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Sometimes a little goes
a long way. With a few minor adjustments, your resume can be improved to
the point where it ends up in the callback pile as opposed to the trash
bin. There are common mistakes many people make when writing their own
resumes, but there are ways to fix or avoid resume blunders and ensure
your resume will be read.
Revamp the format
Resume templates are a killer—the worst thing ever to be invented. Since
just about every jobseeker uses a MS Word template, the result is that too
many resumes have the same look and feel, making it difficult for the
reader to differentiate between candidates. When searching for a job, the
last thing you want to be is an ordinary, run-of-the-mill applicant.
A distinctive resume format will not only make you stand out from the
competition, but make you look more qualified and organized. In truth, how
your resume looks is as important as how it reads.
Stick to what is relevant
Since hiring managers don’t put much weight on outdated accomplishments,
your resume should focus on your last 10–15 years of employment. In
addition, there is no need to flesh out jobs that aren’t relevant.
Eliminating old and irrelevant jobs will provide you with the opportunity
to focus on your career objective, making the resume easier to read and
less confusing.
Be original
Are you copying resume text from resume books, websites, or even your
friend’s resume? Though you can use those resources as a guide, simply
copying the information isn’t a smart move. Chances are you won’t be the
only one replicating the work of others and once again, you won’t stand
out from the crowd.
Mix it up a bit
If you find that your resume is written either in paragraph style or in
bulleted style only, consider mixing it up a bit. Use a combination of the
two. Spell out your responsibilities in a paragraph and mark your
achievements in bulleted statements. This formula allows the reader to
quickly scan your resume and pick up relevant information quickly.
Below is an example:
Promoted to oversee development of corporate/consumer sales and
implementation collateral, leading team in building brand awareness across
different lines of business. Developed marketing plans and maintained new
product/business requirements. Previously managed staff of 22 sales
representatives in providing payroll access products and services, with
total deposits of $1.5 billion and 312,000 accounts. As Business Manager,
monitored 17 sites (with 1 million check cashing volumes annually) and
supervised team of 45.
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Strategic Marketing – Created New Hire Orientation Kits,
Refer a Friend Program, Cafeteria Marketing and Direct Mail Campaign to
continuously attract new consumer accounts. Directed content upgrade for
Corporate Intranet Program to WFS Website.
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Business Development – Grew fee-based
revenue from $1 million to $1.8 million and spearheaded development of
Integrated Sales Process to steer focus towards new business
acquisition/expansion and customer retention.
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Internal Team Building – Served on Diversity Council and
Channel Integration Team, Transaction Management Project to further
company efforts in creating unified, strong teamwork.
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Operational Improvement – Directed openings of 5 standalone
CTCC sites; streamlined operations by improving audits/controls, reducing
operating losses, closing 3 non-productive sites, re-deploying resources,
and recommending subsequently adopted business – branch system
integration.
Your resume determines the tone of your job search. With these quick tips
in mind, revisit your resume including the layout, verbiage, and overall
structure. Then determine if your resume needs a tweak or a complete
overhaul.
By Linda Matias
Visit her website at
www.careerstrides.com or email her at
linda@careerstrides.com. |
Writers
Profile
Recognized as a
career expert,
Linda Matias brings a wealth of
experience to the career services field. She has been sought out for her
knowledge of the employment market, outplacement, job search strategies,
interview preparation, and resume writing, quoted a number of times in The
Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com. She
is president of CareerStrides and the National Resume Writers’
Association.
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