The Must-Have Features of a Winning Resume

The Must-Have Features of a Winning ResumeThe Must-Have Features of a Winning ResumeThe Must-Have Features of a Winning ResumeThe possibility or necessity for a career change can arise at any moment. New opportunities and new challenges could be around any corner. New priorities and new ambitions could also dawn within you So whether it be to seize your suddenly available dream position or avoid being a casualty of a failing company, its important that you be prepared to take action. That means making aya your resume is current, compelling, and ready to market you powerfully.Dont be caught off guard and miss out on an important opportunity just because your resume isnt up to date. Review your resume now and make sure it effectively represents you. Does it clearly and powerfully communicate the unique and valuable qualities you possess, and the direction you want to take your career? Or is it little more than a type-written application form?Should your resume need an upgrade and you opt to tackle this process on your own, be sure to incorporate the following must-have style and content elements of a winning resumeGo Easy on the EyesA resume thats difficult to read will likely remain unread. So, invite your reader to quickly and easily learn of your qualifications with a welldesigned document. Use an easy-to-read font and size it between 10 and 12pt. Resist the urge to overload the page with text, this can leave your reader feeling dazed. Employ an appropriate amount of white space by using comfortable margins (.5 to.75 inch) and paragraphs no longer than three to four lines. Dont be afraid to use sparingly and with strategy bolding, underlining, and centering of words and phrases to help guide your reader to what you want them to read.Focus, PeopleDoes your resume have a strategy? Can someone reading it tell exactly what position you are pursuing? Too many people write a generic resume that is more reflective of a career autobiography than the compelling mar keting document it should be. A powerful resume has a clear focus and showcases only experience and accomplishments relevant to that focus. So, eliminate or downplay extraneous experiences that are leid in line with your career goals and highlight skills, responsibilities, and accomplishments that do support these goals.Craft Your ProfileJust below your name and contact information, your resume should feature a Profile a powerfully-written, promotionallydriven, attention-grabbing summary of qualifications that showcase the unique value you bring to a company. It should make your job focus crystal clear and spotlight achievements and expertise relevant to that focus. Above all, it should compel an employer to read on to the Experience section, where the claims made in your Profile will be supported with specific information.Be Keyword-FriendlyKey words are an important tool for recruiters and hiring managers. They scan for key words and phrases that describe specific skills and area s of expertise in order to filter resumes that best match the criteria for the job they want to fill. For example, in the case of a CFO position, resumes would be scanned for key words such as budgeting, forecasting, and mainboard relations. For your resume to survive this scanning process, include key words throughout that reflect both the needs of the position you are pursuing and the skills you possess.Tell a StoryIn the Experience section, dont limit your account of past positions to a simple list of job titles, dates and responsibilities. A truly powerful resume guides your reader through your background, illuminating the reasons for your movement from one position to another and describing the challenges you faced when landing each job. For example, your move to your current job may have been the result of an internal promotion, or perhaps a referral from a former manager. A challenge you faced and accomplished may have been to turn around a failing project. Both of these ci rcumstances reflect positively on you and, as such, should be described.Amplify Your ExperienceEach past position that is relevant to the job youre seeking requires a brief explanation of what you were accountable for. However, I recommend resisting the urge to simply copy your old job descriptions A bulleted list of duties wont hold near as much weight as a short narrative describing the scope of your responsibility. For example, if you were a Sales Director, make sure your job narrative includes the number of sales managers reporting to you, the region you were accountable for, and the key accounts your team was challenged with penetrating. Dont simply tell your reader what you did offer enough detail to let him/her know the significance of what you did.Dont Be Afraid to BragStrongly-written accomplishments describing specific projects or actions you took that added value to your previous companies are the linchpin of a winning resume, for they truly demonstrate your unique contri bution to your previous jobs. So, reinforce the power of your job narratives by following each of them with a bulleted list of your greatest accomplishments. Be sure to start each accomplishment with a powerful action verb, i.e., Orchestrated, Pioneered, Leveraged, Spearheaded, etc., and quantify your statements where possible with measurable data. Above all, be brief and to the point.and Brag Some MoreIts possible that not all of your relevant experience, skills, or accomplishments have been gained on the job. Be sure to include any special training, speaking engagements or community activities that are pertinent to the job you are seeking. Do you have special technology or industry-specific skills? Have you attended any seminars, gained any certifications, or executed a special project through volunteer or professional association work? These should be noted in a special section, typically located near your Education.Take these elements to heart when updating your resume and make the hiring managers job even easier. Just by incorporating the eight musthave tips outlined above, youll surely stand apart from your competition.