Writing a Great Resume

Nancy Anderson
Posted by in Career Advice


Think of your resume as a key that unlocks the door to your dream job. Unless this document is polished to perfection and impressive enough to catch the attention of the hiring manager, you can't even get face time with the company. Follow these tips to make sure your resume puts you in the best light to increase your chance of landing the position you want.

Include Pertinent Information

Craft a career objective statement that details your goals, and list your education and work experience in chronological order to create a clear picture of your goals, background and abilities. Offer several professional references, and include your current contact information.

Avoid Flash

Keep your resume simple. Don't clutter the document with flashy graphics or images, and avoid using fancy fonts. Use a common format, such as PDF, DOC or TXT, to ensure your resume is easily accessed by applicant tracking systems. Don't make fonts too small, and include plenty of white space and bullet points to ensure your document is easy to scan and read.

Tailor Your Experiences

Don't send out a generic resume for every job. Create a standard resume to serve as a template, then structure each resume so it specifically addresses the job requirements of the position for which your'e applying. Read the position description several times, and fill your resume with the work experiences that are most relevant.

Focus on Achievements

Clearly present your past achievements. Rather than touting your previous employer's victories, explain what role you played in helping the organization achieve its goals. List accomplishments that are measurable, such as improving first quarter sales by 30 percent or saving the company $20,000 per year on supply orders. Choose impressive achievements that translate well to the position for which you're applying.

Remove Tired Phrases

Avoid using cliches and over-used phrases in your resume. Rather than stating that you're a "hard worker," describe how you've gone above and beyond for a client. Instead of stating that you have "excellent written communication skills," let your perfectly crafted resume and cover letter speak for your abilities.

Take One Last Look

Before sealing the envelope and dropping your resume into the mailbox, make sure it is absolutely flawless. Spell check the document, and read it several times. Look for spelling errors and grammar issues, and pay special attention to formatting and layout. Ask a trusted colleague or friend to look over your resume to get a fresh perspective.

Having an excellent education, exemplary work experience and desirable skills aren't enough to ensure you get your dream job. Your resume must reflect these points in a clear, concise and professional format that convinces the hiring manager that you're the best candidate for the job.


Photo courtesy of nenetus at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Raheem C thanks for your comment. We do have a resume writing service to assist you with your resume. If you are interested, please call 1-888-447-1193 between 8:30am and 5:30pm EST to learn more.

  • Raheem C.
    Raheem C.

    Yes please make one for me

  • Pedro T.
    Pedro T.

    I consider it an excellent reflection. The resume is the demonstration of sacrifice that every day, from the point of view of professional development and personnel to achieve a goal of success.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Melinda thanks for your comment and the valuable advice.

  • Melinda O.
    Melinda O.

    In your area you have great resources to assist you and their service is free! Goodwill has a career center that has someone to help you prepare your resume. Good Luck!

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Patricia thanks for your comment. It's tough to try to job hunt on your cell phone. Is there a library nearby? Or any other place that allows computer usage? If you went to college, what about your career services office? What about a friend's computer? It sounds like you are attempting to use the same resume for every job application. That's probably not going to work. Systems are sophisticated today and will just move your resume into the circular file if it doesn't have a certain percentage of keywords on it - based upon the job posting. Check around your area Patricia. You might be able to find an inexpensive laptop from Craigslist or EBay or even from a local store such as BestBuy as they have huge sales all of the time. All the best.

  • Patricia R.
    Patricia R.

    My resume is good but it's just to darn big too many words I guess but I didn't do it someone did it for me which I'm grateful for but I don't have a computer to do anything to change the Resume on line I'm right now using my cell phone. Thank you Pat Reynolds

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Shalonda thanks for your comment. Many job seekers fear the resume but you don't have to. A resume is simple a short and concise way to convey your qualifications to a hiring manager. If you need help, Beyond has a resume writing service. Or, if you prefer, check you alma mater and see if they offer free resume writing. There are probably other places in your area that offer this service. And you can find a wealth of information on the internet. Simply type in sample resume for your career - such as sample resume for a creative writer. You will get thousands of results. Sure hope that helps. All the best.

  • Shalonda S.
    Shalonda S.

    I need help with my resume I don'know how to do a resume

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