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How to Write an Eye-Catching Resume
By Marvin Walberg, job search consultant and the contributor of "Getting Hired," a weekly
job search advice newspaper column distributed by Scripps Howard News Service. E-mail Mr. Walberg at mwalberg@bellsouth.net.
Your resume is one of several tools to use during your job search. In addition to your resume, landing the job will take an interview outfit, a smile, a handshake, eye
contact, and a prepared agenda to sell your strengths and accomplishments.
But your first impression still requires an eye-catching, interview-snagging resume. So, let's start at the beginning, and I'll assume that you have access to a basic
word processor and quality laser jet printer. If you're the quiet unassuming type, jump out of the box! Now is not the time to hold back-boast if you earned it! Stretch
that arm way back and pat yourself on the back, but don't exaggerate or stretch the truth. Your resume must be accurate and completely honest.
Paper
Make a good impression, but you don't want to be remembered for the pink paper with silver ink! Choose a quality bond paper in light buff or gray. Any office supply
store or printer can help you choose an acceptable resume paper.
Typeface
Use a type style that is clean and easy to read, like Times New Roman. Remember that the content of your resume and the ease of reading your resume are what will land
the interviews, not fancy graphics or wild and crazy type styles. I suggest a 12-point typeface throughout your resume, keeping in mind that you can lead the reader using
bold print, regular print, full caps, upper/lower case, underlines, and italics, but you don't have to go overboard with huge letters to make an impression.
Heading
The heading consists of your name, address, and telephone number. Centering your heading at the top of the page is fine, or you can place it left or right. I would put
your name in full caps, bold printed. Your street address and city/state/zip can be upper/lower in regular print. I like using bold print for your area code and telephone
number, and if you have an e-mail address, place it under your telephone number in bold italics:
MARVIN WALBERG
PO Box 130757
Birmingham, AL 35213
(205) 328-8103
mwalberg@bellsouth.net
To separate your heading from the body of your resume, you can use a bold printed line or double line under your heading.
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Format
Separate your resume into sections, such as "Education," "Work Experience," and "Computer Skills" using the same format throughout. Your format highlights what we
know the employer needs to see in a style that makes it easy to find and easy to read. This is where you can use full caps, bold print, and underlines for emphasis.
You can get ideas from any current resume-writing guidebook in your public library, or use something like the following:
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| WORK EXPERIENCE |
| XYZ CELLULAR, Yonkers, NY |
6/01-9/01 |
Customer Service Representative, greeting customers, giving information on telephones and service
plans, and referring interested customers to sales staff. This was a summer job prior to my senior year in high school.
- Promoted to commissioned sales after one month, increasing my summer income by over 50%.
(This format/graphics style uses the whole page and allows the reader to see basic information quickly. The use of "bulleted" accomplishments sells your "sizzle"
rather than just states your responsibilities.)
Objective
Your "Objective" is a one-line statement that clearly identifies the job that you want, and can be changed for different job types and employers. Suppose you are
applying for a counter job at a fast food store, or a receptionist position for a local dentist. In either case, the "Objective" could read:
OBJECTIVE: Seeking a customer service opportunity with multi-task responsibilities.
The purpose of using such an objective is to match your objective to the employer's opening using workplace language. "customer service" suggests dealing with the
public, and "multi-task" refers to being able to do more than one thing at a time, which every employer likes. It's good to "walk the walk," but in your resume you
should "talk the talk," using action words and phrases common to the workplace.
Summary
For a generic resume not targeting a specific job opening, you can substitute a "Summary of Qualifications" for an "Objective." Your "Summary" should briefly identify
your strengths and any specific workplace skills you have:
SUMMARY: Articulate people person comfortable meeting the public. Computer literate using Microsoft Word, Windows XP, and spreadsheets.
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Education
Using the same format style, state your current or latest level of education: |
| YONKERS HIGH SCHOOL, Yonkers, NY |
9/99-5/02 |
- 3.5 GPA
- National Honor Society
- Varsity tennis (3 years)
- Vice President Student Body
The bulleted highlights spotlight accomplishments that can be relevant to your success in the work world.
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Work Experience
Use the same format/graphics style to present any work experience that you may have. If you have no actual work-for-pay experience, you can highlight any volunteer work
that have done for your school, a religious organization, a hospital, etc. Use the "bullet" highlight feature to spotlight accomplishments, and remember that your
accomplishments sell your strengths, not whether or not you were paid for your effort. Volunteer work earns the same level of work experience as a paid job.
Special Skills
Add this section if you are bilingual or better, or have any specific work-related skills that are measurable, like computer programming or experience with work-related
software.
Proofread, then Proofread Again
Your resume must be free of any spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Check it, have a friend proofread it, and then adjust the body of your resume so that it fits
the page evenly. The overall look of your resume is almost as important as the content.
Be Flexible
There's no such thing as a perfect resume. Always be alert to necessary or recommended changes, and be prepared to make changes to tailor your resume for a specific employer. |
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