Top 3 Dos and Donts for Your New Resume

Top 3 Do’s and Don’ts for Your New Resume So â€" you have decided that it’s time for you to write your new resume. And, your next thought is how and what to update since the last time you worked on your resume maybe 5, 10, or 15 years ago. Then, you decide to go online and do a website search regarding resume tips and ideas for today. You become overwhelmed and have no idea where to begin. If you want an easy place to start, read on for three tips that will help you get started with your new document. #1 â€" Do be specific. Don’t just write generalities from your job description when talking about your most recent position. I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again â€" there are a LOT of people that have similar job descriptions. The difference is knowing the impact that you made at the organization. So, include HOW MANY accounts you managed, the NUMBER of employees supervised, and the DOLLAR AMOUNT you brought in for new sales. #2 â€" Don’t be afraid to discuss your accomplishments. Many of my resume clients think of this as bragging and are worried that they are being too forward. Let’s get real for a minuteâ€"there may be 50 or 100+ people vying for the same job. By discussing your achievements, you are simply showing the potential employer what you can do for the company. It’s not bragging if you are stating a fact. Andâ€"I can guarantee that those other candidates are most definitely discussing their accomplishmentsâ€"shouldn’t you be doing the same thing? #3 â€" Do identify large gaps in your professional history. If you are a parent returning to work after 10 years or had to take 2 years off to care for an ailing parent, you should address this on your resume. If you choose not to do so, a potential employer may wonder what you were doing that entire time. You can easily say, “Spent 2014 â€" 2016 caring for an ailing relative,” or something similar to denote the timeline. When working on a new resume, the amount of information online can be absolutely overwhelming if you are seeking advice and ideas for your new job-searching document. Instead, focus on what makes you unique and ask a trusted colleague or friend to review your resume and provide feedback. At the end of the day, the resume is YOURS and you need to feel comfortable sending the document to potential employers. Are you still wondering if your resume makes the grade? Then, email me at heather@feather-communications.com and ask for a free resume review. Within 48 hours, I will send you an email offering tips and ideas to help you MOVE FORWARD with your job search! P.S. If you want to know the secret to getting ahead with your job search, download my Top 5 Resume Tips to GET THE INTERVIEW today!