10 Ways to Write a Stronger Résumé

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/gs/ar5b0ys6zk3r63cl28gs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/gs/ar5b0ys6zk3r63cl28gs.gif" /></a></div>Nearly one-in-four human resources managers said they receive, on average, more than 75 résumés for each open position, according to a nationwide survey by Careerbuilder.com. <br /><br />When a job posting's response is that overwhelming, human resource managers often struggle to distinguish one candidate from another -- particularly since most of them spend only a minute or two assessing each candidate's résumé. That's why job seekers have to be savvy about their résumé's content and presentation.<br /><br />Unfortunately, even the most talented, qualified candidates sometimes write weak résumés. Whether they're in a hurry, lack writing skills or are unsure how to market themselves to employers, they fail to score interviews because their résumés don't immediately demonstrate what return on investment they offer employers.<br /><br />To sidestep this dilemma, consider Susan Britton Whitcomb's 10 tips for writing great résumé copy, excerpted from her book, "Résumé Magic":<br /><br />1. Know your audience before you begin to write. What skills and competencies are they looking for? What knowledge do they require? What trends are they capitalizing on? What opportunities are they interested in tapping? What problems do they need fixed? What projects can you help them move forward?<br /><br />2. Pack your résumé with keywords -- those words that describe your title, knowledge base, skill set, impressive "name-brand" companies or Fortune 500 employers, prestigious universities attended, degrees, licensing, software experience, affiliations and so on.<br /><br />3. Find keywords by reviewing relevant job postings online or detailed classified ads in newspapers, reading job descriptions or content at your target companies' Web sites, reading your association's newsletter or trade journals, conducting informational interviews with industry contacts and so on.<br /><br />4. Position critical information at the "visual center" of the page. Weave keywords throughout your Qualifications Summary and Professional Experience sections, as well as in your cover letter. Create a Keyword Summary section for electronic versions of your résumé.<br /><br />5. Resist the temptation to outsmart applicant-screening software by, for instance, planting the keyword "project manager" nine times throughout the résumé when you might have minimal experience as a project manager. <br /><br />6. When writing job descriptions, try to keep your paragraph to around five lines. Summarize any redundant statements and present the material with an emphasis on transferable skills. Always highlight your accomplishments. <br /><br />7. If you're writing a functional or skills-based résumé, focus on three to five skill areas and lean toward occupational skills (such as event planning, marketing or project coordination) instead of personal skills (such as analytical skills, problem-solving skills or organizational talents) for category subheadings. After you have selected your subheadings, develop two to five sentences, along with specific accomplishments that encapsulate your range of experience for each subheading.<br /><br />8. New graduates with limited professional experience will normally place their Education section near the top of the résumé, after the Objective/Focus or Qualifications Summary.<br /><br />9. For categories such as affiliations, publications, presentations or awards and honors, consider presenting information in a bulleted list or two-column format to save space and add visual appeal. <br /><br />10. Think like an advertising copywriter: Be concise, but give enough data to create interest and a desire to meet you.<br /><br />By Selena Dehne career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

10 Ways to Write a Stronger Résumé

Nearly one-in-four human resources managers said they receive, on average, more than 75 résumés for each open position, according to a nationwide survey by Careerbuilder.com. When a job posting's response is that overwhelming, human resource managers…

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10 Things to Leave Off Your Résumé

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/08/ar5b5pn608fwbqqmsg08.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/08/ar5b5pn608fwbqqmsg08.gif" /></a></div>Everybody knows that in most situations, less is more -- your accessories, eating habits and especially your résumé. <br /><br />Job seekers do themselves a disservice when they send out résumés with too much information. Employers don't have the time or the patience to sift through irrelevant information like your hobbies, interests or how many grandchildren you have. Just stick to the basics and you're good to go.<br /><br />Here are 10 things to leave off your résumé and why:<br /><br />1. Your picture<br />Why to leave it off: Unless a job posting specifically asks for your picture (and very few jobs will), don't include it just for fun. Not only are your looks irrelevant to your potential as an employee, but you're putting employers in a bad spot. If they have a picture of you and choose not to hire you, it's possible that you could come back with a discrimination lawsuit. In most cases, they'll throw your résumé away without looking at it, to avoid the issue altogether.<br /><br />2. Interest and hobbies<br />Why to leave them off: Unless your interests and hobbies have something to do with the job you're applying for, there's no reason to include them. If you want to show how your passion for art would be an asset to a graphic design position, that's one thing. But telling employers that you love to skydive on an actuary application is another. In general, make any applicable connections between your hobbies and the job in your cover letter. Better yet, save them for the interview when you're asked what you like to do outside of work.<br /><br />3. Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors<br />Why to leave them off: Most employers assume that if you're OK with sending out a résumé littered with typos and mistakes, you'll have the same lack of concern for the work you do as an employee at their company. While spell check picks up most errors, it can miss something major -- did you work the late night shift? Or did you forget to include the "f" between "i" and "t"? -- so have several eyes look over your résumé before sending it out to employers.<br /><br />4. Personal attributes<br />Why to leave them off: Similar to sending a picture with your résumé, your height, weight, age, race or religion are all unimportant to an employer. Though it's illegal for employers to discriminate against applicants because of any of these factors, some will do so, regardless. Keep everything on your résumé pertinent to the job, and you'll be fine.<br /><br />5. References<br />Why to leave them off: Many job seekers still include references on their résumé or they include a line that says, "References available upon request." This tactic is not as effective as it used to be. Jack Harsh, adjunct professor at the University of Richmond Robins School of Business, says that when he receives a résumé with references attached, he gives them virtually no weight. "They seldom are specific to the role my company seeks and are not meaningful in considering qualifications or traits of successful candidates," he says. Wait to broach the topic of references until you're asked for them.<br /><br />6. Minute details<br />Why to leave them off: Hiring managers don't need to know the details of every task you've ever done in every job you've ever had. It's just too much information, and usually half of that information isn't relevant. Employers want to be able to see at first glance that you're a great candidate, so pick out those details that are most relevant to the job for which you're applying and omit the rest.<br /><br />7. False information<br />Why to leave it off: Plain and simple, no one wants to hire a liar. Don't say that you have a master's degree if you've only earned your bachelor's; don't say you're presently employed at a company if you've recently been fired; don't list your salary history as 20 percent higher than it was. Everything you tell an employer can be verified, so play it safe and be honest.<br /><br />8. Flair<br />Why to leave it off: No one wants to look at a résumé on fluorescent paper, covered in crazy fonts and symbols. Similarly, links to personal Web sites, your photo-sharing site, or strange e-mail addresses can also be left off. Employers are less likely to respond to likes2party@email.com than just DMiller@email.com.<br /><br />9. Negativity<br />Why to leave it off: Never put anything negative on your résumé. Don't include your reasons for leaving. If you left the position due to a layoff or you were fired, for example, bring it up only if asked. Never write anything bad about a previous employer. Don't explain gaps on your résumé by stating that you were in prison for 10 years for killing your husband. Keep your résumé all positive, all the time.<br /><br />10. A selfish objective<br />Why to leave it off: Employers are trying to determine whether you're a good fit for their organizations, so everything on your résumé should point to your experience. Employers would rather see a summary of qualifications that displays your accomplishments and background than a generic objective statement like "To gain experience in..."<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

10 Things to Leave Off Your Résumé

Everybody knows that in most situations, less is more -- your accessories, eating habits and especially your résumé. Job seekers do themselves a disservice when they send out résumés with too much information. Employers don't have the time or the pat…

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5 Ways You Could Be Ruining Your Résumé Without Realizing It

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/7d/ar5l0zk61nswnktbfk7d.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/7d/ar5l0zk61nswnktbfk7d.gif" /></a></div>Signs are emerging that the job market is picking up, but landing a new position can still be a challenge. The last thing you want to do is sabotage your employment search, and, since your résumé is typically the first impression that hiring managers have of you, it's also the first place where you can potentially ruin your chances.<br /><br />According to a survey conducted by Robert Half International, executives spend more than six minutes, on average, screening each résumé they receive -- which means every word counts in this critical document.<br /><br />Of course, no job seeker is going to shoot himself or herself in the foot on purpose. But you might be harming yourself without realizing it. Here are five common mistakes that put you at risk of losing the job opportunity:<br /><br />1. You don't proofread<br />Three out of four executives interviewed said just one or two typos in a résumé would remove applicants from consideration for a job. Since your word processing program has a spell-check function, you may think there's no need to review your résumé for typos and grammatical errors. Unfortunately, spell-checkers don't catch words that may be spelled correctly but used incorrectly: For example, if your most recent position was as a corporate blogger, your software may not raise the red flag if you mistakenly list yourself as a "logger." In addition to reading through the résumé yourself, you should also have someone else review it to catch any errors that you may have overlooked.<br /><br />2. You ignore potential red flags <br />When reviewing your résumé, imagine that it belongs to someone else. After reading through it, would you have questions about the information provided or be concerned by a lack of details? If you have these thoughts, rest assured potential employers will, too. For instance, one of the biggest red flags is a gap in employment that goes unexplained. Rather than make a hiring manager wonder why you were away from the workplace for an extended period of time, use your cover letter to address why you weren't working and how you continued to advance your career through volunteer opportunities, professional development courses or other means.<br /><br />3. You exaggerate your qualifications<br />Some people will do whatever they can to stand out, which includes fudging the details about a job title, the amount of time spent with an employer or a professional accomplishment. If you think that a hiring manager won't try to confirm your qualifications, think again. If you are caught making up information, you not only will lose out on the opportunity at that company but also may permanently harm your reputation. Even a small fib can prove harmful. For instance, if you're working toward a degree that you plan to complete by the summer, don't say you already have the credential.<br /><br />4. You don't explain yourself <br />The best résumés use specific language so hiring managers can clearly understand your qualifications and accomplishments. If you say you are "knowledgeable" about HTML, an employer will not know if you use it every day to code Web pages or if you simply know that the acronym stands for Hyper Text Markup Language. Instead of using a vague term, you should explain how you've used your knowledge of HTML for certain projects or to aid your employer, how long you've been using it and if you possess any relevant certifications. Along the same lines, be specific when listing periods of employment, including the month and year for start and end dates instead of just the year.<br /><br />5. You're too wordy<br />Sometimes it's difficult to determine what information belongs in your résumé and what can be safely left out. After all, the temptation is to describe any qualification that might remotely tip the scales in your favor. But you might not want to list every accomplishment, skill or project you've worked on. Hiring managers appreciate brevity, so cull the information you include, focusing on the aspects of your work history that are most relevant to the job for which you're applying. If you've had a long career, for instance, you may include fewer details about jobs you held early on that don't relate to your current career path. Omit hobbies, personal facts and other fluff, too.<br /><br />Robert Half International Inc. is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.roberthalf.com. For additional career advice, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/roberthalf.

5 Ways You Could Be Ruining Your Résumé Without Realizing It

Signs are emerging that the job market is picking up, but landing a new position can still be a challenge. The last thing you want to do is sabotage your employment search, and, since your résumé is typically the first impression that hiring managers…

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Target Your Résumé to Prospective Employers' Needs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/7t/ar5l0x86xpdbb13k0x7t.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/7t/ar5l0x86xpdbb13k0x7t.gif" /></a></div>Your résumé isn't about you, it's about them. That is the first guiding rule you should remember as you craft your employment history and achievements to match the needs of the companies you want most to hire you.<br /><br />Consider your audience by researching the company and its industry, and tailoring your résumé to the challenges faced by both. Point out how your talents and training dovetail with the company's needs, so hiring managers can picture you in the job they have available or other opportunities that come up in the future.<br /><br />Start out with a short professional profile that succinctly draws a picture of your job skills, work ethic and natural abilities that translate into the kind of worker you are. The rest of the résumé should follow suit as it lays out a clear story of your work experience, education and the skills you developed.<br /><br />Understand that most hiring managers are viewing your job history in a quick sweep. They want to see something that is easily readable. Don't use industry jargon or long sentences that create dense, hard-to-read narratives. Tell your story in bulleted form to create punch. Don't resort to résumé formats that look like a thousand others.<br /><br />Throughout the résumé, aim for action. Using words like "I was responsible for ..." don't get to the heart of your abilities. Be specific about accomplishments, punctuating them with hard numbers -- increased production, sales figures -- where applicable. Use details to explain your work story. A résumé isn't just about what you've done, but about what you have learned, achieved and produced.<br /><br />Online portfolio and extracurricular activities can play a role in your résumé<br />Don't indulge an inclination to show how social media-savvy you are by providing links to personal pages on YouTube or Facebook, because they are just that -- personal. A more professional tool is to have a link to an online portfolio that has visual presence with well-written sections about your accomplishments, career highlights and leadership and work style. Or direct people to your professional biography on LinkedIn or BrightFuse.<br /><br />At the same time, your extracurricular activities or community service may tell something about the skills you bring to the job. If they show qualities such as organizational ability, leadership potential and creative thinking, list them along with work and educational history to show how you use your talents outside the workplace.<br /><br />There's never a good reason to lie on your résumé, and any overstatement of job history or academic achievements can easily tarnish your credibility. Routine background checks and online research can so easily expose an untruth that the risk simply isn't worth taking when your integrity is at stake.<br /><br />The progress you've made in your career shows a prospective employer the kind of direction your work experience has taken. This may be especially necessary for those moving into a new industry, where transferable skills are particularly important. Showing how your job skills are relevant to the requirements of a company's industry, as well as the company itself, is one way to portray yourself as the solution seeker they are looking to hire.

Target Your Résumé to Prospective Employers' Needs

Your résumé isn't about you, it's about them. That is the first guiding rule you should remember as you craft your employment history and achievements to match the needs of the companies you want most to hire you.Consider your audience by researching…

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4 Essential Functions of a Résumé

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/k0/ar5f6zl5wg4c3whzp7k0.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/k0/ar5f6zl5wg4c3whzp7k0.gif" /></a></div>Sure it gets the interview, but what else does it do? <br /><br />Everybody knows that résumés are useful for getting interviews, but not everybody realizes the résumé's other, equally important, functions: It structures the interview process, reminds the interviewer of you after you are gone, and justifies the hiring decision to others. So a good résumé can do four things, each distinctly separate and distinctly important:<br /><br />1. First, you gotta get that interview <br />The biggest challenge your résumé will ever face is direct competition. It needs to win the interview in the shoulder-to-shoulder battle with other résumés, many of which are from candidates with better qualifications than yours. Some glamour industries, such as the hottest and most successful tech companies, receive in excess of 1,000 unsolicited résumés per day. Following some smart guidelines, you can get interviews and jobs at odds well in excess of 1,000 to one.<br /><br />Writing résumés that win interviews requires an understanding of what happens to your résumé when it hits XYZ Corp. It is usually screened by résumé-sorting software and then a human being. These different constituencies for your magnum opus require different strategies. <br /><br />Software is patient, and it will read to the bottom of a résumé. You can take keywords from a job posting and mix them in anywhere and the software will find them. A smart résumé writer will find creative, truthful ways to insert all the words that the software might be programmed to seek. These can include major competitors to the hiring company, certain degrees, technical skills and even certain cities, zip codes or area codes. This is a skill that you can learn if you start to think hard about it. Always tell the truth, but find a way to get the sought-after words into your document. The software will find them wherever you put in them in your résumé.<br /><br />But humans read differently. They spend only a few seconds before deciding to reject a résumé. With humans, you win or lose in the first 10 lines. Never make a human read more than a few lines to know what you can do for them. <br /><br />2. The résumé will structure the interview<br />Most interviewers will go right down your employment history, asking questions about each job. Your résumé should not tell the whole story; it should pique curiosity, begging for a clarifying question. (It should not, however, be confusing or obtuse.)<br /><br />Incidentally, you should take plenty of extra copies of your résumé to any interview. Your interviewer will often ask for one, and some interviewers ask for several as a ploy to get all of yours away from you. Then they can test your memory. Have plenty of copies and pass this test.<br /><br />3. The résumé reminds the interviewer of you after you are gone<br />Research has shown that after you are gone, the résumé can overwhelm the interviewer's memory of you in person. A candidate with a good written presentation will be remembered as articulate, well groomed and intelligent; one with a poor written presentation will be remembered as unkempt, inarticulate and ill prepared, regardless of how the candidates actually performed in the interview. Few candidates realize how important this résumé function is.<br /><br />The one major exception to the above occurs when an interviewer decides you are lying or grossly exaggerating. In this case all credibility is lost and your written presentation is discounted entirely. Don't cross that line.<br /><br />4. Finally, your résumé can justify the hiring decision to others. <br />The hiring cycle is getting longer and longer. More people are involved, and everyone is afraid to make a mistake. If you are the wrong hire, it can be very difficult to get rid of you. There are people higher up in the organization who rubber stamp your hire decision without ever meeting you. The better you look on paper, the more comfortable they are with making a decision. Here the wrong résumé can undo every right thing about you.<br /><br />Candidates who are referred by friends, or who are interviewing with people they know, may not realize how critical it is to write a winning résumé anyway. Your friend may love you, but somebody upstairs has to be fully satisfied. The résumé better live up to the rest of your presentation, or you could get nixed by someone who never even meets you.<br /><br />As you are writing your résumé, keep in mind what you want it to do for you. If you understand what your goals are, and what you want your résumé to accomplish each time you use it, you will do a better job of achieving those goals.<br /><br />By Donald Asher author of 11 books on careers and higher education. His most recent titles include "The Overnight Résumé" from which this article is excerpted, "How to Get Any Job: Life Launch and Re-Launch for Everyone Under 30" and "Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn't, and Why." He speaks at more than 100 colleges and universities every year.

4 Essential Functions of a Résumé

Sure it gets the interview, but what else does it do? Everybody knows that résumés are useful for getting interviews, but not everybody realizes the résumé's other, equally important, functions: It structures the interview process, reminds the interv…

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7 Ways to Improve Your Cover Letter and Get Your Application Noticed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/s3/ar5l5ty611q7cq8wsvs3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/s3/ar5l5ty611q7cq8wsvs3.gif" /></a></div>Don't underestimate the power of a cover letter. When well-written, attractively designed and customized for the recipient, a cover letter is a powerful tool that can practically scream, "Interview this candidate immediately!" <br /><br />But when they are thrown together using little to no consideration, personalization or creativity -- as cover letters often are -- letters are as ineffective in the job hunt as blank sheets of paper.<br /><br />"This is a major misstep when job searching," say Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark, co-authors of "Cover Letter Magic." "You should take advantage of every opportunity there is to stand out from other candidates." <br /><br />Enelow and Kursmark also say that writing a cover letter can be more fun than job seekers realize. "With the right perspective and a positive attitude, you'll find that it affords you great flexibility. There is no one set format in which they must be written. There is no one style in which they must be presented. In fact, there are very few rules at all, and because they are so flexible, cover letters allow you to positively present just those skills, qualifications, achievements and credentials you want to bring to the recipient's immediate attention."<br /><br />There are a variety of ways job seekers can get creative with their cover letters and bring them to life in ways they never considered. In their book, Enelow and Kursmark suggest a few of these techniques:<br /><br />1. Find out what your target employer's slogan, catch phrase or mission statement is and brainstorm ways to include it in your cover letter's introduction. This technique will quickly capture the reader's attention, demonstrate that you are familiar with the employer and stand out from other candidates' one-size-fits-all cover letters. <br /><br />2. Add a table or two-column section that closely connects the employer's requirements to your qualifications and professional achievements. This strategy will quickly provide the employer with concrete evidence that you're a good fit for the job and worth learning more about.<br /><br />3. Begin with a thought-provoking quote relevant to the position, the employer's goals or your target industry. Many people love to read, share and ponder quotes. Including one in your cover letter can be a quick and effective way to engage the reader. <br /><br />4. Feature a strong headline near the beginning of the cover letter. To keep it brief, yet powerful, address one of the employer's key concerns or spotlight your expertise or an attribute that will be particularly appealing to the employer. <br /><br />5. Develop your own slogan or mission statement and include it near the top of your cover letter. This technique will enhance your career brand and stand out much like a headline would. To draw even more attention to the phrase, place it inside a graphic element that is attractive and appropriate.<br /><br />6. Add a "P.S." to the end of your cover letter. Often, it's the first thing a person will read.<br /><br />7. Include testimonials about you in the body of your cover letter or in an attractive sidebar. Testimonials will emphasize your skills and achievements and support claims you make about your expertise and why you're the best candidate for the job.<br /><br />By Selena Dehne is career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/).

7 Ways to Improve Your Cover Letter and Get Your Application Noticed

Don't underestimate the power of a cover letter. When well-written, attractively designed and customized for the recipient, a cover letter is a powerful tool that can practically scream, "Interview this candidate immediately!" But when they are throw…

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How Long Should Your Résumé Be?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/9v/ar5m7lz73x4p7rt9ht9v.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/9v/ar5m7lz73x4p7rt9ht9v.gif" /></a></div>Is one page too short? Are two pages too long? <br /><br />Résumés are a subject of great debate in the career world. What to include, what not to include; serif or sans serif font; what color paper; which jobs to highlight? And, more commonly in today's job market, how long should the résumé be? Does it matter?<br /><br />We asked résumé experts for their take on whether job seekers should use a one- or two-page résumé and why it matters. Here's what they had to say:<br /><br />The argument: One page<br /><br />"Many people feel that a longer résumé makes them look more accomplished or important -- not so. Recent college grads and those who have only had one to two jobs don't need more than one page. Avoid excessive spacing to fill up the page as well and instead flesh out your skill sets, even if you think you have none due to little experience." -- Kristen Fischer, author of "Ramen Noodles, Rent and Résumés: An After-College Guide to Life"<br /><br />"Someone newer to the work force may have a one-page résumé, with a more seasoned employee having two or more. Most experienced employees cannot fit their work history onto one page, and that's fine. What is critical is that the important information stands out: a very brief summary of who you are, what you're looking for, your key accomplishments and strengths, which tells the employer why they should hire you. This should be captured at the beginning of your résumé in the top quarter of the page -- then the employer could quickly scan where you worked and when, along with more details listed under each position." -- Michelle D. Roccia, senior vice president of corporate organizational development from Winter, Wyman<br /><br />"I personally believe that a one-page résumé, for the most part, is the way to go -- unless you are a very senior executive with a number of accomplishments through your long career. Otherwise, short and focused is better." -- Jim Joseph, author of "The Experience Effect" and president of Lippe Taylor<br /><br />"Remember the length Golden Rule: You want your résumé to highlight your best attributes, and hiring authorities shouldn't have to search for them on your résumé. For this reason, stick to the one-page rule and carry over to a second page only if your experience warrants it. This will force you to choose only the most important information for your résumé." -- Alexis Lane, résumé writing specialist at Snelling Staffing - The Wyckoff Group<br /><br />"While I understand that most candidates want a two-page résumé (or longer), I happen to know that employers put the most focus on a candidate's first page. Their attention starts to wane before they even flip the page. Therefore, appropriate and strategic editing is a smart move. Most job seekers find it difficult to be so objective about their lengthy and accomplishment-based history, so here's a good tip to keep in mind: Job seekers have to think of themselves as a product and their résumé their marketing campaign. Any good marketing director knows to focus on their target consumer while creating a marketing campaign, right? Same thing applies here. You aren't writing your résumé for yourself, but rather, for your potential employers." -- Lauren Milligan, résumé expert and job coach at ResuMayday<br /><br />"A one-page résumé is needed to get you in the door. At the outset of the process, most companies are using software to scan for keywords and subsequently weeding out those who haven't included them. A two-page résumé is necessary once you've gotten in the door and are sitting in front of a human being. That said, it should not be dense. Bullet points are preferable to paragraphs." -- Frances Cole Jones, author of "The Wow Factor: The 33 Things You Must (and Must Not) Do to Guarantee Your Edge in Today's Business World"<br /><br />"Less is always more when it comes to résumés today, with one page preferable, as overworked HR departments need to process information faster and are mostly using electronic solutions to identify candidates to start with anyway. On top of this, the more experience you put on there, the more dollar signs begin to flash in hiring managers' heads, and they worry about what it's going to cost to acquire such an experienced candidate." -- Scott Steinberg, CEO, lead analyst, TechSavvy Global<br /><br />"It does matter, but primarily in relation to the quality of the content. Do not try to create a two-page résumé if you really only have related experiences that fill up one page. Using bigger font and wider space margins do not help your cause. Similarly, if you have a long, impressive career of related professional achievements, there is no need to try to shrink it all down onto one page. Having said all of that, do not go longer than three pages. You should be able to be able to present the best of the best in less than three pages, and if you must, you can add a note 'Additional work history provided upon request.'" -- Sara Sutton Fell, CEO of FlexJobs<br /><br />The argument: Two pages<br /><br />"A two-page résumé is important. Given the nature of today's job search, applicants are searching via the Internet and using job boards or a company's website as the first touch. HR professionals and recruiters are either sifting through the résumés or résumés are searched automatically via a computer program. The more information you provide, the better your chances for a call back." -- Allison Rapaport, founder of www.hospitaldreamjobs.com <br /><br />"It is important to remember that whoever will be looking at your résumé will probably be looking at 50-100 others, so first impressions are critical. Like Goldilocks tasting the porridge, a two-page résumé is 'just about right.' A one-page résumé gives the impression that you do not have a lot of experience. Anything more than two pages gives the impression that you are 'all over the place' and simply don't have the ability to focus. Managers want to be reassured that you can zero in on what you need to do and get it done." -- Mario Almonte, managing partner, Herman and Almonte PR<br /><br />The argument: It doesn't matter<br /><br />"I am less concerned about a one-page résumé than assuring that a candidate for employment provides the necessary information in a concise, direct manner. It's the qualifications that need to get noticed. Tell the employer what you can do for them. Be concise but keep it to two pages. Grab their attention first and foremost. Design your résumé to bring out what the employer is seeking and align these requirements to your own personal strengths. Don't sell yourself –short -- quite literally." -- Wendy Powell, author of "Management Experience Acquired" <br /><br />"It really comes down to relevant content. If you have the experience needed to back up the position you're seeking, then you need to share it. If it's more than two pages, then let it flow. If it's just fluff to fill blank paper, limit that fluff to the pertinent information. Experienced hiring managers are very good at identifying fabricated content"-- Joel Rudy, chief operating officer of Photographic Solutions Inc. <br /><br />"Job seekers focus on the wrong thing when they obsess about whether hiring managers prefer a one- or two-page résumé. Job seekers with great experience, skills, industry connections and attitudes can stop worrying about the one- versus two-page résumé dilemma and be assured that hiring managers are not going to rule out a terrific candidate for sending a two-page résumé instead of a one-page résumé." -- Janet Civitelli, Ph.D., workplace psychologist and founder of career advice website VocationVillage.com<br /><br />"Your résumé is your introduction to a new company. It says volumes about you before you ever get a chance to and may decide if you get to say anything yourself. One or two pages don't really matter, but two pages in most cases are all you need. Résumés should incorporate both responsibilities and accomplishments, conveyed in specific and measurable form -- how did you make or save your company money?" -- Ira Bershard, Kaye Bassman<br /><br />"I've seen stacks and stacks of résumés and have strong opinions on how they should be organized and written. As far as number of pages required for a résumé, the idea that everything should fit on one page is dated. Don't leave key experience out just because you're trying to keep it to one page. But do make sure all of the key important experience is on the first page and highlighted appropriately. A good way to accomplish this is by creating a 'career highlights' section at the beginning of your résumé." -- Jenna (Gruhala) Oltersdorf, principal, Snackbox <br /><br />"A two-page résumé full of fluff and padding kills interest. Yet a one-page résumé that<br />leaves out compelling selling points shortchanges both the applicant and the hiring company. The length of your résumé should be determined by how long you can keep the story you're telling compelling. You need to pique enough interest to generate an interview, not hide your strengths in a pile of unimpressive blather and puffery." -- Barry Maher is the author of "Filling the Glass"<br /><br />"Although I do prefer to see a one-page résumé, it's a mild preference and I definitely think this issue gets overemphasized. I have hired applicants that submitted a two-page résumé and would do so again in the future. My best advice is to keep in mind that hiring managers often scan résumés for only 20-30 seconds each. Because of this, the wording of your bullet points is crucial; they must be succinct and attention-grabbing. Also, consider placing a bulleted list of work accomplishments (from all jobs) at the top of your résumé. This technique is gaining more and more popularity as it can really help to grab the attention of the manager that is scanning the résumés." -- Kris Alban, director of strategic partnerships, iGrad<br /><br />The verdict: The length of your résumé will vary based on your experience. If you're a new graduate or you have less experience, keep your résumé to one page. If you're a seasoned employee in the work force, it's OK to have your résumé a little longer.<br /><br />No matter how many pages you choose to include, make sure to include all of your pertinent career information on the first page -- and in the top portion -- of the document.<br /><br />By Rachel Farrell, CareerBuilder.com writer

How Long Should Your Résumé Be?

Is one page too short? Are two pages too long? Résumés are a subject of great debate in the career world. What to include, what not to include; serif or sans serif font; what color paper; which jobs to highlight? And, more commonly in today's job mar…

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Solving the Keyword Conundrum - Résumés for Career Changers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/3m/ar5l2376kb63fnq7fd3m.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/3m/ar5l2376kb63fnq7fd3m.gif" /></a></div>Ready to launch a new career, but no one seems interested in interviewing you? Your résumé -- and its lack of keywords -- may be to blame. <br /><br />Keywords are terms or phrases that are specific to a particular industry or profession, and they're an essential element in the résumé-scanning process. Today, employers and recruiters are increasingly searching résumés electronically for keywords to help them weed out candidates whose résumés do not reflect the skills, qualifications or credentials they're seeking.<br /><br />This stage of the job search can be problematic if you're trying to break into a new industry or profession. <br /><br />"For career changers, keywords are particularly relevant and require a great deal of thought because you don't necessarily want to include keywords that are descriptive of your past experiences. Instead, you want to include keywords that reflect your current career goals so that those words are the ones that will get your résumé noticed and not passed over," explain Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark in their book "Expert Résumés for Career Changers."<br /><br />According to Enelow and Kursmark, the following keyword strategies are especially helpful for career changers: <br /><br />In sections throughout your résumé, integrate keywords from your experiences that directly relate to your current career goals. Even though certain tasks or accomplishments may have been a minor part of your experience, they should be highlighted on your résumé if they relate to your current career goals. <br /><br />Include an "objective" section on your résumé that states the type of position you are seeking and the associated responsibilities. For example, "Seeking a position in purchasing management where I can utilize my strong skills in research, analysis, negotiations and product management." This is the recommended strategy if you do not have the appropriate experience (keywords) in your background to include in the career summary and experience sections of your résumé. <br /><br />Not sure which keywords you should be using? Enelow and Kursmark offer some guidance:<br /><br />"Just by describing your work experience, achievements, educational credentials, qualifications, objective and the like, you might naturally include most of the terms that are important in your new career field. To cross-check what you've written, review online or newspaper job postings for positions that interest you. Look at the precise terms used in the ads and be sure you have included them in your résumé."<br /><br />By Selena Dehne career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

Solving the Keyword Conundrum - Résumés for Career Changers

Ready to launch a new career, but no one seems interested in interviewing you? Your résumé -- and its lack of keywords -- may be to blame. Keywords are terms or phrases that are specific to a particular industry or profession, and they're an essentia…

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Should You Ever Leave Your Education Off Your Résumé?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/1m/ar5l1mq6b31d6pl4721m.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/1m/ar5l1mq6b31d6pl4721m.gif" /></a></div>After years of job-hunting without success, Adrienne Rodney decided that perhaps her master's in journalism was to blame: Maybe employers were considering her overqualified or at risk of jumping ship the moment the market improved. <br />So, she removed it from her résumé.<br /><br />"It felt dishonest, so I asked the hiring manager how he felt about people who do that. He says that it was the conversation that got his attention, not whether I have a degree or not," she says.<br /><br />Brooke Allen, who hired Rodney as an assistant to work both in his trading group at Maple Securities, USA, Inc., as well as to help with his website http://www.noshortageofwork.com/, says he thinks she did the right thing by leaving it off. <br /><br />"Soon after sending her résumé, she confessed she left off her master's. By this point I wanted to meet her, even though, frankly, I had not yet even glanced at her résumé," he says. "Honesty is very important if any relationship is going to work and it is critical in the workplace. While I do not consider leaving off qualifications to be dishonest, some [employers] might feel otherwise."<br />The discussion about whether or not job seekers should leave education off their résumés at the risk of seeming overqualified -- or not qualified enough -- is common. And as with most debates, there are two arguments to be made. <br /><br />"I believe omitting the standard field of education on a résumé is a fatal mistake. I am looking for reasons to drop someone off the pile," says Amy Stoehr, founder, Changing Lanes Consulting. "I want honesty and creative ability. If your education isn't impressive, then showcase what is impressive about you -- and tell me the truth. Lead with your strengths. Use your cover letter to give me a specific, compelling example of why you're a good fit for the position I'm hiring."<br />While almost every employer feels that honesty is the best policy when applying for a job, some employers agree that excluding your education from your résumé is necessary at times -- like if it gives the impression that your career interests lie in another direction. <br /><br />"Recruiters will make assumptions about what type of job will be a good long-term fit for you," says Lori Gale, CEO of FastLanesHire.com. "If you have a degree that is very specific, yet completely unrelated to the position to which you are applying, a recruiter will likely dismiss you as a serious candidate. Once again, you should never lie, but perhaps you are best off explaining your career change in person rather than via your résumé." <br /><br />If your education is less than stellar, there are still ways you can play up the most impressive parts of your résumé to catch an employer's attention. <br /><br />1. Play up your work experience <br /><br />"If you have a lot of experience that's directly related, some companies may overlook the lack of a formal education," says Linda Duffy, president of The Leadership Habitude. "Point to your significant accomplishments and hopefully they'll focus on those and not your lack of education."<br />2. Apply for and obtain professional certifications in your field<br /><br />"There are accredited professional organizations in almost every field that offer recognized certification programs. These certificates demonstrate that you not only are capable of passing exams in your field, but that you are peer recognized," says Tom Taormina, forensic business pathologist®, The Taormina Group, Inc. <br />3. Emphasize your other abilities <br /><br />If you're lacking a good education, then you need to highlight your work experience. Play up your other abilities by using strong adjectives throughout your résumé that jump out of the page, suggests Erica Moore-Burton, a private career coach. "If a hiring manager is looking for a qualified person, your experience is right on the money and they can see this from the content of your résumé, then your education will be secondary and chances are that you will at least land an interview; where you can impress them even more when you talk about your experience. Very seldom do hiring managers talk about your education in detail, it's the experience that they want to know about."<br /><br />In general, including education is, of course, preferable. And you should NEVER lie about your education. Use your discretion when deciding whether to include your education your résumé, but know that not including it doesn't mean you won't get the job. <br /><br />"The key to how to communicate one's education in a résumé is all about the industry and context of the job and employment being considered. If you're applying to be a professor or a doctor it goes without saying that you need to have certain degrees and levels of education to qualify for consideration. If you're applying to be a business leader it's helpful to have a college degree, but don't we all know of the 'richest man in the world' who never completed college yet went on to develop a most successful computer company?" reminds Joan Tabb, author of "Great In 8: The Fastrack to Career Success." "Define your résumé to your particular strengths; whether they are your education, employment achievements, industry recognition or a combination."<br /><br />By Rachel Farrell, CareerBuilder.com writer

Should You Ever Leave Your Education Off Your Résumé?

After years of job-hunting without success, Adrienne Rodney decided that perhaps her master's in journalism was to blame: Maybe employers were considering her overqualified or at risk of jumping ship the moment the market improved. So, she removed it…

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5 Ways to Rehab Your Résumé

<div class="separator" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/4b/ar5f7pw6wvr2drc9rq4b.gif" /></div><br />Just in case you haven't heard it enough: It's tough to get a job these days. So tough, in fact, that it's not unlikely for a job seeker to spend six months or longer looking for a job before actually getting one. Although it's common for today's job search to take a while, there are ways to increase your chances of getting noticed quickly. So, if you're starting to get frustrated with just how long it's taking to find a job, you may want revamp your job search, starting with that all-important document: your résumé. <br /><br />Although most job seekers feel that they've done all they can with their résumé -- included great "action" words, checked spelling and grammar, ensured consistent formatting -- there is almost always room for improvement. Chances are, your résumé can benefit from one of the following points: <br /><br />1. Make sure your objective has an outward focus<br /><br />If you choose to include an objective on your résumé, make sure it addresses the employer's needs. "Don't emphasize what you're looking for in a job, but rather what skills and talents you offer an employer," says Rick Saia, a certified professional résumé writer for Pongo Résumé. <br /><br />For example, an objective statement like: "To find a position in public relations that will allow me to further my communications career and develop my skill set," is all about what you want out of your job search. In order to increase your chances of engaging a hiring manager, change your objective to instead reflect what you have to offer, i.e., "To benefit a company through my extensive network of press contacts, 10 years of copywriting experience, and demonstrated ability to successfully pitch stories to the media." <br /><br />2. List accomplishments, not duties<br /><br />"Does the résumé emphasize what you accomplished in your current or previous job? That's what should stand out; not merely what duties you performed, but what differences you made in your role for your employer," says Saia. "For example, 'served as project manager for replacement of 1,000 desktop computers' is a duty. Saying 'managed replacement of 1,000 desktop computers in half the allotted time' tells the employer you can take on a big job and meet a critical deadline. That's an accomplishment, and it made a difference." <br /><br />Most duties can be turned into accomplishments through quantifying them or stating how you met or surpassed the goal of the assignment. <br /><br />3. Don't list out-of-date or irrelevant skills<br /><br />At your entry-level job, you may have spent a lot of time on administrative work, like filing documents into a comprehensive system of folders and filing cabinets. But that was 10 years ago. Today, companies rarely even keep physical records, so most likely the "administrative skills" you listed on your résumé won't be applicable at your next job. If you haven't done something in 10 years, chances are things have changed, and it's best to leave the skill off your résumé. <br /><br />Although entry-level job seekers sometimes include a section of "interests" on their résumé, the space-filler has no place on the résumé of older workers. Even if you spend every second you're not working thinking about baseball and you've scored the most homeruns in your recreational league, a hiring manager has no real use for -- or interest in -- this information. Anything you list on your résumé should have a professional tie-in. <br /><br />4. Make sure your résumé is search engine optimized<br /><br />Since much of the initial job application process is done online, recruiters often use software programs to scan submitted résumés for important words and job functions. If your résumé doesn't include these keywords, there's little chance that your application will ever reach the desk of a hiring manager. <br /><br />"Right this minute, recruiters and employers are typing keywords in their search engines to find job candidates to fill openings that match your job objective," says Susan Ireland, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Résumé." "So do some research to find 10 or so keywords from job postings and job descriptions that best match your job objective. Then weave those keywords into your résumé statements and/or make lists of keywords in special sections on your résumé, under headings such as Skills, Relevant Skills, Computer Skills, Technical Skills, or some other heading that makes sense for your occupation."<br /><br />For example, if your goal is to get a job as an advertising coordinator, you will probably come across the same keywords (i.e. accounts, AdWords, media planning, sales, marketing, tracking, supporting) over and over again in job postings for that kind of position. Figure out how to incorporate these keywords into your résumé for the best chance of being found by a recruiter. <br /><br />5. Bold your best features<br /><br />According to a recent study from the U.S. Department of Labor, there are 5.4 applicants for every job opening. With stats like that, you can bet potential employers are up to their eyeballs in applications. Make it easy for hiring managers to skim your résumé for important qualifications by bolding any skills, honors and experiences that support your candidacy. <br /><br />The strong text should be saved only for your most important qualifications, though, so limit bold items to no more than five. Also, make sure to keep a "plain-text" résumé on hand, in case a job listing calls for an unformatted résumé. <br /><br />By Kaitlin Madden writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

5 Ways to Rehab Your Résumé

Just in case you haven't heard it enough: It's tough to get a job these days. So tough, in fact, that it's not unlikely for a job seeker to spend six months or longer looking for a job before actually getting one. Although it's common for today's job…

Read more »

Ditch the Résumé Objective

<div class="separator" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/9q/ar5f5f56n6htnpn68n9q.gif" /></div><br />Your résumé is spit shined, polished, lightly buffed and glistening in all its glory. You've run it through key word tests, tailored it to specific employers, focused on results you've achieved, and even printed it on coffee-scented paper stock (one can never be too prepared, right?).<br /><br />But when it comes to that darn objective, you're never sure what to write. Will you sound too generic? If you get too creative, will it turn the employer off? Yet the truth is that objectives -- at least in the traditional sense -- are dead.<br /><br />Ready to take its well-worn place is something far more important -- a stark assessment of who you are through the eyes of your potential employer. Maybe your past experience is solid, and the results speak for themselves -- but can employers truly relate to your experience in their world? Are you helping them see your potential through a lens they understand? <br /><br />Potential is in the eyes of the beholder<br /><br />Many job seekers get so focused on presenting themselves to a potential employer using the traditional "here's what I want to accomplish" objective, that they overlook another, more critical component -- the valuable skill set they already possess.<br /><br />But why so important? Heck, it's results that count, right? Sure -- but only to a point. When faced with the choice of picking someone who blew past their sales targets but left a trail littered with upset co-workers and frustrated clients in their wake, and someone who can show equivalent results, demonstrating they delivered using a forward-thinking and (here's the important part) team-oriented approach -- you can likely guess which one a hiring manager will go for. <br /><br />Yes, employers want to see results. But they also want to see how you achieved those results. An objective will give them an idea of how you'd go about it for their company ... so show them! Why waste your time, and theirs, with an objective that speaks nothing to this?<br /><br />Understand your potential <br /><br />Before you can hope to sell a future employer on your potential, you need to understand it yourself. Anyone can say they've got "tons of potential" or use phrases like "out of the box" or "dedicated" but how can you quantify and describe this to an employer in a way they can relate to? It's simple. You need to understand yourself.<br /><br />Not in the vaguely new age kind of way, but in the brass tacks, nuts and bolts of knowing your own work styles and competencies kind of way.<br /><br />And there's the problem. Most of the objective methods used in the past to help us understand ourselves and our natural competency potential are not an ideal way for illustrating this to an employer. Your hiring manager might get a kick out of it (they've probably had similar experiences), but it's not likely to help you win out against other candidates.<br /><br />Instead, assess yourself using one of the many tools that employers use to identify competency potential. These assessments provide very accurate, objective, and useful measures of your natural styles and competencies in the workplace. They can help you put your past accomplishments into context -- and better yet, will help you explain how you achieved your results in language that employers can directly relate to.<br /><br />(You'll also learn a thing or two about yourself along the way too, but don't let that stop you ... )<br /><br />The end result will make a big difference in how you present yourself -- and how an employer will see you. For example:<br /><br />Skilled sale professional with a 15-year track record of meeting/exceeding sales targets: two-year winner of top performer award, exceeded annual revenue targets by 50 percent or more in 2008 and 2009.<br /><br />Turns into:<br /><br />Skilled sales leader with a 15-year track record of exceeding sales goals using a highly adaptable and persuasive selling style. Exceeded annual revenue targets by 50 percent or more in 2008 and 2009 by building on strong organizational and goal-oriented skills.<br /><br />An overly-simplified example perhaps, but this new version answers a number of questions an employer is bound to ask about how you accomplished all those things on your résumé. <br /><br />Still stumped on where to begin? Visit sites such as http://www.onet.net/ or http://www.shldirect.com/ (free to use!) to assess yourself. Or use recruiters or outplacement firms like Teneo Talent (http://www.teneotalent.com/) that offer proven competency and motivation assessments. Added bonus? These firms can also connect you with a career coach to help you further identify and understand your potential. <br /><br />Crafting a résumé certainly isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, but this much is clear: the old rules no longer apply. So throw out that objective, and replace it with something that matters -- a statement about your true potential. <br /><br />By Nels Wroe an assessment and talent management expert for SHL (http://www.shl.com/), a global leader in workforce-related talent assessment solutions. Nels.Wroe@shlgroup.com

Ditch the Résumé Objective

Your résumé is spit shined, polished, lightly buffed and glistening in all its glory. You've run it through key word tests, tailored it to specific employers, focused on results you've achieved, and even printed it on coffee-scented paper stock (one …

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