Chesapeake Résumé Writing Service Links

Interview Winning Résumé Strategies and Tips
Provided by Beth Colley, CPRW of Chesapeake Résumé Writing Service
Crownsville, MD

Types of Résumés

Chronological – most popular and liked by human resources staff and hiring managers. Provides a chronological history of employment and background. Best used if you have a steady and progressive employment history and are looking for a job in the same field. Pros: employers can easily see your track record and it will highlight notable employers. Cons: Can be somewhat limiting for employment options and you can easily date yourself if you're not careful.

Combined – Different varieties and formats can be used such as listing current or most recent position and then highlighting skill sets within the employment history. Focuses on skill sets within your employment history. Best used for career changers or if you've worked for the same employer for an extensive period of time. Becoming more accepted by hiring managers. Pros: Able to highlight skills and versatility of possible employment options. Able to include non-paid/volunteer work as part of a skill set rather than focusing strictly on paid experience. Versatile format and layouts can be used to individualize and target the résumé. Cons: Depending upon your format, it may be hard for employers to note specifically where you gained the experience you have.

Functional – focuses on skill sets rather than any kind of employment history. May or may not even include an employment history. Best used for entry level positions requiring little or no work history or if there are long gaps in employment. Pros: Employers can see your skills and education very easily without having to pinpoint your experience to one specific job. Able to hide gaps of unemployment. Cons: Typically lacks much if any employment history what-so-ever.

TIPS

Keep résumés to no more than 2 pages in length. If you use a second page, include your contact information at the top and fill up at least 2/3 of the second page.

Use high quality résumé paper, 32 lb is best. Most accepted colors are white, ivory, blue, gray.

Include your most important information in the top 1/3 of the first page of your résumé.

Use action verbs and focus on accomplishments rather than job duties. Write in a CCAR format: Context, Challenge, Action, Result. It makes for more interesting reading and provides discussion points for an interview. If it sounds like a job duty or job function it's not results focused. Just because you're responsible for it, doesn't mean that you're good at it.

Don't date yourself: Dead give-a ways are listing college graduation dates, going back more than 15 years in your employment history, and stating you have 30 plus years of experience. Instead say you have more than 15 or more than 20 years of experience.

Keep the font easy to read. 10 or 12 point font, in Arial or New Times Roman. One inch margins throughout the document, if possible.

Make sure there is enough "white space" to make it easy on the eyes of the reader.

Target the résumé to a specific career industry. If you're seeking a couple of different career paths, you may need a couple of different versions of your résumé.

STRATEGIES

Include a career summary at the top of the first page of your résumé including key words and highlight key information that you want an employer to notice. Objectives are not necessary in today's résumé. A well written summary eliminates the need for an objective.

Use bold print to highlight the key words, but don't overdo it. Set off your career summary by using a "power box." Use the key words at least three times in your résumé, especially if you are submitting it on-line or submitting it to a company that will scan it into a data base of résumés.

Research the job announcements and job descriptions to find specific key words or phrases used by that particular employer and transfer that vocabulary into your document where appropriate.

Your résumé is your marketing document. Make sure the information and accomplishments included in your "sales pitch" is noteworthy. Ask yourself, "why is this information important?" as you write. What purpose does adding this piece of information serve? Does it make you more marketable?

A Little information regarding cover letters

Cover letters are still necessary. Target the cover letter to the specific job for which you are applying. Keep it to one page.

Use the same style heading in the cover letter as you did on your résumé for consistency.

Highlight some information from your résumé and take the opportunity to explain it in further detail. Again, focus on accomplishments. Give the employer a reason to read further, make it interesting. Focus on "what I can do for you."

Don't include specific numbers for salary. Even though many job announcements say "will not be considered without salary history" dodge the issue somewhat. My recommendation, write something to the effect: Salary is negotiable depending upon specific job requirements. I desire a competitive salary equal to that of similar positions in the Baltimore-Washington area (or specific regional area) with regard to my years of experience in the field.

Chesapeake Résumé Writing Service
P.O. Box 117
Crownsville, MD 21032
Phone: 410-533-2457
Email: resume@chesres.com


•Résumé Writing•Cover Letters•Thank-You Letters•Professional Bio's• •Career Coaching•Interview Coaching•Interview Preparation•Job Placement•
	Interview Winning Résumé Strategies and Tips Provided by Beth Colley, CPRW of Chesapeake Résumé Writing Service Crownsville, MD Types of Résumés Chronological – most popular and liked by human resources staff and hiring managers. Provides a chronological history of employment and background. Best used if you have a steady and progressive employment history and are looking for a job in the same field. Pros: employers can easily see your track record and it will highlight notable employers. Cons: Can be somewhat limiting for employment options and you can easily date yourself if you're not careful. Combined – Different varieties and formats can be used such as listing current or most recent position and then highlighting skill sets within the employment history. Focuses on skill sets within your employment history. Best used for career changers or if you've worked for the same employer for an extensive period of time. Becoming more accepted by hiring managers. Pros: Able to highlight skills and versatility of possible employment options. Able to include non-paid/volunteer work as part of a skill set rather than focusing strictly on paid experience. Versatile format and layouts can be used to individualize and target the résumé. Cons: Depending upon your format, it may be hard for employers to note specifically where you gained the experience you have. Functional – focuses on skill sets rather than any kind of employment history. May or may not even include an employment history. Best used for entry level positions requiring little or no work history or if there are long gaps in employment. Pros: Employers can see your skills and education very easily without having to pinpoint your experience to one specific job. Able to hide gaps of unemployment. Cons: Typically lacks much if any employment history what-so-ever. TIPS Keep résumés to no more than 2 pages in length. If you use a second page, include your contact information at the top and fill up at least 2/3 of the second page. Use high quality résumé paper, 32 lb is best. Most accepted colors are white, ivory, blue, gray. Include your most important information in the top 1/3 of the first page of your résumé. Use action verbs and focus on accomplishments rather than job duties. Write in a CCAR format: Context, Challenge, Action, Result. It makes for more interesting reading and provides discussion points for an interview. If it sounds like a job duty or job function it's not results focused. Just because you're responsible for it, doesn't mean that you're good at it. Don't date yourself: Dead give-a ways are listing college graduation dates, going back more than 15 years in your employment history, and stating you have 30 plus years of experience. Instead say you have more than 15 or more than 20 years of experience. Keep the font easy to read. 10 or 12 point font, in Arial or New Times Roman. One inch margins throughout the document, if possible. Make sure there is enough "white space" to make it easy on the eyes of the reader. Target the résumé to a specific career industry. If you're seeking a couple of different career paths, you may need a couple of different versions of your résumé. STRATEGIES Include a career summary at the top of the first page of your résumé including key words and highlight key information that you want an employer to notice. Objectives are not necessary in today's résumé. A well written summary eliminates the need for an objective. Use bold print to highlight the key words, but don't overdo it. Set off your career summary by using a "power box." Use the key words at least three times in your résumé, especially if you are submitting it on-line or submitting it to a company that will scan it into a data base of résumés. Research the job announcements and job descriptions to find specific key words or phrases used by that particular employer and transfer that vocabulary into your document where appropriate. Your résumé is your marketing document. Make sure the information and accomplishments included in your "sales pitch" is noteworthy. Ask yourself, "why is this information important?" as you write. What purpose does adding this piece of information serve? Does it make you more marketable? A Little information regarding cover letters Cover letters are still necessary. Target the cover letter to the specific job for which you are applying. Keep it to one page. Use the same style heading in the cover letter as you did on your résumé for consistency. Highlight some information from your résumé and take the opportunity to explain it in further detail. Again, focus on accomplishments. Give the employer a reason to read further, make it interesting. Focus on "what I can do for you." Don't include specific numbers for salary. Even though many job announcements say "will not be considered without salary history" dodge the issue somewhat. My recommendation, write something to the effect: Salary is negotiable depending upon specific job requirements. I desire a competitive salary equal to that of similar positions in the Baltimore-Washington area (or specific regional area) with regard to my years of experience in the field. Home \| About CRWS \| Résumés \| Pricing \| Links \| Contact Us \| Tips Chesapeake Résumé Writing Service P.O. Box 117 Crownsville, MD 21032 Phone: 410-533-2457 Email: resume@chesres.com Copyright © 2008 Chesapeake Résumé Writing Service All rights reserved.