These are questions I frequently hear from my career coaching clients. Following is a list of resume writing tips that you can refer to when updating your resume or creating a new resume from scratch.
Tip #1: Brainstorm your resume writing plan first.
To get started brainstorming what your natural talents and abilities are, write down everything you’ve accomplished, even since childhood! This is a confidence boost and will also help you get everything out there on paper to possibly include in your resume.
Tip #2: Give yourself credit.
We tend to downplay the things we are naturally good at. This is because we assume that since it comes so naturally to us, everyone must be good at it, right? Wrong. Just because you can easily organize your office and keep your files in amazing working order, doesn’t mean everyone can do that. Perhaps you coordinated your local church’s picnic and did a spectacular job. Not everyone can do this same thing, so give yourself credit for what comes naturally to you. Do this of course while being honest and accurate. It’s never a good idea to blatantly lie on your resume.
Tip #3: Talk to those who know you well.
If you’re still not sure what you are naturally good at, ask others. Family members, friends, former co-workers. What makes you stand out, what do they say you are naturally good at that sticks in their mind? What favors have you done, or help have you offered them in the past, that made them remember and appreciate your unique talents?
Tip #4: Organize your resume in a way that works for you/is best for the job.
As a career coach, one of the things people frequently ask me is "Do I have to put my resume in chronological order?" The answer is no, you don’t. Date order isn’t necessary, relevance is. If you prefer date order, and it seems particularly appropriate for the job you’re hunting for, go for it. But I typically recommend highlighting your skills and accomplishments that are relevant to the position and organizing the resume that way-with jobs that are most relevant at the top. If you have a spotty job record, this also helps minimize that issue.
Tip #5: Clearly state your career objective in the resume.
Make sure your career objective clearly states the type of work you desire. The more specific, the better. Specific objectives are more powerful and hard-hitting. They stand out. If you’re not sure what type of job you want, consider working with a career coach or counselor to get clear on what you want.
Tip #6: Keep your resume concise and easy to read.
Enough said. You don’t want to send a potential employer a novel, and you want the hiring manager to be able to easily read and scan your resume with ease. Keep it short and sweet while highlighting why you’re the best for the job. Typical recommended length is: 1 page for an entry-level position, 2 pages for a position requiring more experience.
Tip #7: Include a cover letter.
Always include a cover letter with your resume, unless the person who is doing the hiring specifies not to. This demonstrates your communication skills, shows you are interested in the job because you’re taking time to write the letter, and can highlight those items you really want them to notice on your resume. If your writing skills are not great, I highly recommend working with a professional resume writer for help. For more on this, see Tip #10.
Tip #8: Show your personality.
Give the potential employer a sense of who you are as a person, outside of work. Include outside activities and organizations that you belong to. It helps you stand out from the crowd, or the pile of resumes in this case. What’s unique or different about you? Where do you spend your spare time outside of work?
Tip #9: Stress contributions, not duties.
Resumes should always highlight what you contributed or accomplished at a job, as opposed to duties or responsibilities. This is another area where I notice people tend to struggle. They want to list what their job description was. Don’t do this-tell them how you contributed to that organization. Use action verbs and highlight those accomplishments that are relevant to the position for which you're applying.
Tip #10: Get professional help.
Yes, I just gave you many tips to creating a great resume. And at the same time I recommend getting professional help. When I need something that I know is not my specialty, I ask for the experts. The professionals know what they're doing and can help you develop a winning resume that gets you in the door to get the interview. I recommend two resume writers to my clients, Jacqueline Simmons and Janice Shepherd. Their contact information is on my blog. Visit my career tips blog and search for “resume writers” in the Google search box. They’ll pop up. If you choose to not seek professional help, at the very least get someone to proofread your resume for you. Typos can sometimes be the deciding factor for hiring one person over the next!
Tip #11: Be proud.
Make sure you feel proud of your resume. This will show in the interview. If you’re pleased with it, that will come across. You want to have something you’re proud of.
All the best for a rewarding and fulfilling career doing what you love!
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