RESUME TIPS

1. Keep resumes Simple & be Concise: Applicants often use flowery fonts, boldface, boxes, lines, colors and other embellishments to stand out. This is not recommended. "Keep it simple and professional -- nothing flashy, no pictures or graphics and no unusual fonts.

2. Be Honest: Don't exaggerate your position title or responsibilities or do not lie. The same goes for lying about degrees or fabricating employment dates to eliminate gaps,, there's a good chance you'll get caught, if not during the interview process, then after placement."

3. Content:

Include a phone number landline and mobile.

Likewise, ensure that your email address is currently using.

Type your name on your resume like you want it to appear professionally. If you do not want your middle name used, leave it off or just include your initial.

Do not include references on your resume, but offer them during your application process or interview.

List any languages that you speak, even if they do not directly pertain to the job description.

If you have special skills (such as computer or technical abilities), include them if applicable to the position or company.

Include any major publications you have authored, such as a magazine or journal article.

List all education you have had, and explain how it will help you in the target position.

Tell the truth! Check out the top resume lies, and don't do it. VIEW THE SAMPLE RESUME

4. Use Titles or Headings That Match the Jobs you are applying: With employers receiving hundreds of resumes you must make sure that your resume hooks an employer's attention within a 5-second glance. A great way to do this is to use job titles and skill headings that relate to and match the jobs you want. Candidates need to show how they meet employer's specific needs. "People tend to be too general on their resumes. In today's world of e-mailed and scannable resumes, make sure you know the buzzwords of your industry and incorporate them into the sentences you are about to write. Keywords are the nouns or short phrases that describe your experience and education that might be used to find your resume in a keyword search of a resume database. They are the essential knowledge, abilities, and skills required to do your job. They are concrete descriptions like: sales, sales management, human resources, FMCG marketing Etc.

5. Write what the employer wants to hear: When most people write their résumé (80%) they are not thinking about what the Employer is looking for, they're thinking about themselves. They write their autobiography. The Employer is not interested in your life story. He is not looking for a friend, or an interesting person. The Employer is looking for someone that demonstrates they can best do the job available. Use action words - words like prepared, managed, developed, monitored, and presented will cause your resume to stand out. In addition to standing out to a reader - you are also insuring that if your resume is scanned. Highlight your strengths, and what is most relevant to the potential employer. Due to the fact that most resumes are typically reviewed in 20 -35 seconds, put forth the effort and determine which bullets most strongly support your job search objective. Put the strong and most relevant points first where they are more apt to be read. Doing this will hook the reader, and the rest of your resume will reel them in.

6. Reverse Chronological Format Resume: Commonly used by people with job specific titles and experience with no major gaps, chronologically listing you most recent job first. This resume format is appropriate when you have specific job related experience and background. Generally people with professional experience in their field of specialization are comfortable using this resume format. List your qualifications in order of relevance, from most to least. Only list your degree and educational qualifications first if they are truly relevant to the job for which you are applying. If you've already done what you want to do in a new job, by all means, list it first, even if it wasn't your most recent job. Abandon any strict adherence to a chronological ordering of your experience

7. What should the resume content? : It's not just about past jobs! It's about YOU, and how you performed and what you accomplished in those past jobs--especially those accomplishments that are most relevant to the work you want to do next. A good resume predicts how you might perform in that desired future job. Employers make snap judgments when glancing at your resume. If they see unrelated job titles or skills the likelihood is very high that they will make an immediate assumption that you are not qualified for the job you want. Adding to this problem is the fact that employers don't have the time to read through each of your job descriptions to determine if you have the skills they need.

8. Education: Under the objective on the first piece of paper, list any education or training that might relate. If you are a recent college graduate and have little relevant experience, then your education section will be placed at the top of your resume. As you gain more experience, your education almost always gravitates to the bottom. If you participated in college activities or received any honors or completed any notable projects that relate directly to your target job, this is the place to list them.

9. Job Descriptions: Write descriptions and then highlight the sentences that describe anything you have done in your past or present jobs. These job descriptions are important sources of keywords, so pay particular attention to nouns and phrases that you can incorporate into your own resume.

Collected by Abdul Gafoor shaikgafoor@hotmail.com