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Customizing Your Resume: The Secret to Landing the Job You Want
At first glance, most resumes seem to look alike, but look closely and you will note that well-written resumes differ greatly from those that are immediately discarded from the pile. You can customize your resume to make it work for you and land you the job you want. There are three distinct elements that you need to focus on: the style of your resume, your career objectives, and your personal profile. Resume Style In a winning resume, the importance of layout and style is of equal value to the information contained, specifically experience and qualifications. There are two styles frequently used in making resumes: the chronological style and the functional style. A chronological resume lists the professional experiences in the reverse order they were acquired. This is often used by people with extensive work history. The functional resume, on the other hand, focuses on skills and expertise, and other qualifications. This style works best for those who are changing careers or who had intermittent employment history. While there is no right or wrong format to use, the resume style you choose should depend on your personal circumstances. Your resume should work for you so learn the differences between the two styles and pick the one that would present your qualifications and experiences in the best light. It would also help if you research which style is the preferred format in the industry you want to get into. Career Objective A statement about your career objective on your resume indicates that you know your purpose and are committed to seek professional growth. While some experts doubt the appropriateness of including one's career objective on the resume, doing so is a subtle way you can communicate your aspirations to your prospective employers. Many employers would like to play mentors and often give opportunities to those who have set clear goals for themselves. State your goals such that they are specific and directional in relation to the industry, the position title you are aiming at, and the future achievements you want for yourself. Many applicants play it safe by making general statements about their career objective. Try to create more impact by formulating more direct statements that would tell your prospective employer you know exactly what you want, what you can offer, and what you are prepared to do to attain success in the company. Personal Profile If the purpose of your career objective is to inform a prospective employer about the reason for your application, your professional profile is meant to put emphasis on your expertise and convince a prospective employer you're the right person for the position. Your professional profile will set you apart from the competition and will allow your employer to know about your capabilities. People often fail to come up with a winning resume because of poor writing and by including their personal data like age, gender, ethnicity, religious affiliations, etc. These details do not really matter in your dealings as a business professional. Keep your personal information as private as possible and it is best to leave them off your resume. Your personal profile should really be more of your professional sketch. Choose your words carefully and craft strong, positive statements to create a good impression on your prospective employer. What you want to project is confidence, credibility and professionalism. Remember, this section is located near the top of the page and is almost the first thing that the reader gets to see. For the same reason, although you will have to proofread the entire resume, pay special attention to this section; make sure that it is error-free. You should realize that when applying for a job, you are in effect selling yourself and your services to a prospective employer. Use your resume as a sales pitch that will enumerate not only your features but what the company can gain from you as well. Present your very best and you can make the sale. |