Over ninety-five percent of all executives are introduced to employers via a resume. The resume represents the work experience, skills, and achievements attained over several years. Yet, most employers spend less than twenty seconds scanning a resume to determine if it is worth further consideration. So think of your resume more as a piece of advertising than a comprehensive data sheet. Use margins and good spacing, which make it easily scanable. Often, because of a poorly written resume, talented professionals that might fit a particular assignment are screened out. The targeted resume selected by the employer for further action generally shows a track record of accomplishments introduced by a well-stated career objective with supporting qualifications. What the resume does for an Employer. It is a time saver which quickly identifies your career objective and general background.
What you want to do		Career Objective
What you have achieved to date		Experience
What you know		Education
Who you are		Personal
What the resume does for You.
It enables you to focus your experience and to highlight information pertinent to your objective and career potential. This will allow you to discuss easily your major strengths during the actual interview.
The major headings: Career Objective, Experience, Education, and Personal, should appear on your resume.
CAREER OBJECTIVE
A well-written career objective can be very useful in communicating goals and qualifications. The objective establishes the focal point and direction of your career. What do you want to do? It states the general career area and level of responsibility and highlights two or three of your major capabilities. Remember to choose those that represent both an interest and a skill. Also, cite areas of strength that fit both you and the career objective. For example: "Senior Marketing Manager position utilizing strong product development, market research and marketing analysis skills.” The functional career objective can be stated by a specific title such as "Marketing" or "Product Development”. Remember, however, that some titles and the duties associated with these titles may vary from company to company or from one industry to another. Your career objective should be brief; you should be able to state it in one sentence. The level or scope of the position can be conveyed by "Senior", "Executive," "Managerial," "Professional," etc. Career objective statements should avoid terms such as "opportunity for advancement," "a challenging position," "position dealing with people," "a progressive company," "a dynamic organization," etc. While these terms may sound nice to the job applicant, they have little meaning to the employer and may indicate that the candidate has no idea about the objectives. A well-stated career objective focuses attention on your objective and qualifications for it. It is the foundation upon which business experience and accomplishments can be built logically and realistically.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
This section provides information on your current and past employment. Name of employer, location, position, title, and dates of employment should be listed. A brief description of the employer's business is essential, particularly regarding type of business, sales, products, etc., all geared to provide a thumbnail sketch for the reader. Positions should be listed in reverse chronological order, indicating length of time in each position and primary responsibilities. Next, highlight specific achievements to convey successful performance in the position. Provide an accomplishment for each of your primary duties. State your accomplishments clearly and with conviction. (Do not be modest--this is the time to sell your achievements.) Then, prioritize these achievements. Start each accomplishment with an active verb describing the results obtained. Be brief. Words such as Increased, Sold, Introduced, Implemented, Initiated, Directed, Conceived, Developed, Created, Consolidated, Reduced, Saved, Obtained, Improved, and Supervised may be used. Whenever possible, describe results in terms of numbers, dollars, or percentages. Summarize details of work completed and expand on your relevant experiences for the position sought. Condense jobs or experiences that are not directly related. This means that you slant your resume to the type of position you are seeking. Hence, you will require more than one resume if applying for more than one career area. Do not leave time gaps in your resume. Highlight work experience and achievements to support the career objective and to generate discussion around skills and past accomplishments. Employers want to know what you accomplished. Be positive, capitalize on strengths and omit negative or neutral words. Indicate any promotions and increased responsibilities you may have undertaken. No job descriptions are hired! Results oriented people with proven abilities are selected.
EDUCATION
Identify highest degree obtained first, with name of college/university, location, and dates attended. List prior college level degrees and/or other training programs, seminars or conferences relevant to your career objective. Provide data on special projects, courses, extracurricular activities, language skills, academic achievement, and amount of tuition earned if information helps support career objective and shows outstanding achievement and knowledge.
PERSONAL
Your name, address, and telephone number and or email address should be placed in a prominent position, usually at the top of the resume. Telephone numbers and or email addresses are a must, since most employers will call or email you to set up an interview. Other data which would enhance your resume may be provided under separate headings, such as: Special Awards & Recommendations, Part-time Experience, Honorariums, Publications and/or Lectures, Military Service, Business Association Memberships, Unusual Interests, or Hobbies. Include names, locations, and dates for your special achievements. Do not include information if it takes up space that might be needed for more relevant material.
SUMMARY
Take the time to develop the appropriate resume to showcase your interests and skills. Critique your final draft. Review it with friends, family, and former supervisors, if possible. They should be able to tell you if you have omitted something significant. Career counselors and other business professionals experienced in resume reading can also have good, constructive advice. When you are ready to print, proofread your resume carefully. Your resume must be error free. The resume is a sales tool for your career. It is part of an overall marketing plan matching your experience, capabilities, and personality with the right employer. It will help your progress toward the attainment of your full career potential. The resume design and tone should be brief and action-oriented. Edit out excess words. Resume length should be kept at no more than 1 1/2 - 2 pages. Anything longer is an autobiography, not a resume. Don't overwhelm employers with information. The interview is a better format to accomplish that. Focus on your qualifications and career goals so that employers can identify quickly how your capabilities could be mutually beneficial.
Job Openings | Directions | Resume Tips | E-mail Your Resume | Home
Cyr Associates, Inc is a member of NEDMA - New England Direct Marketing Association We represent Equal Opportunity Employers.