What You Need to Know Before You Write That Resume

Many job seekers think of their resumes as nothing more than a summary of the jobs they've held and the degrees or certifications they've obtained. A professional resume is much more than a list of previous jobs; it's a document that sells your skills and makes hiring managers want to interview you. Before you write a professional resume, take time to research the employer and think about what you want out of a new job.

If you have been sending the same resume to every potential employer, it's time to try a different tactic. Customize every resume you send based on the needs of the employer or the industry as a whole. Research the pain points of the potential employer to determine which skills you should highlight in your professional resume. If you find out that the company suffered a large loss in the previous quarter, you might want to highlight your sales experience or include a bullet that tells the recruiter you were able to increase sales by a significant percentage at your last company. If the company is in need of a strong leader, highlight your experience managing people.

Take time to find out about all the job openings that are a match for your skills, education and work experience. If you get hung up on one particular job, you might forget to list skills or experiences that make you qualified for other positions in the company. Identifying the opportunities available before you start applying for jobs is also a good way to determine if you need more skills or experience before you try to get a job in a particular industry.

It's important to think about the type of job you really want. In tough economic times, the urge to accept any job that comes along is strong, especially if you are experiencing financial difficulties. Unfortunately, accepting a job that doesn't match up with your career goals and personality is sure to make you miserable. Before you write your professional resume, think about these criteria: company size, location, industry, job duties and organizational culture. Then customize your resume accordingly.

Your professional resume should reflect the needs and values of a potential employer. Before writing a resume, take time to review the company website and do some research on the potential employer's mission, vision and values; then tweak your resume to showcase all of the attributes that make you a perfect fit. If the company focuses on a specific niche within a larger industry, for example, your professional resume should emphasize all of the knowledge and experience you have in that niche.

Writing a resume correctly is one of the best ways to improve your chances of moving to the interview stage of the hiring process. Instead of sending the same resume to every potential employer, customize your professional resume based on the employer's needs and company culture.

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