an interview.
Success Communications Resume Preparation and Career Assistance Services offers resumes, cover letters, thank you notes and a variety of job search documents and services to help you win the job you want. 

To Your Career Success ~ Julia

JuliaGrayonLine.com

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