It may have been a while since you prepared a resume and while the purpose hasn't changed much in recent years, a few things have.
Don't make the same mistakes other job seekers are making with their resumes, mistakes that may cost an interview with a prospective employer. Follow these six tips to give your resume a winning edge:
1. The one-page rule is old school. Recruiters and hiring managers don't care if your resume is one or two pages, but they do care if it's concise and easy to read. A more experienced worker could easily fill two pages, which is fine as long as the format is attractive and uncluttered. Bullets work wonders to summarize your job duties and accomplishments.
2. Resume objectives are obsolete. OK, so maybe objectives aren't obsolete, but they are becoming endangered, and rightfully so. One challenge with the objective is forgetting to change it when applying to a variety of positions. Instead of trying to keep up with ever-changing objectives, use the space at the top of your resume to summarize your qualifications. Highlight a few of your strengths and tell a bit about who you are professionally.
3. Balance accomplishments and duties. In addition to job responsibilities, highlight key achievements related to your career. Employers are naturally attracted to high achievers, so give yourself credit for the things you've done well. Describe your accomplishments and share some measurable results by reporting numbers when applicable.
4. Follow the 10-year rule. While you may have done some amazing things 15 years ago, do yourself a favor and only report the last 10 years at most. Remember, your resume should be a summary, not a novel. Don't despair, you will be able to showcase your finest achievements prior to 1998 during the interview.
5. E-mail addresses matter. Does your e-mail address start with BeachBum3110 or CoachPotato56? If so, you may want to consider getting a more professional e-mail for your job search. You can immediately sign up for a free e-mail account through providers like Yahoo! and Google.
6. You only have one chance. Making that first impression starts with your resume, so once you think it couldn't get any more perfect, ask a trusted friend or professional to proofread it. A misspelled word or typo is likely to cost you the interview. Recruiters sometimes scan hundreds of resumes for a single opening and careless mistakes could put you at the bottom of the stack.
For more information, call The Eastridge Group of Staffing Companies at (760) 438-1809 or visit www.eastridge.com.
Don't make the same mistakes other job seekers are making with their resumes, mistakes that may cost an interview with a prospective employer. Follow these six tips to give your resume a winning edge:
1. The one-page rule is old school. Recruiters and hiring managers don't care if your resume is one or two pages, but they do care if it's concise and easy to read. A more experienced worker could easily fill two pages, which is fine as long as the format is attractive and uncluttered. Bullets work wonders to summarize your job duties and accomplishments.
2. Resume objectives are obsolete. OK, so maybe objectives aren't obsolete, but they are becoming endangered, and rightfully so. One challenge with the objective is forgetting to change it when applying to a variety of positions. Instead of trying to keep up with ever-changing objectives, use the space at the top of your resume to summarize your qualifications. Highlight a few of your strengths and tell a bit about who you are professionally.
3. Balance accomplishments and duties. In addition to job responsibilities, highlight key achievements related to your career. Employers are naturally attracted to high achievers, so give yourself credit for the things you've done well. Describe your accomplishments and share some measurable results by reporting numbers when applicable.
4. Follow the 10-year rule. While you may have done some amazing things 15 years ago, do yourself a favor and only report the last 10 years at most. Remember, your resume should be a summary, not a novel. Don't despair, you will be able to showcase your finest achievements prior to 1998 during the interview.
5. E-mail addresses matter. Does your e-mail address start with BeachBum3110 or CoachPotato56? If so, you may want to consider getting a more professional e-mail for your job search. You can immediately sign up for a free e-mail account through providers like Yahoo! and Google.
6. You only have one chance. Making that first impression starts with your resume, so once you think it couldn't get any more perfect, ask a trusted friend or professional to proofread it. A misspelled word or typo is likely to cost you the interview. Recruiters sometimes scan hundreds of resumes for a single opening and careless mistakes could put you at the bottom of the stack.
For more information, call The Eastridge Group of Staffing Companies at (760) 438-1809 or visit www.eastridge.com.