Reengineering Your Resume (Part 2): Make Your Resume More Effective

For today’s professionals, the resume must meet extremely high standards in order to advance you to the next level, the interview. Determine your resume’s strengths and weaknesses by answering the following questions:

Does your resume have spelling and grammatical errors?

There is no room for errors. A resume with errors says that you are careless and you are not a serious candidate for the position. Once you thoroughly proof your resume, allow several others to proof it for you. Your resume must be perfect! This is non-negotiable.

 

If possible, you should always include an objective on your resume. The objective will help route your resume to the right person. The more specific the better. Avoid writing vague or general objectives that really do not say very much such as, “Obtain a position that will allow me the opportunity to maximize my training and experience.”

 

Summarizing your accomplishments at the top of the resume immediately following your objective will allow employers to recognize your strengths at a glance. It also gives you an opportunity to include critical keywords to ensure your resume passes the first screening.

Whether you place your education at the top or bottom of the page depends on your strategy. For example, if you have a master’s degree and you are applying for a position requiring a bachelor’s degree but a master’s is preferred, then you should prominently place education at the top of the page. However, if extensive experience gives you a competitive advantage, then place it at the top and education at the bottom.

 
Did you list job titles without detailed descriptions of job duties and responsibilities?

Always elaborate on the responsibilities performed on each job.  Use bullets for easy reading.  Do not begin entry with the phrase “Responsibilities included” or “Responsible for.” Start with a strong action verb such as, negotiated, coordinated or facilitated.