Top 10
List-Writing a Good Resume
1. Be Concise and
Omit Irrelevant Information
Employers don't want
to read a long, drawn-out version of your life's
accomplishments. They have stacks of resumes to read,
and want to know quickly whether or not you would be a
good fit for their company. So, be concise, and
exhibit your skills and abilities
- A resume should
only include information that will help convince an
employer to interview you. Descriptions of relevant
skills and accomplishments should be concise and to
the point. Including irrelevant experience and
lengthy descriptions will bury the important
information. Only include personal information where
it demonstrates an important personal quality or
qualification. A resume should represent what you
can do on the job, not what you do in your personal
life.
2. Utilize the Ag 1
Source Resume Template
Click here and use our resume template as it is
the format that most employers are comfortable and
familiar with reading.
3. Write a Powerful
Opening Statement
You should include a
Job Objective statement at the top of your resume,
which will help focus the reader's attention and
describe what type of position you are looking for.
- If you have
experience in your career field, you should list the
top 3 – 5 most important general skills that
illustrate your best qualifications for the position
at the top of the resume. A well-crafted Key Skills
area should convince an employer to keep reading.
4. Use Industry
Jargon
Use industry jargon
and acronyms to reflect your familiarity with the
employer's business, but not to the point where it
makes your resume hard to read or understand. Spell
out acronyms in parentheses if they are not obvious,
such as TQM (Total Quality Management).
5. Include Keywords
Draw attention to
your resume with keywords that describe your skills
and experience. Inserting descriptive keywords in your
resume is becoming more important as an increasing
number of companies search for resumes in computer
databases that find matches through keywords. These
words should relate to the job you are applying for
while highlighting your own skill set.
6. Quantify Your
Achievements
You need to give the
reader an idea of what you have done throughout your
career, but instead of focusing on the duties you were
responsible for at your last jobs, list your
accomplishments in action-benefit statements along
with quantifiable facts to back up your claims. Use
numbers, percentages and dollar amounts to show your
success in achieving company goals. Instead of writing
"Responsible for increasing sales in my territory,"
use "Increased sales in my territory 150% over 6
months. Managed 30 accounts increasing revenues from
$1.5M to $2M annually."
7. Be Professional,
Not Personal
You do not have much
room in a resume, so why take up valuable space with
information unrelated to the position you are seeking?
Focus on your work experiences and never refer to
personal information such as race, religion, marital
status, age, political party, or even personal views.
In all but a few instances, it would be illegal for
the employer to consider such issues. Also, avoid the
use of humor and clichés in resumes and forget about
mentioning the fact that you enjoy horror movies and
surfing in your spare time.
8. Be Honest
Lying or exaggerating
about your skills and abilities will only come back to
haunt you.
9. Be Organized and
Logical
In addition to
reviewing your experience, employers also use the
resume to sense whether you are organized, logical,
and concise. Make sure your resume is balanced, neat,
visually appealing, and flows consistently. Clearly
separate sections and emphasize section titles.
10. Use Common
Section Headings
Use common section
headings. Examples: Objective, Experience, Employment,
Work History, Skills, Summary, Summary of
Qualifications, Accomplishments, Achievements,
Capabilities, Education, Professional Affiliations,
Publications, Licenses and Certifications, and Honors.
