SEVEN RULES FOR WRITING A GREAT RESUME
Article by: Career First Consulting,
www.career-first.com
Resumes are a necessity for almost every career / job on this earth. Whether you are looking for job as a software programmer, finance expert, managing director or Government employee you have to at some time make your resume. Hence it is important that you critically examine your resume before sending it to prospective employers. Here are seven rules to make a great resume.
RULE 1: WRITE RESUME WITH TARGET COMPANIES IN MIND:
You have to customize your resume to the target audience. This will increase the chances of your resume being short listed. Do not shoot same resume to all jobs - customization is the key.
RULE 2: HIGHLIGHT YOUR STRENGTHS
In any job interview situation if you focus and highlight on your strengths - your chances of getting in the fast lane of job are better. You have to highlight your strengths and link it to company requirements. To prove that you are a much better choice than competition for the positions you are applying, you have to write more than just listing company profile, job responsibilities. Instead describe specific achievements, targets achieved, new accounts added, rewards etc. Do not waste much space in writing about company, project - instead focus on what you have done for them. If writing a skill based resume - mention the technology / skill used for each project.
RULE 3: SIZE: KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE
While writing resumes make sure that it is not very short or very long - ideal size is either 1 full page or 2 pages. If your profiles does not fits in 1 page then add another page. Make sure that you use the right font size (do not make it short to fit more text). Try to add full range of your experience. Although it is fine to have a 2 page resume, try not to list every job you've done. Hiring persons are interested in your latest experience, so highlight on your most recent / relevant experiences.
RULE 4: ENSURE CORRECTNESS
Make sure you have your resume with correct dates, designations, which can be validated with some documentary proof. Do not misrepresent employment dates, designations in your resume for any reason. If employer conducts a background check and finds you lied, you chances are zero. No employer will be willing to take a dishonest employee - so be careful.
RULE 5: USE PROPER RESUME FORMAT
The common resume formats are (a) skill based (b) chronological. Use functional format when you want to highlight key skills for job in the very first view. Skill based formats are very common in software, consulting and related jobs. While chronological format is popular in traditional jobs like in accounts, secretarial, administration and are suitable for jobs which give more importance to experience.
RULE 6: CHECK FOR GRAMMER, TYPING MISTAKES
Check for typing mistakes, grammatical errors, spellings before sending the resume. No excuses for these as most of the word processors have features to check this.
RULE 7: MAKE THE BEST FIRST IMPRESSION
Use best quality paper and good quality printer if you are sending the resume in printed format. Good formatting may not get you a job but bad formatting will definitely reduce your chances. If you are sending resume by email (soft copy) try sending in a PDF format if possible - looks good. Save your photograph for a later stage if it is not very attractive. Do not include your mark sheets (transcripts), appreciation letters unless asked for.
Kalyan
Career First Consulting
Hyderabad
(
www.career-first.com)
What Makes a Resume Attractive to Recuiter 
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