The Best Resume Advice For Optimal Job Search Success

I am always concerned, when conducting job search and resume writing workshops, about the level of anxiety, frustration and confusion that many jobseekers face in today's highly competitive market.

Despite the wide array of career books and resume writing advice, I find that the same questions come up, time and time again. From the ongoing debate over a one-page resume to controversy of video resumes and online social media profiles.

Wouldn't it be great, if you had a simple set of resume writing strategies and principles that would work for your career situation every single time? Well, rather than weigh you down with a laundry list of resume do's and dont's, here is my resume-writing blueprint that has never failed my clients. Whether they were targeting high-level executive positions, trying to advice in their current field or looking to make a change, these principles have helped them create compelling resumes.

Principle #1: Be clear and focused on your target positions and ideal companies

Your greatest career hits will be lost on the best employers if your career marketing message is not focus on THEIR (the companies/employers) needs. Your professional resume is a useless document unless it clearly demonstrates the value, expertise and record of consistent contributions that you are able to bring to the table.

Remember to only include relevant experience, qualifications, education, training and projects that position you as the ideal candidate for your target position. If you are targeting senior-level marketing positions then your entire resume should only speak to that level of qualifications and experience; the fact that you have a real estate license and a Master in Social Work is commendable, but not relevant.

Key point: For those of you with more than one job target, don't force everything under the sun onto one professional resume. Instead make sure that each resume have a specific job focus and career goal in mind - on the other hand, you should not have ten job targets as that will confuse employers and recruiters.

Principle #2: Begin your resume with strong profile/qualifications section

These days where online communication and technology-based tools dominate the way we work and play, whenever you send out your resume, an employer or recruiter can be viewing your resume through a Blackberry, Palm Pilot or any other hand-held device.

Take the extra steps to make sure that the top third of your professional resume really needs to stand out and has the right blend of content to whet the reader's appetite and entice them to give you a call. Personally, I have found that stick to a resume formula that includes a title header, personal branding statement and powerful summary can speak real VALUE to employers and does the trick every time.

Principle #3: Be mindful of your resume space and layout

Give your professional background and experience room to breathe! As tempting as it may seem, don't, don't, don't try to squeeze 10-plus years of progressive leadership experience and achievements onto one page by using a size 6 font.

-- Start off by prioritizing the content for your professional resume according to your job target goals and allow that to guide you in creating a well-balanced career document.

-- Give more weight and resume space to the relevant positions and career achievements that have occurred in the past 15 - 20 years and summarize any early experience in a paragraph.

-- Position education, training and certifications on the resume's first page if they are critical requirements for the position. For example, a project manager should list PMP certification next to his/her name or senior auditor would indicate his/her CPA designation right up front.

Last, but not least, do not become emotionally tied to any aspect of your career or
accomplishments, if it is not RELEVANT or ESSENTIAL to your career goals and target company, minimize it or leave off the resume.

Principle #4: Balance your resume with heavy dose of career achievements

When your professional resume has a laundry list of your tasks and responsibilities only tell half of your career story; bring intrigue and impact to your resume by placing heavy emphasis on your achievements and personal contributions to former employers.

-- Limit your job descriptions to key aspects like annual revenues, size of division, number of employees, amount of budget or P&L oversight.

-- Take advantage of bullet statements to draw quick attention to those career-defining achievements; conserve your resume space by limiting five achievements for each position as best as possible.

Principle #5: Be prepared and have your resume in formats that match your job search strategies

While it is essential to have your resume in paper and electronic format, you need to maximize all avenues to promote yourself both online and offline. You may run into an important decision makers that wants your resume posted to a database or a professional contact may be looking for you online.

-- Develop your professional resume in Word, PDF, and ASCII (text)

-- Created targeted, branded LinkedIn profile that showcases key highlights of your background, experience and achievements.

-- Optimize free. user-friendly tools like VisualCV.com to seamlessly transform your professional resume and career highlights into an interactive, online career portfolio.

-- Create PowerPoint presentation from core sections of your professional resume and use it an introduction to new contacts or personal referrals.

Always, remember, the professional resume is simply the key that opens the door for further in-depth conversation, but it still has to compelling enough to warrant a phone call or a closer look.

 

By: Abby Locke