Well written resumes

A good resume is more than a list of dates and jobs. It is often your only opportunity to impress a potential employer with your skills and experience, and as such is a very important document.

The compiling of your resume is no time to be modest about the things you have done. If you have identified a particular talent the employer is seeking, and you can demonstrate how you have successfully used such a skill, then make sure this is spelled out clearly in your resume.

This doesn't mean however that you need to go into minute detail about it. Being concise and to the point is another skill that employer's like, especially if they are reading tens or hundreds of resumes. You need to use every tool available to make yours stand out.

If this means getting some professional help to pull your work and education history together into an impressive and eye catching resume, then do it! Be sure to consult an expert, like the highly regarded Jimmy Sweeney (who has put all his resume tools together in one package called "Amazing Resume Creator".

Here are some key points to remember when writing your resume. If you already have one that needs updating, sometimes it is easier to start from scratch in order to make it look like a living, up to date document.

Avoid empty words

Using words that you think will impress an employer can often backfire. There are some in particular that sound good, but mean little. These should be avoided as they are open to interpretation, and you want to be very clear about what you can do and who you are. Such words to be avoided are: logical, successful, creative, aggressive, flexible. They can be interpreted as rigid, conceited, undisciplined, bombastic and too easy going.

Use only words that are appropriate to the industry to which you are applying. Using technical or in-words that apply to other sectors is a waste of time and distracting to the reader. If there are some words that are very specific to the type of job that you are applying for, use them by all means, but make sure that you are using them appropriately and will be able to expand on them if needed at an interview.

Demonstrate your achievements

Its not enough to say that you have "successfully completed......" or "managed the implementation of.....", you need to demonstrate (briefly) how you did it. For example you might have achieved cost savings "by introducing a new roster that allowed for more on the job hours without impacting staff numbers". This gives just enough information for a prospective employer to become interested in you, and want to know more by having you in for an interview. 

Keep your resume brief, but include all relevant information on education and employment history, expanding only when relevant to the job in question.