Resume Writing Guidelines

by Asif Shaikh
(Articlesbase.com)

Resume Writing Guidelines

Resume writing is probably the first and most effective skill that you will have to develop for your job search.

Get an idea of writing good CV so that you can get interviews.

Resume writing is not an easy task but it is crucial to your job hunting success.

Your resume sells everything about you in minute. Your resume expresses your skill set and your experience to the employer. Once he has finished screening through your resume your employer would have formed a fair idea of your personality.

The ideal resume should therefore be able to emphasize the exact strengths that you have for the job and make you one of the strong candidates for the job.

Resumes are normally of two categories, Chronological and Functional.

Chronological Resume: This is a simple and logical format that most people tend to understand easily. It is an easy format for people who have stuck to a logical career path.

Here the events and experiences are mentioned in a chronological manner with recent jobs listed first.

Functional Resume: This is the best option for someone who is shifting jobs, because it focuses more on the different functional abilities you have accumulated over the years.

**HOW TO START?**
1) MAKE A PLAN: Think about what jobs you are targeting, what experience do you have? What education do you have? Do you have any volunteer work? Have you received any awards?

What do you want to include in your resume? These questions will help you get started. Ascertain and note down all that quality and feature you have. And sort it as per Do\'s and Don\'ts shown below.

MAKE IT BRIEF:
Remember, no interviewer has the time to go through a roundabout and lengthy resume; they usually have dozens of resumes to read.

The average time taken to scan a resume is about 30 to 40 seconds. So, make it brief. If your resume is short and to the point, you are better able to express to the reader all that you want to.

USE TECHNICAL TERMS AND INDUSTRIAL KEYWORDS IN YOUR RESUME:
Use requisite technical terms and industrial keywords in your resume; it communicates the precise information that you want to get across and also gives the impression that you are fully conversant with technical terminology of your field, but avoid unnecessary jargon.

BACKUP EXPERIENCES WITH ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Recruiters want to know you have the specific experience the job requires. List your experience with giving example of accomplishments that show that the experience was successful.

GIVE CORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION:
Review you phone number and e-mail to ensure it is correct. Careless mistakes sometimes cost people jobs if their phone number incorrect.

REVIEW YOUR RESUME BEFORE YOU SEND IT:
Always ask a few people to proof read your resume before you send it. Make sure to look for spelling errors and grammatical mistakes or errors of syntax.

It gives a bad impression if an ill-drafted resume littered with mistakes is presented. It gives the feeling of a negligent and unprofessional attitude. Do not simply rely on spell check.

DO NOT EXCEED MORE THAN TWO PAGES:
Make your resume no longer than two pages, preferably one. More than two pages will be boring to interviewer.

They will almost always make a decision as to if your resume warrants an interview after the first page - usually after the first half of the first page.

DO NOT INCLUDE PERSONAL INFORMATION SUCH AS HOBBIES AND INTEREST:
The hiring manager only wants to know about your education, experience and accomplishments as they relate to the job for which you\'re interviewing.

Personal information adds nothing to your resume and you run the risk of stating something that the hiring manager doesn't like. Only include those hobbies and interests which are relevant or connected to that job.

DO NOT MAKE CORRECTION:
Do not make correction on your resume or add an extra letter to a word you misspelled with pen or pencil. This completely destroyed the professional image you are trying to portray. No white out. Create entirely new version of your resume.

DON'T BE SHY:
Don't be withdrawn to tell them about the awards you have won.

DO NOT LIE:
Lying is not a good way to start off a new job. If your employer finds out you have lied on your resume, or 'stretched the truth' there could be serious consequences, including the loss of your job.

Author: Asif Shaikh, www.articlesbase.com/authors/asif-shaikh/108512