Need help in getting your resume to stand out from the competition?

Need help in getting your resume to stand out from the competition?


Guest Contributor:Janet Andrews, MA,is a Strategic Career Coach

Here are 8 Keys to Creating a Powerful Resume

1. Instead of an “Objective,” create a “Summary Paragraph” which is:
* The single most effective tool for creating the perception of “who you are” and your future career growth.
* An overview of your career history, which highlights your Qualifications, Specialties, Areas of Expertise, and Professional Strengths.
* Frames past experience with a focus on your future direction.

2. Tailor your resume toward each position:
* Ask for a job description to get critical information regarding qualifications, experience and attributes that a company is seeking.
* Highlight personal and professional brand by identifying unique qualities, marketable skills and institutional knowledge to capture the attention of employers.



2. Use your target company’s keywords and phrases in your resume:

o Highlight your experience with company and industry keywords and phrases on your resume, so you will appear to be a “fit” with the organization.



3. Create bullet points (that take the place of paragraphs) that start with action verbs:
* Transform responsibilities and actions into powerful results and crowning achievements.
* Paragraphs can be hard to decipher, while bullets are more reader-friendly.
* Prioritize your accomplishments and achievements according to what the company would be most interested in.



4. Create your resume as if it were a marketing and sales document:
* Remember, the resume is a sales tool, and you are the “product.”
* What are the specific benefits of your being hired?
* Remember the “WIIFM?” What’s in it for them?


5. Show that you are a problem-solver:
* Bring out positive results and the outcome of your work and how you have contributed to solving a company’s problems and challenges.

6. Quantify accomplishments on your resume:
* Use numbers, percentages & dollars everywhere you can, not just in the result, as it brings attention to the point you are trying to make.



7. Include Professional & Community Affiliations:

o Add specific leadership roles, committee memberships and volunteer activities.
o However, don’t overdo it, as the company may wonder if you have time to do your work!



8. Never state a salary requirement in your resume:
* This can be a turn-off and also eliminate you from being considered, as it may be out of the company’s range, being either too high or too low.



Guest Contributor:Janet Andrews, MA, is a Strategic Career Coach and Resume Writer with extensive experience successfully coaching clients through every phase of the job search and career transition process. Janet creates stellar resumes, marketing materials and job search correspondence for clients that result in appointments, interviews and job offers. Janet holds a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Pepperdine University and is certified as a Job and Career Transition Coach.

For More Info:LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/janetandrews
Website: http://www.andrewscs.com/