Resumes should always be action-oriented. The following list of action verbs is designed
to help you better identify and articulate your accomplishments.

Action Words

Achieved
Acquired
Adapted
Administered
Advised
Advocated
Allocated
Analyzed
Anticipated
Appraised
Arranged
Assembled
Assessed
Assisted
Attended
Audited
Augmented
Authored
Balanced
Benchmarked
Briefed
Broadened
Built
Chaired
Checked
Clarified
Collaborated
Combined
Communicated
Completed
Compiled
Composed
Computed
Conceived
Concluded
Conducted
Constructed
Consulted
Contributed
Coordinated
Counseled
Crafted
Created
Decreased
Defined
Delivered
Demonstrated
Designed
Determined
Developed
Diagnosed
Directed
Discovered
Documented
Drafted
Edited
Educated
Engineered
Established
Evaluated
Exceeded
Executed
Expanded
Expedited
Facilitated
Financed
Foresaw
Formalized
Formed
Formulated
Fostered
Founded
Generated
Governed
Hired
Identified
Implemented
Improved
Increased
Influenced
Initiated
Installed
Instituted
Integrated
Interacted
Interpreted
Interviewed
Introduced
Invented
Investigated
Launched
Led
Leveraged
Linked
Maintained
Managed
Marketed
Mediated
Mentored
Moderated
Monitored
Motivated
Negotiated
Operated
Organized
Originated
Oversaw
Patented
Performed
Pioneered
Planned
Prepared
Produced
Programmed
Promoted
Proposed
Provided
Publicized
Published
Purchased
Pursued
Recruited
Reengineered
Represented
Researched
Reshaped
Resolved
Restructured
Reviewed
Revised
Rewrote
Scheduled
Secured
Selected
Served
Set up
Sold
Spearheaded
Sponsored
Staffed
Started
Structured
Supervised
Surpassed
Surveyed
Taught
Tested
Trained
Transformed
Updated
Upgraded
Utilized
Wrote

Words to Avoid Like the Proverbial Plague

Abused
Accused
Bullied
Burned
Destroyed
Embezzled
Fired
Immolated
Indicted
Maimed
Manhandled
Massacred
Misappropriated
Robbed
Shot
Stole
Squandered
Threatened
Victimized
Violated

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This is the age of the Internet. No matter what type of job you are looking for, it is necessary that you have a copy of your resume online. An online resume or digital resume saves time and energy. Your resume website link can be easily emailed to anyone that requests it. Having an online presence in most instances will make it easier for you to secure a job in a much shorter time.

In order to display your online resume, it will be necessary to create and design a very basic website. There are many places online that offer web hosting, and you might choose one of these places to create a website address to host your resume, but there are several other options to consider.

If you are not able to create and design a website for yourself, it is necessary to hire someone to do this for you. However, if you are not able to create either a resume or a website by yourself, hiring someone is definitely recommended. A website that looks professional will help your chances to secure a better job with a higher pay.

The least expensive option for creating an online resume may not cost you any additional money at all. Most online providers now include one or more personal websites in the subscription cost. Many of them allow as many as five personal sites per account with easy to use software. In fact, you may be able to simply upload the text version of your resume directly from your computer.

When creating an online resume it is recommended that you include all of the necessary parts of the paper version of your resume. This would mean including your education written in chronological order, your previous employment history, and any awards that you have received. Just because your resume is online, does not mean that it should not be formatted correctly.

After you have created a website with your online resume, the next important step is to direct potential employers to your website. This would include emailing your website address to employers when doing a job search, as well as including the address when writing to enquire if a company is hiring.

There are numerous career and job posting websites on the Internet. Search under the terms "job seeker" or "career seeker" and you will receive links to thousands of websites. I suggest you begin with those in your home city by narrowing your search by adding the name of your city to the search term, for example, "job seeker Philadelphia" or whatever job location you desire.

Get started today and you may have some solid leads in just a few days. It's easier than you think.

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Do you have what it takes to land a job doing grant writing? Many people are looking for ways to develop a freelance business, but unless you know what it takes to do so, you might as well stop trying. There are several fields in which you can learn and have many jobs waiting for you. But, in others, you will need to properly be prepared for them before they pass you by. Here, we will talk a little about how to find jobs in grant writing.

First, we would like to touch on what you need to do to get those freelance grant writing jobs. You will need to provide your future employment offers with samples of your work. If this is your first assignment, you may need to create a few samples to provide. In any case, you may also need quite a bit of training in the areas in which you will write. For example, if you plan to write on technical subjects you will need to know about these as well as learning how to write.

Once you have the required knowledge, you can begin your search for jobs. There are many businesses that use these specific skills to help generate the money they need to fund the business, research, or study they plan to do. In your specialized area, like that of technical fields, you will need to find businesses that do these things. You can find a wide range of options available online to you in your field. In any case, you will need to present yourself as a worthy candidate by providing good skills and good work ethics. Job vacancies are out there, in great numbers in certain fields. Employment with them will be based on your skills and attitude.

Opportunities in your field are waiting for you to open their door.

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Getting hired is tough in today's world of job layoffs, downsizing, outsourcing and cost crunching. Businesses no longer have the money to view people as simply bodies to fill a position. Instead they look for the most qualified candidates and screen their employees well. So much so that drug screens, criminal checks and employment history help companies avoid poor workers.

Resumes are another source of important information about candidates. If a resume is written with obvious spelling and grammar mistakes employers will usually discard it for reasons of basic knowledge and education. Getting the most qualified and progressive employees are an important part of business for many companies. They view good employees as productive who make few mistakes and poor employees as a liability to be replaced. A resume could show them what type of employee you really are and the reasons why they should hire you.

There are a number of things people need to keep in mind when writing their resume. Use the following list to increase your chances of employment success:

1.) Must highlight the skills and abilities of the person.

2.) Should use a format that is normally used in the field in which the person is applying.

3.) It should be clean and not more than 2 pages (variable depending on field).

4.) Your resume should have a hint of color to highlight it from other resumes.

5.) Should use parchment quality paper and an executive packet.

6.) Must have no spelling errors and use correct grammar.

Another alternative to writing your own resume is to have a professional write one for you. In this way you are sure to have one of the most ascetically pleasing and professionally written resumes in the bunch. There are many different types of resume businesses for people to turn to. Make sure the person you are working with has years of experience in the human resource field and professional writing skills.

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Liars Get Caught! What NOT to Put on Your Resume

"Everybody does it" as they say. Face it, the job market can be a very tough place to compete. If everyone inflates their experience then how can an honest person get a job?

Well, as tempting as it may be, you do NOT want to risk lying on your resume.

Whether it's personal information, job experience, or schooling - employers are finding new ways to sniff out liars and you don't want to be one of them.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

While some information may not be easily verified, information such as a criminal record, can be very costly to you in the event it is checked out. With sites like rapsheets.com you can never guarantee that an employer won't be able to find the information, even if your employer is hiring you for domestic work and is not a business.

JOB EXPERIENCE

Clearly this is not the place to boast about fake employment as you are going to list the businesses you worked for which may be contacted for verification. As this is the most likely area your interviewer will do a check on, avoid misrepresenting yourself at all costs.

EDUCATION

Think that nobody will notice if you slip in an education you don't really have? Perhaps you do have the skills, but you can't afford to claim education you can't provide proof of. EmployAct.com is a new service that will allow employers to have background checks - similar to criminal or credit checks - to verify your claim.

WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE

With all that said and done, how can you create a resume that will highlight your skills and abilities without needing to lie?

Give yourself credit. Your skills in the workforce can be weighty indicators of your ability to work in a given job. You may not know what an employer is looking for. With many jobs that don't require a particular expertise, you many find that they are looking for people who are able to learn on the job. Proof that you have gained skills as a worker (or even a volunteer if you're just starting out) can be very valuable.

Be certain that you focus on skills. Expand your descriptions. Do not say 'I worked in an office', rather say 'I was responsible for answering the phones in a professional manner and directing calls to the proper departments. In a busy work environment I was able to multi-task by providing supportive administrative assistance to the head receptionist including maintaining a filing system, processing inter office memos, delivering documents in a timely manner, directing clients to their meeting appointments and providing relief reception. I was quickly able to learn the filing and switchboard systems as well as create good working relationships with fellow staff.'

As you can see from the above example, it is perfectly acceptable to elaborate on your skills, but do so in an honest and ethical manner. If you need help you can find software programs which will give you suggestions on wording depending on the position you are describing or you can hire someone who writes resumes to help you. Have confidence in keeping the job you are sure to get by doing it right the first time.

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If you are feeling as though you have a serious case of resume writer's block, don't feel alone. This is the case for many people, especially those who are re-entering the workforce or who are new at job searching. Fortunately, free resume writing software can help to relieve a significant amount of your stress and make it possible for you to create an effective resume and have it in the hands of prospective employers in no time.

Free resume writing software services vary in terms of what is offered and how the information you create can be accessed. Therefore, it is extremely important that you research these factors when considering the use of any free resume writing software. For example, some free resume writing software services are very basic in nature. This type of resume writing software provides only a basic template in which you must fill in all the information and provides no help on wording, etc.

More advanced forms of free resume writing software go a step beyond and also offers suggestions and tips on wording. In addition, some types of free resume writing software may only offer one format. Depending on your personal situation, that format may not be the most suitable to highlight your unique skills and abilities and detract from anything that could hinder your chances at gaining employment. Whenever possible, look for resume software that offers you a choice in format.

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So you were thinking you might write your own resume?

That's okay, if the following applies to you:

* You are an excellent writer.

* You are adept in grammar and spelling rules.

* You have a solid understanding of the telegraphic writing style (which eliminates the use of personal pronouns, such as "I" and "me" and articles such as "the" and "a").

* You are an expert MS Word user.

* You keep up to date on industry trends.

 

* You are knowledgeable of resume layout and design.

* You know what information is relevant on a resume.

* You know what information is NOT relevant on a resume.

* You can devote several days to the resume writing process (research, preparation, writing, and editing).

Many people find they do not have the time or resources to write a professional resume that will get them results. You might also realize along the way (like many do) that hiring a professional resume writer will actually SAVE you money!

How you ask?

Imagine you have recently become unemployed and your previous salary was $34,000 annually and you are looking to remain at the same salary. Every week of unemployment equates to losing $653.85 in potential wages.

The average out-of-work American is unemployed for 18 weeks. So using the assumed $34,000 annual salary, you could lose $11,769.30 in potential wages.

On the other hand, people that have utilized my professional resume writing services have reported getting hired on average within 5 weeks.

That's a savings of over $8,500!!

Here's an analogy for you.

I can change the tires or the oil on my car. However, I would need to devote a lot of time and effort into learning how to replace my transmission. A mechanic on the other hand could have it done in a day or two because they have the tools, knowledge and resources necessary to get it done properly.

Since I am not a mechanic, not only will it take me well over a week, but I may not even do it correctly (and consequently cost myself even more time and money).

So the next time you think it's too expensive to have a resume professionally written, you need to ask yourself, "What does your resume cost".

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There are three main types of resumes you may consider submitting during your job search. The three types of resumes are called functional, chronological, or a combination of the two.

The Functional Resume

This type of resume is usually submitted when you want to put more emphasis on the qualifications and skills obtained during your previous employment. It involves writing a detailed explanation about the experiences you have had that are related to the job you are applying for. Unlike the chronological resume, the main importance of this resume is to outline how well suited you are for the job based on your experience and accomplishments.

The Chronological Resume

The chronological resume is the format that most employers are familiar with. It involves listing in chronological order, the previous jobs held. The chronological resume is usually used to first show your previous employment, promotions, increases in responsibility and other accomplishments. It differs from the functional resume in that the previous employment and accomplishments are dealt with separately.

The Combined Resume

The combined resume is used to incorporate features of both the functional resume and the chronological resume. It uses the best components of each type of resume. The combined type of resume can be described as a resume that places emphasis on your qualifications and skills but in chronological order. Therefore, it will differ from the functional resume in that it lists employment in a chronological order. However, it will differ from the chronological resume by having more emphasis on your skills and accomplishments, and not discussing these components separately.

The Type To Use

It should be stated that the type of resume you submit would depend on the type of job you are seeking. Many employers prefer the functional resume because they are more familiar with it since it is the most common type of resume. You may consider creating resumes of each type and use them to meet the expectations of a particular employer. Generally, if you are responding to an advertised position you can get some idea of what the prospective employer expects from the applicant.

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Your perspective on resumes – what they are and how they function – will doubtless influence how well you can write your own. To create an outstanding resume, begin by questioning and replacing some of the commonly held assumptions about resume writing.

ASSUMPTION: "A resume is a personal history, and prospective employers will read it primarily to learn about past jobs and accomplishments."

Replace with: A resume is best thought of as a proposal, rather than a history.

Although a resume does primarily include information about your personal history, its chief aim should be to convey this information in a way that is highly relevant to the job in question. Thus, the key question to address is: How are you uniquely qualified to do well in the position for which you are applying? Writing to answer this question can turn a dry personal history into an attractive employment proposal.

ASSUMPTION: "My resume probably won't be that important anyway – it's connections and luck that will get me a job."

Replace with: Revising and improving your resume can play a central role in landing your next job.

No reasonable person would deny that connections and luck help. Nevertheless, not everyone has or finds the right connections, and not everyone wants to wait on luck. Take the initiative, instead, to craft a strong job-search strategy, and include revising your resume as a central piece of this process.

Doing so, at a minimum, will accomplish three things: 1) you will gain clarity on your strengths and all that you have to offer in your next job, 2) you will have an important vehicle for introducing yourself to potential employers, and 3) you will have a springboard for a strong interview.

ASSUMPTION: "The previous version of my resume was good enough, and probably needs very little done to it."

Replace with: Just about any resume, even one used with success before, can benefit from careful scrutiny and periodic revision.

Your resume should evolve as you do. In addition to acquiring new skills, experiences, and accomplishments, you may have shifted in your professional focus or interests. Perhaps you have gained insights into what employers are really looking for in your line of work.

Above all, your resume should be revised so that it is tailored to the employer who will receive it. Even if you have little to add in the way of content, you can always improve your resume by refocusing it on the specifics of the position you are seeking, and by strengthening its wording and overall appearance.

THE BOTTOM LINE (A Winning Perspective):

Take on the task of writing or revising your resume with the conviction that any resume can be made stronger, that you have an important employment proposal to bring to the eyes of potential employers, and that doing so can be the avenue for landing the job you want. It is with this perspective that you will produce a resume good enough to open doors!

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Job-hunting is not the most exciting thing in the world but you can make it easier. The key is organization. Keep a record of companies you have applied and any contacts that may or may not have with them. One of the first things you need to do be creative in your resume writing.

The appearance of your resume is of paramount importance. The most obvious fact is it needs to be neat and all items must be spelled correctly. Correct information is of paramount importance especially if the interviewer decides to check out your information. The format should be simple and plain. It should highlight your accomplishments.

The quality of the paper you use to send out resumes should be of professional quality. Most job seekers use a paper that is not glossy and is a 20-weight paper. You should use the same paper for your resume, your cover letter, and the envelope. It comes across as being more professional.

The font should be clear and easy to read. The size of the font is important. Personally I prefer a font of 12. It is clear and the letters are not blurry as they can be with some fonts. The suggested font to use in your resume is a Sans Serif font such as Arial or Verdana. They are clear and stand out better in faxes.

When describing your skills in particular, use strong action words. Instead of starting a sentence with a noun use a strong verb. When using numbers use percentages, dollar amounts when describing money, and the number of people you supervised if this is applicable.

Your resume should be one page only. The information should be presented as concisely as possible. There will be a place in the cover letter and possibly an interview to expound on your skills. Resumes that are too long are often put aside because employers simply don't have the time to read through lengthy dissertations. If it doesn't fit on one page try paring it down to the bare minimum. The information must be relevant to the position you are applying for. Do not forget to attach your cover letter.

There are two types of resume formats that are used. The functional format will put your skills into categories. Your titles are listed on the bottom. This format is used by people who are changing careers and who don't want to draw attention to gaps in employment or a possible lack of direct experiences. The chronological format is used by those on a career path. Your employment and education are listed in reverse chronological order. Outline your skills to show your best accomplishments. The categories that you include on your resume must be relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Your resume will be different if you are fresh out of college and unemployed, if you have been out of the work force for an extended period of time (i.e. to raise your kids), or if you are a teenager going for the first job. A resume is one the most important tools you have to use in your job search.

The categories will be similar for all manner of people seeking employment. The purpose of your resume is to give employers the maximum amount of information in as few words as possible. Some companies receive hundreds of resumes at any given time. Your resume should standout but not be outlandish. Professionalism is the key. Below is a figure showing what a professional could look like. Remember the information is to be clear and concise. It should be easy on the eyes and professional.

JANE DOE
5 Main Street
Anywhere, Any state 00000
jado521@anysite.com
(000) 111-2233

Job Objective: to obtain a position as (name the position)

Education: Any School University B.S. in Anything 2000 -2004
111Any Road
Any-town, USA 88888

Somebody High School High School Diploma 1995 -1999
East Highway Road
Anywhere, USA 88888

Employment: Here list your employers putting the current one first.
If you haven't had experience let them know that. If you were a babysitter you can add that to your resume. It at least will show them your work ethics.

Skills: List some of the thing you do reasonably well that are relevant to the position. Are you going for a position as a teacher's aid? List your duties you had in baby-sitting or if you tutored anybody, list those duties as well.

Related Volunteer Experiences: Here be as descriptive as possible and be as descriptive and exact as you can. Remember be descriptive but concise.

References: Will Be Furnished Upon Request (Be prepared with a list of
three to five people that have consented to give you a recommendation. Include who is familiar with your work as it relates to the position.

Finally the resume is about selling yourself. Give them just enough information to have them come back and want more details. Good Luck!

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Making a strong first impression

A resume is an advertisement for why you are the best choice for the position. Essentially, it is the first impression you make on potential employers, so you'll want to make it a strong one. If you don't put fourth the energy that writing a resume requires, you're only cheating yourself. The truth is, finding the job you are looking for can be easy; getting the job you are looking for takes effort. As you write your resume, keep in mind that you are not the only person applying for a particular job. You will need to set yourself apart from the rest and make an impact that will land you the job. Young Jobs has compiled some ways to avoid any missteps in resume-writing, as well as classic tips that will put you in the limelight...

Getting Started

Determine Your Objective

Definition of Objective: The goal intended to be attained. The first step to creating your resume is to determine your career goals. What kind of job do you want to obtain? What skills do you want to utilize? What are you looking to accomplish within that career? Once you answer all of these questions, you will be able to identify your main objective. You are now officially on your way to finding the right job for you.

Highlighting Your Top Qualifications

Keep in mind, the most important goal of a resume is to obtain an interview. For this reason, it is important to choose powerful words to represent the qualities you feel most confident in. Within the qualifications section of your resume it is best to list each attribute with a single word and in bullet point format. However, feel free to include a few words per bullet point. Try to remember that you need to stand out from all other contenders, so use power-words that will catch the employer's eye. The best way to accomplish this is by writing down all of the positive qualities you feel you embody. From there, put yourself in the employer's shoes and hone in on what you think they would be most attracted to. If the position you are looking to get is in retail, you'll want to highlight you interpersonal skills, or if it is in the restaurant business, you'll want to highlight your teamwork skill.

Concentrate On Related Experience

Before compiling a list that includes all of your experiences, try to focus in on what is relevant to the type of position you are applying for. This can include previous employment, volunteering, internships and organizations. For instance, someone applying for a job at a bank would want to list their experience as student council treasurer rather than their summer job as a swim instructor. Make sure you appeal to the employer's needs. If you are applying for a variety of jobs that differ in requirements, remember to tailor your resume to fit each specific job.

Often times students and young adults worry that they don't have enough experience to create a compelling resume. Don't be concerned. Once you start to really think about your background, you'll be surprised at what you have to boast about. The content of your resume will be determined by your own unique experiences, skills and background but as a general guideline you should include:

Putting It All Together

Content

Once again, you are not the only resume your potential employer will be looking at and while it is important to be eye-catching, you also want your resume to get to the point and be as close to a single page as possible. When employers see a resume with too many words and multiple pages, they often find it overwhelming and move on to the next applicant. The right thing to do is select powerful words that will make your resume shine. The wrong thing to do is fill your resume up with full paragraphs.

Design

In spite of the importance of content, the design of your resume is just as important as the content. Research suggests that a resume has less than 20 seconds to make an impact upon the reader, so it's imperative that you put some extra effort into showing employers that you not only intelligent but creative as well. Variation in formatting (bullets, borderlines, headings, etc.), fonts, font styles and sizes will draw the attention to the most influential information.

Organization

You can organize your resume in many different ways, but the following order is one of the most common. Use it to help you get started. -Objective -Qualifications -Technical/Computer skills -Experience (include tasks completed and skills obtained) -Education (include your GPA if it's over 3.0) -Other related accomplishments (awards, memberships, etc

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You are looking for a job and you are out to land the job of a lifetime. It can happen! Before you consider want ads, job websites, or making inquiries of companies you are interested in, you will need a resume. Your resume writing can either make or break a job opportunity.

The first thing your resume must be is functional. It is to give the employer the most information possible in one page. Resumes that are longer than one page are often put aside. Employers just don't have the time to read every page. At best many just scan your resume and count on your cover letter and maybe an interview to glean anything else about you before you are considered for hire.

In order for your resume to be functional you group your skills into different sections and your titles at the bottom. This is the format people who are changing careers typically use. They don't want to draw attention to gaps in employment or their lack of direct experience.

The chronological resume is well organized listing of skills, education, and employment in order from the most current experience backward or reverse order. The categories of your resume should be concise and relevant to the position for which you are applying.

If you are fresh out of college and unemployed put your education first, directly below the letterhead. You will list your school, your degree, your major and your graduation date. If space allows you can list your relevant course work, related academic awards, and/or your grade point average.

Other categories include relevant work experience, volunteer experiences and other skills such as computer skills, any publications you may have written or contributed to, and language skills as they might apply to the position.

Finally, you will list your references or make the statement "References will be furnished upon request. Let me give you important advice about references. Do not list someone as a reference unless you have obtained his or her consent to do so. You will want the person you ask for a reference to be a former boss, teacher, long time friend who is familiar with your abilities, and possibly your clergyman.

The appearance of your resume is very important. The font you use should be clear and easy to read. The suggested font for a resume is a Sans Serif font like Arial or Verdana. These fonts come out more clearly in faxes.

The format of your resume should be simple and plain. It should showcase your accomplishments. The prospective employer should be able to scan the page and get a good grasp on whether or not you would be good for the position.

Another important consideration for your resume is the type of paper you use. The most acceptable colors are white, cream, off white, and gray. They are easiest to read and the font will stand out nicely. You should use the same type of paper for your resume, your cover letter, and your envelope. Many stationery stores have sets of paper and envelopes for your resume. Go in and consult with a sales person to find out what they have to offer. You could always put it on a disk and bring the disk to a printer and have it professionally done.

When describing you're skills, your education, or your experience. Use action words. Instead of starting a sentence with a noun use a strong verb. When you need to put in numbers use percentages, and dollar amounts. List the number of people you supervised as well.

Keep the length of your resume to one page. As has been stated employers do not have the luxury of spending a lot of time on the resumes they receive. Some companies can get a great number of resumes and most of the time they scan the resumes. Include only the most relevant information. You can fill in information in a cover letter or an interview.

An important piece of your resume is the job objective. Are you going for a teaching position? Your resume should reflect your teacher training, your scores on specialty tests. If you were applying for a job in a department store you would list your babysitting experience. It's all relative.

While the cover letter is not a resume, it does give you the opportunity to expand somewhat on the information you put forth in the resume. Here again use strong action words and strong descriptions. Be sure all information in the resume and the cover letter is as accurate as it can be.
There are numerous resources available for you such as pre-employment counselors, the career office at your college, and a number of books on resume writing and how to get a job. Search online, the sources on the Internet are almost limitless. If necessary go to the human resources department of a business that is similar to the one you are interested in.

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In today's competitive job market, it is impossible to stress enough the importance of writing not just a good, but a terrific resume. With job recruiters and human resources managers getting as many as 400 resumes per job listing, it's vital to write a resume that stops them in their tracks.

This means that your resume must be written to fit a particular job listing if you want to even have a chance of being considered for the job you're applying for. This means you need to do certain things such as:

* Read the listing closely and make sure you're the right applicant for the job before applying. Nothing will get your application dumped in the trash more quickly than applying for the wrong position to start with.

* When writing your resume, use as many of the same words and phrases to describe your skills as are used in the ad or posting because many human resources managers now scan resumes looking for keyword matches. This helps them weed out the desirables from the undesirables. So make sure to sprinkle these words and phrases liberally throughout your resume.

* Use concrete examples of your skills, expertise and successes. Make sure these examples are in line with the requirements listed in the job listing.

* Edit your resume for anything that is not relevant to the particular job you're applying for. Recruiters don't have time to waste and will trash resumes with lots of unnecessary information in them.

* Don't use trite phrases such as team player, multitasker, etc., but instead give examples of those skills. Vagueness will not get your resume noticed. Again, relate these to the specific job you're applying for. You may be a great communicator, but if the job you're after doesn't need that particular skill, leave it out of your resume.

* List specific successes you've had that fit the job listing. For example, if you're applying for a sales manager position and at your last job you not only met but surpassed your sales quota by 10%, say this, don't just say something indistinct like "exceeded sales quota." The more specific you are about past successes using direct statements, the more likely it is that those successes will be noted--and remembered.

* Only list past employment and education that is directly related to the position you're applying for. You may have worked as a waiter while you were in college, but unless that has a direct bearing on the job you're applying for, don't list it.

The key to writing a killer resume these days is to be short and to the point, using words and phrases to describe your skills and experience so that they directly relate to the job you're applying for. Don't waste recruiters' time by filling your resume with fluff that sounds nice or creative. This may get you remembered, but not in the way you want to be!

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The hurdles facing today's new technology graduates are the same as with other industries. One of the largest hurdles for new grads in preparing a first IT resume is the "no-experience" fence. A hi-tech grad may not have any formal experience working with technology in a real-world situation. While this hurdle is best handled long before you graduate by seeking part-time or full-time employment in technology or an internship, the fact remains that you may be coming out of college with literally no hands-on experience in your major.

Preparing an IT resume for a target career field in which you have no "real" experience can be a challenge. It's important when outlining your IT resume to keep in mind what the hiring managers will be seeking when reading your resume. In the technical arena, Skills, Education, and Training are high on the list of items for which hiring managers scan the IT resume.

Lisa Lowe sought professional assistance on her resume, realizing that she faced a significant problem by not having an internship in a technical field under her belt before graduation. Additionally, she realized the skills she had gained in college were slightly behind the fast-paced demand of today's market and she needed to attain further training in some of the more modern technologies. These training goals were mentioned in both the lead Summary and in the accompanying cover letter.

By including a Skills category in the top half of the first page of her IT resume, Lisa's resume becomes much more "user-friendly" to hiring managers. Lisa was fairly sure she didn't want to start her career as a programmer, but was interested in working with database technology. To emphasize this, her database-related skills were listed first and a mention of her preference was made in the Summary. By focusing on this direction with her career, she was also de-emphasizing her lack of training in the more modern programming languages such as Visual Basic and C.

Many times, resume books advise new grads to list coursework in the major to illustrate what the job seeker did in school. While this might give an idea of your academic record, it does not help in making you or your IT resume stand out as someone whom the company should interview. It also does not show how you have assimilated and applied the formal education. A Project Synopsis describing how you have applied the skills might better serve to distinguish your IT resume from the resumes of other recent grads. For example, in Lisa's resume, the Project Synopsis was included in the Education section in the top half of the first page and gives some "meat" to her experience.

The Employment History section of a new grad resume is often the most difficult section to compose, especially if you do not have an internship, cooperative, or related experience under your belt. Rather than concentrating on what is not present in experience, try to concentrate on what is present. Look for skills that will be required by employers that may not have been taught in college. More and more companies are looking for well-rounded employees who not only can do the technical tasks but who can work with the public, work in a team, and generally get along in a positive manner. Emphasize your team-spirit, your communication skills, and your enthusiasm to work hard.

"We look for skills but we also look for someone who can get along in the work environment," says Jeremy Hopwood, CEO of Tsaba Networks (www.tsaba.com) in Franklin, Tennessee. "If you have the right attitude to work in our team, we will provide you with the specialized training we need."

Lisa had worked throughout her college career in a high-public-contact position providing Customer Service on technical sales of retail software and hardware. This experience demonstrated that she possessed the ability to work well with people who needed technical assistance or who were in a contentious frame of mind. She had excellent communication skills, good negotiation abilities, and a strong grasp of business operations. By bringing into her IT resume past work history that demonstrates positive skills and work habits, she is shown to be someone who is accustomed to a high stress work environment, who can work with people, and who is probably very trainable for the company's specific needs.

If there is an internship or cooperative learning experience, be sure to include that in the Experience category of your IT resume. Detail project parameters, discuss skills exercised, and outline context of the position in relation to the overall organizational operation. Be sure to highlight what was achieved and what significant contributions were made. When composing the content of the resume, write descriptively to fully cover the work done and the skills attained.

"My internships and cooperatives were my best selling point with my education coming second," states Robert Higgins, a civil engineer with Barge, Waggoner, Sumner, and Cannon in Nashville, Tennessee. "I had worked full-time as an Engineering Technician throughout my entire college career and it led directly to permanent employment. The experience was invaluable."

Other information that is helpful to have on a hi-tech grad resume includes grade point average (if above 3.5), membership in professional organizations, scholarships and honors, volunteer work, and civic involvement. Information of this type on an IT resume shows a well-rounded picture of what type of employee the company would be gaining.

Developing an interview-winning IT resume can be a challenge. Making the investment to market your college education professionally might be a wise decision. We write IT resumes every day for some of the fastest movers in the IT industries. Give us a call if you feel you are ready to advance your high tech career.

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Building your resume, based on a resume outline will give it structure and flow... it provides an outline of all the things you should include in your resume.

A resume is one of the most important documents you will ever create

First you have to decide on a particular format for your resume. The two main formats in use today are chronological and functional format. Which one is best to use will depend greatly on your situation.

To build your resume you can use free resume forms located on the web. This can provide you with directions if you are having trouble building your resume.

A sample resume outline would include the following sections:

The Heading

Your resume should start with the heading. You can list your basic details so the employer can contact you. You can include your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address.

NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE NUMBER
EMAIL ADDRESS

Job Objective

This is an optional section of your resume outline. Here you can tell readers what the objective of your resume is and what you are looking for.

Example:

Entry-level accounting position with medium to large public accounting firm.

The "Body" is the largest section of your resume outline
This is where you can enter details about your education, work experience and additional information. The body contains:

Education

Here you can list your educational background.

Educational Background Format: College, Degree, Major, Honors, Relevant Courses

Sample Education Section: Drexel University
BA Educational Leadership, May 2000

If you have a college education, do not list your high school information. You can also list any honors for academic excellence in this section of your resume outline.

If you are a graduating senior or looking for an internship, you can add a relevant courses section to your resume outline.

Employment History

This is an important part of the resume. Here you can list your previous employment history. If you are using a chronological resume format, you should list the most recent job positions first on your resume outline.

Example:
Drug Emporium, Wayne, PA
Cashier, June to September, 2001
Supervised customer check out
Handled the cash register
Managed and stocked merchandise

You can also list relevant volunteer activities or work experience programs if you do not have much job experience.

Achievements

If you have any special achievements you would like to announce, you can use this section. Maybe you made a suggestion that saved your previous boss a ton of money. You can list it in this section of your resume outline.

Special Skills

The remaining sections of the resume can include additional skills such as fluency in a foreign language.

References

You should leave this section out altogether. References are not required at this stage and stating that 'References are available upon request' is assumed anyway... so you just end up wasting valuable space!

Additional Optional Sections

You can add additional sections to your resume outline such as volunteer work, community involvement or honors. You also have to decide on the layout of your resume.

Choose a common font and medium range font-size, such as 12. Decide how you want to highlight the headings of the different sections. You can use bold, italics or underline to highlight section headings. Some people use bold and a larger font size to highlight their name on the resume.

The last part of your resume will probably receive little focus, so if you have a marketable skill or outstanding honor you should try to incorporate them in earlier sections of your resume.

You can find a lot of resources on the web that can provide you with free outlines and sample resume layouts. Usually an outline will differ if the resume is for a recent college graduate or a long time professional. Choose a resume outline that is specific to your career field and you can build your resume around that outline.

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How many times have you heard someone say, "Just put it on your resume. There's no way they're going to find out"?

It is tempting to put little white lies on your resume. These might include overstating your knowledge of required software ("If they call me, I'll teach myself over the weekend"), a certification ("They'll never go through all that trouble to find out") or extending dates at a former employer ("They can't find out. The company went out of business").

So what's the big deal? It's not like you're claiming to be a medical doctor, right? Who are you hurting anyway? You're just stretching the truth a little to get your foot in the door -- or so you tell yourself. If these are familiar thoughts, you might want to re-think them. Why? Because the risk of getting caught is real. The odds of getting away with listing false information on your resume are probably, well . . . who really knows? Do you really want to find out the hard way?

There are many reasons that could prompt a human resources manager to conduct an employment background check. Maybe you are not performing your job as well as expected. Maybe a co-worker has the same credential and became suspicious when your facts did not add up during a conversation. Some companies have never experienced a dishonest employee who lied on his/her resume, and does not routinely verify work histories and the validity of credentials. In short, they have a false sense of security. Just the same, many hiring managers are keenly aware that lying on a resume is becoming a costly problem for many companies, and thoroughly check all facts even after they hire a candidate.

Sadly, it is quite common these days to learn of employee terminations because background checks revealed dishonesty. Depending on the level of the position or the severity of the falsification, this could sometimes lead to legal actions. So, before you decide to make yourself look better on paper, think again. It is not worth getting the job if you are not going to be able to live up to it or hold on to it.

The moral of this story? Don't risk your future by lying about your past! Honesty is always the best policy!

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Involuntary career breaks, or dare we say it, 'unemployment', can often be a frightening situation for anyone to be in. After the initial shock of unexpectedly finding yourself without a job, it doesn't take long before disillusionment sets in, particularly when days turn into weeks, then weeks into months or even longer, and you begin to panic: how you are going to handle the ever-increasing employment gap on your resume?

The belief that the longer you are out of work, the more difficult it will be to regain employment is understandable. However, it is important to stress that many people at one time or another have found themselves jobless whether through their own doing (such as taking a career break to raise children or scheduling a well-deserved holiday), or in situations that have been beyond their control such as with layoffs, redundancies or company closures.

So if you currently find yourself unemployed, don't be discouraged as many have experienced job losses and have eventually re-established successful careers. Rather than letting fate take its course, they have implemented various strategies that increased their marketability to a potential employer, and believe it or not you too can follow these tactics and hopefully shorten the gap that lays between where you are now and the light at the end of what –seems like a never-ending tunnel.

Following these initiatives should assist you in transforming a potential employment gap into a learning experience, and provide you with marketable solutions for use in your resume.

~ Demonstrate your commitment to remaining current with industry trends through reading publications, periodicals or trade journals, or even researching the internet.

~ Join a professional association within your field and get involved. Not only is this another way of keeping current with industry trends, but also a fantastic opportunity to grow your network; meet and develop relationships with potential employers; and even generate/source some great job leads from other members of the group.

~ Take a class or a professional development course to enhance your knowledge. You may even find yourself developing new skills that can open doors to a new and more challenging career path.

~ Consider the possibility of providing advice in your line of expertise through consulting or projects/assignment work performed as part of your own business. This will allow you to develop strategic relationships with other companies, which could possibly lead to full-time employment, and/or allow you to continue developing your network of contacts.

~ Provide your knowledge/services on a voluntary basis. Just because this is on a non-paid basis does not discredit any great results or contributions you may have made within an organization.

~ Become a mentor and support someone else's knowledge growth. Knowing that you have facilitated or contributed to another person's journey of knowledge enhancement can be extremely rewarding.

~ Write articles for a publication in your industry – a great way to portray your expertise and raise your credibility and profile among your peers.

~ Offer your services within family/associates' businesses either on a voluntary or paid basis. Not only will you be contributing to the overall running of their business, but ensuring you skills remain up-to-date.

There are also various techniques you can use when developing your resume in order to draw attention away from potential gaps.

~ Rather than presenting your resume in a reverse chronological format (which is the most common) providing contact details and professional experience with the most recent at the forefront, try the combination or functional formats, which list your transferable skills, competencies and accomplishments relevant to the position at the forefront. This way you are demonstrating at the outset what you can contribute to the position.

~ Another strategy is to omit the months when providing dates, so that instead of stating 10/1997 – 5/2002, you would just write 1997 – 2002.

~ List any education or professional development courses at the forefront as this will demonstrate your initiative and commitment to expanding your knowledge.

~ Treat consulting, assignments, or self-employment as professional experience, as with any voluntary work performed within the community or even for the family business. There is no need to disclose that this was unpaid, nor even the fact that you were related to the manager; only concentrate on your accountabilities and accomplishments.

Your job search should be treated as your full-time job and each day should be organized and prioritized with time allocated to sourcing suitable positions, sending off applications, following up, and continually working and expanding your network of contacts to maximize your overall job search campaign.

Maintain your health, physical fitness and personal appearance to ensure your positivity and enthusiasm do not diminish. Therefore, when finally called into an interview, you will not bring with you a blanket of self-doubt and disenchantment. During the interview remember to portray all of the relevant experience and achievements (gained through the above strategies) with enthusiasm, while demonstrating your ability to continue contributing your expertise toward the ongoing success of their company.

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The employment meeting went extremely well. The interviewer was impressed with your abilities; you answered the questions superbly; and you were able to develop an excellent rapport with the interviewer and other staff at the company.

So, now just the reference checking process, BUT, unfortunately you did not make it to the following stage. Why not? Everything went so well. What possibly could have gone wrong?

How often do I hear similar comments from candidates who are at an absolute loss as to why after such great interviews, their applications have been denied.

Have you ever thought that perhaps your reference may be letting you down?

The general procedure a candidate follows in locating and providing references to support their application is either to:

~ provide a list of contactable references on their resumes at the time they send their initial application, or:

~ provide contact names after being requested to do so at the interview without any prior consideration.

Are these two methods basically what you are currently doing in your career campaign? If so, you need to be aware that both of these methods can be detrimental to your job search.

Unless the application has specifically requested reference details to be included in your initial application do not forward or include details on your resume. As you may be forwarding your resume in response to hundreds of job advertisements this could result in your references receiving numerous calls, which could become quite annoying and ultimately, damaging to your campaign. You want to retain control over who you provide these details to, and presenting a reference list after you have had an opportunity to interview with the potential employer will be far more beneficial. During the interview you may realize that this is not the position you originally thought it was, or realize that your personal values and beliefs would be challenged if you were to become employed with the organization, and therefore there is no real need to provide reference contact details. Your references will not be unnecessarily contacted, affording their valuable time and energy for a position that you are not interested in.

Let's see how we can enhance the entire process of qualifying and contacting appropriate references in order to maximize the reference checking process.

Once you locate a position you would like to apply for, you need to decide who would be the best person to offer as a reference. A human resource staff member who has not worked with you may only be able to confirm dates you worked with them, but not provide details about your performance. A department head may not be able to offer much more information either, however a direct supervisor or colleague who you worked with can present details on your performance, contributions and overall standing in the workplace.

Sadly, we can lose contact with previous employers, supervisors or colleagues, however if you are still in contact with them, or would be able to contact them, then this would be to your advantage. It is far more beneficial to use someone who is able to confirm your abilities within a work context rather than, say, a close friend, relative or neighbor, however for some job seekers this is almost impossible. If either of the above situations ring true for you, there are a number of strategies you can consider:
~ Consider providing the name of your lecturer or tutor if you have recently completed professional development or courses. The course studied would presumably be relevant to the position you are targeting, so your tutor could confirm your academic achievements and knowledge in this area.
~ Voluntary work for a local community organization may allow you to provide the name of the President or other member of the board or committee.
~ A professional or other high-standing member of the community who has known you for many years and can verify your honesty and integrity. These people may include a minister, a doctor or lawyer.
~ Consider putting forward the name of a colleague with whom you have worked if you are unable to locate a previous manager. A colleague would certainly be able to confirm your overall professionalism and experience within the workplace. Perhaps you may be able to provide the name of your direct supervisor, or even a supervisor from another department who has had some dealings with you on a professional level.
~ A major supplier with whom you have previously dealt could vouch for your professionalism and integrity.
~ A subordinate or a member of a team that you were responsible for could also be considered and could vouch for your leadership and management style.
~ Contact a number of your customers/clients to see if they would be willing to act as a reference. Who better than a previous or existing customer to vouch for your commitment and high standard of work ethic?
Once you have decided on the best person to offer as a reference, you need to:

(A) Contact that person to ask permission to provide their contact details and to advise them of your current campaign;

(B)Verify and confirm:

(i)current contact number;
(ii)email address; and
(iii)appropriate/contact time preferred.

Another strategy would be to refresh your reference's memory about previous projects and contributions by supplying them with a copy of:

~ Your current resume;
~ Relevant experience and results achieved with the reference's organization;
~ Overview of your career goals and aspirations so that the reference can provide information pertinent to that goal.

This will allow your reference to gain an understanding of your skill set and what it is you are targeting.

When preparing your references contact list, don't just state the basic details such as the name and contact details, but provide some background details as to how you know this reference and the information they can confirm. Perhaps a succinct list of outstanding contributions that this reference can qualify would be beneficial too. Ensure that the document is formatted professionally and in the similar style (i.e. fonts etc) that your resume has been developed, as consistency in formatting and professional presentation is also important.

If the position and company still sound exciting after the initial interview and you would like to be considered in the next round, try to confirm who will be contacting your references and the approximate timing. This will allow you to touch base (either by phone or email) with your references and advise them of the forthcoming reference check.

At the completion of your career campaign, after receiving and accepting a firm job offer, do not forget to send a thank you card to each of your references to show your appreciation and to advise them of your success.

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It's never too early to update your resume, even if you're not searching for a new job. Why? Updating your resume is a valuable reminder to yourself of your practical value to employers.

Refer to it when preparing your business case for a raise request or when preparing for your annual performance evaluation. Your resume is a good reminder of your achievements for your company as well as your capabilities and skills.

And if you suddenly find your company, or life, in upheaval and need to start searching for a new job, preparing your resume is one less stressful activity to worry about. You've kept your resume current so it's nearly complete. Just polish it, print it and add a cover letter targeted toward each individual employer and position. Then drop it in the mail, fax it or e-mail it per the potential employer's preference. It's so simple, right? Hardly.

If you could really capture your essence in a bottle and send it to the prospective employer, you'd certainly get the job. Why? He'd know how polished, enthusiastic, well-qualified and perfect you were for the position compared to the other trillion candidates applying too. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Your "essence" has to go into the brief resume and cover letter versus a bottle. And that's how the potential employer knows he or she just MUST meet you in person.

"Your resume is a snapshot," says Anne McKinney, author and editor of "Real Resumes for Administrative Support, Office & Secretarial Jobs" by PREP Publishing (www.prep-pub.com). "And when a resume is a great resume, from head (its objective) to toe (its personal section), an employer can really feel that he has met you. He might not know exactly what you look like but it's a photograph of you in lots of ways that you've brought to life. And that's not easy for most people to create since they're not writers."

Here is advice McKinney shared that should help make your next resume and cover letter writing experience easier and more focused:

Cover Letters:

1. Don't write anything that will get you screened out. For example, don't write that you've just finished having your ninth child but your mother-in-law takes care of the children during the day. Most employers will think your life is too busy to truly include them in a reliable fashion.

2. Be careful when you introduce personal content. But don't exclude it in your cover letter if it might be of interest to that particular employer. For example, you mention your youngest child has just left home for college, you're newly single and you're psyched for this position that possibly entails traveling as a personal assistant. That employer is looking for someone who is willing to travel or relocate and focus on him predominately. You're in.

3. Write positive statements. Don't start with 'I've been out of the job market for 15 years...' It doesn't inspire confidence. See the tip above for a better way to phrase this.

4. Stay away from touchy subjects unless it's positive and useful information. Religious matters wouldn't likely be appropriate for a cover letter unless, for instance, you're applying to work at a nonprofit organization of your faith. Then it might be to your advantage to mention something relevant.

5. Use the cover letter to address questions or discrepancies that the employer might have about you. Make employers aware that you do know what job you're applying for and you're not just littering the universe with your resume. That might mean writing that 'I'm writing to you from Missouri but I'm planning to be in North Carolina where you're located upon my husband's retirement from the military when we return to our home town.'

6. Communicate three main concepts in your cover letter. The prospective employer wants to know anything that might help her make money; cut a cost; attract a new customer; retain an existing customer; or solve a problem. Make your self-promotion do that and you'll be on the DO CALL list.

7. Flaunt it, baby! If you're a whiz with computer skills, don't be shy about saying so. Whether you learned a skill on the job or went to school for four years to learn it, you do have the skill. It doesn't matter how you acquired such valuable skills--just mention that you have them.

Resumes:

8. Write a single resume that is suitable for multiple employers.

9. Make your resume one page. Start by writing everything you want to say; then edit and cut. A two page resume can work too. Just remember, prospective employers are reading a lot of cover letters and resumes. Concise is better.

10. Put the juicy stuff on page one of a multi-page resume.

11. Break the resume into sections: education, training, computer skills and so forth. Your 'experience' section is the prime real estate and should be half or more of a one page resume.

12. Write in chronological order. Start with the most recent information.

13. Go back in your employment history as far as beneficial to you. Ten years is good. Experience beyond that can go in a summary under 'highlight of other experience' section, hitting just the highlights without dates. This is where you can mention you've also worked in CPA and law firms, giving the employer an indirect reminder that you're versatile.

14. Write a broad objective statement. Make it all purpose enough so that somebody reading it won't immediately say 'we're not what she's looking for.' Accentuate your personal qualities and some of your skills in the statement.

15. Don't highlight that you've primarily worked in one industry or write that you're seeking an entry-level position. You may be looking for an administrative assistant job in the aerospace industry but would you consider office manager in the company's automotive industry sister company if offered to you?

16. Write your accomplishments. Your resume should mostly describe what you actually accomplished on the job. Don't be boring! Say 'trained approximately 30 employees in the word processing department in operation of Microsoft Word...' not 'responsibilities included switchboard, computer operations and customer service.' That first sentence says you trained people, communicated, presented in front of a group, worked one-on-one providing individual assistance and have lots of computer experience. The second phrasing just says you're boring. Yawn!

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Resume writing is not to be taken lightly. I have seen resumes that look like a sixth grader wrote them with blatant spelling errors, incomplete information and poor grammar. Why? Most of us do not write resumes on a frequent basis yet this most important piece of paper markets you!! Nothing else substitutes for the first impression that a resume makes. This is your self-designed marketing piece that advertises (truthfully!!) what you have actually done, for whom and what credentials you have-- NEVER, EVER lie. It catches up to you like lightning and no one will touch someone that has misrepresented themselves, their degrees or experiences!! Yet lying seems to be more prevalent in resumes today according to hiring managers and recruiters.

Your resume needs to start with a professional image on high quality paper, although initially your resume is often reviewed via email; hence all the more emphasis on how it looks and what it says about you.Forget "MY OBJECTIVE"--it knocks you out more often than not because a hiring manager may look at your resume, think of another opening but decide not to pursue you because your objective indicates that you are only interested in "marketing"---The objective is just one more thing to change with every company, interview etc. I have seem resumes forwarded to me with an old objective that states this individual is "excited about a career in Operations Management with X Company" while I have asked them for a resume to present to ABC Industries for a Finance Director's role. SKIP THE OBJECTIVE! Format: Your resume should utilize a business font (Times New Roman is good), in a readable point size (11 or 12 pt) There really isn't a 'right format style' to use--just ensure it looks professional from a business perspective. Too many times a resume suffers from the need to stand out which becomes a negative. Your name is usually larger, in bold type followed by your address and all contact information. You can center or split your name on the left margin and contact information at right. There are numerous appropriate business styles here; the operative word being "business" styles. Be sure to include mobile phone and personal email address----never use your employer's email for numerous reasons. List in order: Your title(s) with dates of employment in chronological order, most recent/present position is listed first. Next is Company name, (a sentence describing what the company does/provides), and a detailed but not wordy description of your job responsibilities and specific accomplishments. If you work for a Division of General Electric for example, list the Division's name first, then "Division of General Electric Corporation. Indicate the location where you worked: city/state. Success, Accomplishments---focus on that which makes you stand out among other candidates. Quantify; what numbers did you achieve? Out of how many? Did you manage a budget, revenues, P&L? Supervise? How many? To whom did you report?--(use your manager's title.) How was your position strategic? Tactical? Too many resumes state what the job entailed but do not quantify how/what was accomplished! Honors, Awards and significant outside leadership: List all honors and awards after your work history--List any volunteer leadership roles you hold; e.g. President of Springfield's American Heart Asssociation, 2004. Don't trivialize this section; use it to show your leadership, management ability, as well as your ability to effectively manage multiple priorities. Degrees should be listed at the very bottom of the resume: Bachelor's of Science, Management; University of XXXX, New York, New York. 1997. List degrees in chronological order so a Masters would be first, then Bachelors degree etc. Length: 1-2 pages depending on level of experience. A Vice President would be expected to have a two page resume but not a candidate with five years of work experience out of college. ***Have someone proof your resume for spelling and grammatical errors after you use spell-check.

There is alot of BAD advice floating around. You do not need to hire a professional to write your resume; with some thought and today's Microsoft Word you can do this; ----if you can't write your own resume, you probably are not ready for the interview questions! Keep your resume up to date since you never know when you will need it. Finally, employers and hiring managers prefer this type of chronological resume to all other styles by a HUGE MARGIN. Forget the essays describing your skill set; keep it concise and to the point.

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