The resume is not to be treated as a mere outline of jobs and experience. When used strategically, it is a powerful selling tool.

If provided prior to the interview, it will be used as a screening tool. In that regard, it can work toward helping the interviewer form a positive impression of you. It may be further be used to set you up for questions you will be well prepared to answer. The resume establishes a context of who you are and what you have done. It furthermore, gives the prospective employer and interviewer an idea of how you can contribute to the organization and help it achieve its goals.

Writing Impressive Resumes
Your resume is an effective tool that enables you to create linkage with prospective employers. More than a list of job experiences, an effective resume provides context for your credentials and qualifications.

More importantly, an effective resume can form a living relational link to employers and interviewers. It does this by bringing you to life! The key to effective resume development is building a three-dimensional model of who you are, what you have done, and what you can potentially do. The more your model relates in tone and substance to what the employer is looking for, the better your chance of making it to the short list of considered candidates.

Effective resumes are built with a results and action-oriented tone. Employers need results. The job functions you have performed, responsibilities you have carried out, and experience you have accumulated is important....to some degree. More important, however, are the tangible results you have achieved. A series of accomplishments means you are a person who continuously achieves results, and can be expected to produce results and make contributions that make a difference.

Therefore, the tone of the resume is developed by building a series of concise, but powerful statements that illustrate: 1) what you did; and 2) the results achieved.

Example: Developed a new merchandising strategy for a major product line, which resulted in a 50% increase in sales.

Statements can also be written in reverse form to add variety to your presentation and enhance readability: 1) Achieved XYZ results; by 2) what you did.

Example: Increased profits 20% by developing a new inventory control system and reducing operating redundancies.

The Appropriate and Effective Use of Power Words
It is important to use action verbs that describe activity, and lead to results. These words work effectively if they are not individually used in excess. A sample of such words is included at the bottom of this page.

For every job function you performed, simply ask yourself: What difference did it make? How did it benefit the organization? Then, write it concisely, with impact.

Primary Resume Components
While your resume must reflect your individual credentials, experience, education, training and achievements, the are some common parts of the resume employers look for.

Contact information
The basics naturally include your name, address and home phone number. Include a day number, cell number and/or pager if available. Be easy to contact. Also include a home e-mail number. Goals and Objectives These are often used, but are NOT necessary, and NOT recommended. The problem with Goals and Objectives is that they can be too specific, and therefore limit your possibilities; or too general, and be meaningless. If you are confident with a narrow job definition, use it; otherwise start with a Summary.

Summary
A good Summary provides a quick snapshot (100 words max) of your achievements, skills and abilities. It can include industries worked in, specific accomplishments and areas of expertise.

Experience
List positions in reverse chronological order, starting with the current/most recent position. It is not critical to list dates of employment in terms of month and year. In fact, simply stating the dates in a "year from to year end" format (ie. 1996 to 1998) is typically preferred. You may be asked to be more specific on job applications. If you are currently unemployed, say year started to "present."

If you held different positions at the same company, include each one in a separate paragraph, but grouped together under the same company. If you worked in different divisions, specify first the major/parent company, then the division. For example: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. Chevrolet Division.

Professional Associations, Affiliations and Designations
List any such affiliations, professional memberships or credential designations that apply to your current level of authority, function and experience. If you were long ago a member of a society or association, you may not want to list it if it would tend to label or limit you in relation to the position you are seeking. Avoid listing any affiliations that identify with age, gender, race or religion.

Education
List the highest degree first, and include major field of study (if college), school, year graduated, and any honors. Recent college graduates should include GPA (providing it is B or better). If you earned an Associates degree plus higher degree, omit the Associates degree. Also omit High School if graduated college. Include any post-graduate college study as well as post-high school or vocational/trade schooling and training if not graduated college. Any professional training should also be included.

Military
If you served in the military, identify that service, including rank.

Awards, Recognition, Patents
List each as applicable to the position you are seeking. If the list is long, include on an Addendum attached to the resume.

Personal Data
This is optional, and not recommended. References Provide a separate sheet, if asked.

Previous Employer(s)
If your list of employers and positions is extensive, and you have been working longer than twelve years, it can be beneficial to simply group these positions together in a paragraph at the bottom of the resume.

Key Resume Tips

• Use one page if you have less than 10 years experience; two pages for more than 10 years.
• List positions in chronological order, using short paragraphs and/or bullet points to describe the results and benefits of action performed.
• Keep explanations short and simple.
• Avoid puffery.
• Use language with broad enough appeal to apply to different job functions, situations and environments.
• Design the resume to be scanned in less than 10 seconds.

Action Verbs