How to Make a Resume (Part 3)

In the previous posts from us here at 'How to Make a Resume' we have talked about the presentation, layout and ideas to launch your resume or CV to the top of the employers pile. However, today we would like to focus on some of the content ideas to contain in your resume that gives you yet another edge over people competing against you.

Why you?

Ask yourself this question, why should the employer choose 'your resume' over everyone else's? Its simply not enough to say, 'I want this job, here are my qualifications!'

Previously we mentioned how writing a cover letter for your resume or CV is good, and while it certainly is - it's a great idea to place some sentences in the cover letter as to what 'YOU' bring to the table for the employer.

If you're an energetic person for example, make sure you mention this and tailor it to fit the job you are applying for. So in your resume or cover letter, state 'I'm an energetic type of person, rarely able to sit idle - I am always keen to get things done' - this suits many roles, so make sure you emphasize this.

Keep up to date

We mentioned last post its a good idea to keep your resume regularly updated, however even if you are in an enjoyable role or currently not seeking work - 'be prepared' if a new exciting or better paying role comes your way - you need to have the resume and CV ready to be presented and circulated quickly should you need to. (If you're not doing this, you're simply not improving yourself and will go 'stale' in your current job).
So when a big opportunity comes up, you should really only new to add a cover letter to your resume and away you go.

Other Advantage Angles (Besides a Good Resume or CV)

While we focus on explaining 'how to make a resume' - there are other advantages you can give yourself in the job market, certainly in the on-line space to help you get an edge. With so many on-line recruitment firms, ensure you sign-up with as many as possible and circulate your polished resume or CV to them - they will usually add you to their database and you will be alerted to any upcoming opportunities that may arise. Services such as www.linkedin.com are great for 'advertising yourself' with a good resume you can target specifically at certain markets. Good recruiters will network with you and keep in touch regularly to feel the market and assist you with good offers.

he on-line space to help you get an edge. With so many on-line recruitment firms, ensure you sign-up with as many as possible and circulate your polished resume or CV to them - they will usually add you to their database and you will be alerted to any upcoming opportunities that may arise. Services such as www.linkedin.com are great for 'advertising yourself' with a good resume you can target specifically at certain markets. Good recruiters will network with you and keep in touch regularly to feel the market and assist you with good offers.

How to Make a Resume (Part 2)

In part 2 of 'How to make a resume' - we look at some different techniques to really write a killer resume.

Previously in days of lower job competition you could use fancy graphics or colored paper for your resume or CV - unfortunately those days are long gone, every applicant for a job is using any advantage they have with their resume or CV to ensure they get noticed.

Some experts say that the whole resume creation process needs to be a total strategy. When you think 'how to make a resume' - you need to think along similar lines to advertising or business brand building these days. Create a favorable 'brand and image' for yourself in the resume document and you get the upper-hand.

First Impressions:
Research done on employers shows that for large responses to jobs, they typically will look at a resume or CV for 45 seconds or less. This means you need to make an impact FAST. Your document will be quickly glossed over and if it catches attention you will get a second look. Make that resume an exciting and inviting document from Page 1.

Get Your Important Points Across:
Because you have a limited window, make sure important pieces of information in the resume are seen. Make the critical points stand out by boxing, highlighting or bolding them and placing them in strategic positions. Don't let information that is out of date such as a boring job from over 10 years ago get in the way of a major success or something important you have achieved. The employer needs to see the important stuff quickly.

Photo Addition:
We spoke about this previously at 'How to make a resume' - but putting a photo on your CV or resume document simply works. The readers can remember a photo much better than a name. Even if your resume is good, remembering it without a photo is harder. Attach a nice, well groomed picture / photo of yourself to the front of the resume document.

Keywords:
As more employers and recruiters file resume documents on electronic databases that are kept for searching purposes - it's important you maximize keywords within your resume document. This ensures in future searches your resume will come to the forefront.

Cover Letters:
More important for larger companies, but attaching a personalized cover letter detailing 'why' you want this job helps you get attention. Keep the cover letter very brief, a quick summary of why you want to work for company 'XYZ' is a great touch. Employers like this and is shows your eagerness and fit for the company and their own brand.

Final 'How to Make a Resume' Tips:
The final tips for todays part 2 information is to 'be positive' about yourself in the resume. Be positive without telling lies. And apart from including the photo of yourself, also highlight your name in a color. This will assist the employer to further associate you via the photo and the name that will stand out.

How to make a resume

One of the single most important skills you can possess or learn in life - is how to make a resume. It's the key to landing the job and getting the ball rolling for the other areas of your life. You cannot succeed without this skill.

To get that attractive job or even the promotion you are chasing; if you don't know how to make a resume or feel your skills aren't totally polished at the task - then take steps to employ the services of a professional resume writer. Don't hesitate to spend the money in getting your own resume professionally created and presented - it's a small investment for a big return.

Some people don't place enough emphasis on the power of a good resume. No matter how presentable you are as a person, in many cases to get the chance of an interview or even phone call you need to get past the resume check or culling process first.

In many instances, anywhere from hundreds to thousands of resumes can be submitted for a single position. If you don't know how to make a resume, don't panic! While there are some good on-line resources for resume information, there are many places that you can submit your resume or CV to and they will produce a professionally bound and presentable format that the majority of human resource managers and employers will prefer and favor.

When people try and create resumes' and CV's themselves - not only is poor presentation a factor, but they tend to be unsure of what information to include in the resume. This is another major mistake! Professional resume houses know how much is a good amount to include, some basic guidelines for how to make a resume (content inclusion) are as follows:

1. Always attach a picture to the cover page of your resume or CV
(Picture should be good quality and present you professionally, this sets you apart from the other 'text only' resumes)

2. Don't tell your life story in a resume.
(Employers want a good summary of your achievements and your personality, not a blow by blow account of your entire life)

3. Be positive without bending the truth in your resume or CV.
(Many people will tell lies to get the position they desire, this can be risky for two reasons. If you achieve the role, you may place undue pressure on yourself to perform and secondly if caught lying you may be fired or worse still taken to court!)

4. Submit hard and soft copies of your resume.
(Most positions will stipulate what they require in terms of a resume response, but try and be proactive and submit hard and soft copies and also try to get mailing confirmation or 'registered postage' so you know the CV has reached its destination)

Thanks for visiting our 'How to make a resume' blog. We'll be publishing resume and CV tips on an on-going basis and will go into further depths about personal resume creation and professionally created CV's.