Resume Tip

By: Mario Churchill

So, you are in the process of creating your resume so you can acquire your dream job. Congratulations! Creating a resume can seem daunting, but has been made easier with the advent of the internet, word processing programs that have different resume format samples and resume software. Anyone with a computer can easily create their own resume, but must be sure to follow the different rules for creating a resume.

One resume tip that is very important is to make sure that you include all of your contact information at the top of your resume. Many people feel that because they are sending along a cover letter, they do not need to include their name, address, phone number and e-mail address at the top of their resume. What many people do not realize is that cover letters often get separated from resumes and there is nothing more frustrating to an employer than receiving a good resume that has all of the qualifications that he or she is looking for in an employee without a name or any contact information.

Another important resume tip is clearly state your objective. The prospective employee may have dozens of ads for employees advertised. How will he or she know what job you are applying for unless you state this in your resume? Under your name and contact information should be a heading about your career objective. You can actually separate this into two categories. One should be for the position which you are seeking. The other can be what you hope to attain in the future. If, for example, you are seeking the position of a newspaper reporter but aspire to be an editor or a features writer, this can be outlined in your resume as employment sought and career objective.

Still another resume tip is to make sure that you do not understate your past experience, including all of the tasks that you performed at your old job, or know how to perform, that pertain to the position which you are seeking. Many people include all of their tasks in a short paragraph, which does not impress many perspective employers. It is better to list all of the tasks and knowledge in bullet point format so that it makes it easier for the employer to see just what you can do. This is not the time to be shy or modest. Highlighting your accomplishments, knowledge and past experience can not be too underestimated when it comes to your resume.

Writing why you left your past job is not necessary to put on your resume. Use this as a tip as this is not necessary at all and considered unprofessional. You will most likely be asked why you left your prior employment during your interview. Do not badmouth your last place of employment, even if your boss was a reincarnation of Attila The Hun. Just say that you are seeking an opportunity for new growth.

Another important resume tip is not to discuss salary on your resume. Do not put down how much you are making at your current job or how much money you expect to earn at the new job. While some employers will ask that you state your salary qualifications in your cover letter, this is never acceptable on a resume. Many employees who ask that prospective employees state their salary requirements in their cover letter tend to pay low wages and do not want to waste their time with anyone who expects to be paid enough money to make a living. Never put salary information on your resume.

Still yet another important resume tip is to make your resume easy to read. Using colored paper, fancy fonts and photos may look really nice, but might seem overwhelming for an employer and they may consider you unprofessional. Use classic formats and traditional fonts to play it safe.

A resume tip that can not be too underestimated is to make sure that you put down your educational experience from the last college or university that you attended to the first. If you have a post graduate degree, that should come first under the Education heading, along with the degree and any awards. Your undergraduate university or college should come second along with degrees and accomplishments. Those with post graduate degrees do not have to put down their high school information.

While you do not want to give your prospective employer a book about your life in the form of a resume, nor do you want to cheat yourself out of outlining your skills and accomplishments. Do not hesitate to make your resume more than one page if your accomplishments, experience and education warrants this. It is better not to underestimate yourself than to keep your resume short and sweet. This is a very important resume tip.

When creating your resume, pay heed of the above resume tips and create a resume that will reflect all of the reasons why you are the correct person for the job as well as a resume that reflects your personality. One valuable resume tip is to be sure that you present your best qualities and allow them to shine through when you are eventually called for an interview.

Writing Resumes
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