Friday, July 31, 2009

Resume Writing Resources

My website WritingBetterResumes.com where you can sign up to receive two FREE resume writing reports and a 20 lesson video e-course by visiting either of the following two links:

Click the link to grab your FREE How to Write a Resume Crash Course - PLUS a 20 Video eCourse

You'll also find information on How to Make a Resume there as well.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

How to Make a Resume - 3 Tips That Get Results


How to Make a Resume - 3 Tips That Get Results



Have you ever wondered how to make a resume?  Have you ever sat down to write your resume and found yourself at a loss?  If so, then you've come to the right place.


Keep reading to discover  how to make a resume that gets results for you.


Tip 1 - Remember the Goal


When writing your resume, it's important to begin with the end in mind.  What do you want your resume to accomplish?


The purpose of the resume and cover letter is to land you a job interview.  A secondary purpose is to pre-sell the interviewer on your value before you walk into the room.


Think of writing your resume as the opportunity to capture the perfect pitch that sells you as the right candidate for a job.


This is your chance to say all of the right things, without having to worry about whether you'll stutter, or hem and haw.


This is your chance to sit in a relaxed environment and create a miniature salesman - one who flawlessly delivers the perfect pitch - which you can send to hundreds of employer’s offices.


And it's your chance to do so in a low-stress environment – your living room – where no one else ever has to know that you didn't know how to get started or sweated bullets and suffered from writer's block.


Tip 2 - Your Resume Should Sell You - in Print


Others have spoken of a resume as a marketing document, but I say that it is a sales document.  Why?  Because when people hear the word "marketing" they think of super-bowl-commercial-type marketing, not the give-me-what-I-want-now attitude that a good salesman has.


And that's fine for others; let them try to create a good image and personal brand awareness for themselves while you and I go out and get a job using good salesmanship.


We'll go into some specific techniques you can use to sell your value to an employer in print later, but for now it is sufficient to acknowledge that your resume has a sales job.


The following video reveals one solid sales technique you need to be aware of:



Tip 3 - Answer the WIIFM Question (what's In It For Me?) Every Employer is Asking


It must answer the question every employer asks when reading resumes: "What's in it for me?"  Because, you see, every hiring manager has a reason she or he is looking for a new employee - and it's not because they want a new friend. 


If you can find out what their reasons are and show them how you deliver the results they want, then you will have success in your job search.


The following sales strategy will set you apart from 90% of your competition for a job.


When most people sit down to write a resume, their thinking turns inward – “How can I write about me?” is the thought in their mind.  But a good salesman knows that a sales pitch is never about you, it's about the customer.


In this case it's all about the employer and what they want.  Show them how they can have what they want by hiring you and you'll have the job.


This is the over-arching theme that should be running in the back of your mind every time you work on your resume – “What does this employer want to see and hear?”


Every sentence, every bullet, and every time you're not sure whether to include something, ask yourself "What do they want to hear?"


How to Write a Resume Conclusions


When you start thinking about how to make a resume, remember to keep your customer's interests in mind.  Before you decide to include something in your resume, ask yourself how this piece of information appeals to an employers self-interests.


Want a FREE resume writing video course? How about a system that outsmarts the competition for your dream job?


Click the link to grab your FREE How to Make a Resume Crash Course - PLUS a 20 Video eCourse...


You'll also find complimentary articles and videos designed to teach you how to create a resume that gets interviews... Check it all out and claim your free stuff at:


http://www.writingbetterresumes.com/How-To-Make-A-Resume/How-To-Make-A-Resume.php

How to Make a Resume - The Functional Resume Format - How and When to Use

Do you wonder what is the best format for your resume?  Selecting the right resume format can be a very confusing process.  If your work history isn't very strong or if you have gaps in your work history, then the best resume format for you just might be the functional resume format.


A functional resume format differs from a chronological resume format in that it focuses on skills over experience.  To accomplish this organize your resume by skill categories rather than listing your work experience first.


Just like a chronological resume, a functional resume should start with a very compelling objective statement.  The objective statement is where you will place the information you think is the most appealing to a potential employer.  It is also the place where you will list any of your personal career goals.


It is my belief that this is the most important sentence in your resume.  If you get it right, the reader will want to read the rest of your resume.  If you get it wrong, the reader will probably not read the rest of your resume will set aside for another more appealing option.


Try to focus on how you feel you were skills will benefit the employer.  Show them how you can help them accomplish their corporate goals.


Another area in to include on your functional resume is a qualifications summary.  A lot of people use this section to showcase the skills they have developed and how those skills relate to the open position.  In a functional resume this could even be the very first section.  This in conjunction with your objective statement can be a great way to catch the employer's attention and make your resume stand out from the crowd.


One thing to beware of what using a functional resume format is blank space.  While it's important to make sure that your resume isn't too long, you should also keep in mind when writing a functional resume that it does tend to lend itself to blank spaces more than a chronological resume.  It seems like you have a lot of blank space on your resume that may be want to choose a hybrid resume format.  The hybrid resume format combines the functional resume format and the chronological resume format.


With a hybrid resume format you place your work experience at the end of the resume, after you have made the case for your skills qualifying you for the job.  Be sure to list any educational experiences achievements or degrees that you possess.  If you have certifications or licenses be sure to list those as well


When used correctly, a functional resume format or a hybrid resume format may be the best tool to get you the job interview.


 Want a FREE resume writing video course? How about a system that outsmarts the competition for your dream job?


Click the link to grab your FREE How to Make a Resume Crash Course - PLUS a 20 Video eCourse...


You'll also find complimentary articles and videos designed to teach you how to create a resume that gets interviews... Check it all out and claim your free stuff at:

http://www.writingbetterresumes.com/How-To-Make-A-Resume/How-To-Make-A-Resume.php