As most everyone knows, job hunting in these economic times is a highly competitive sport.
Just the other day, I had the opportunity to review a resume of a retired businessman who was making plans to return to work. Such reviews are often part of my coaching sessions, as I work with career changers, newly graduating seniors and people who for many reasons, inlcuding layoffs, are seeking employment. In this world of layoffs and scare news, take heart. A good resume and a good attitude can make the difference.
The best time to look for a job? When you've got one. You can take your time to write, edit and polish, as well as network, gather references and job prospects.
First, the simple stuff:
Use your spell checker. Then proofread for spelling, grammar and punctuation. Then proofread again. If you aren’t great at these tasks, get a grammar book or ask a friend who has excellent English skills to proofread for you.
You can find resume templates online to make your resume look really crisp. My favorite choices come from Microsoft, which has a library of good-looking templates that fit a variety of needs. Click here for more info.
Just the other day, I had the opportunity to review a resume of a retired businessman who was making plans to return to work. Such reviews are often part of my coaching sessions, as I work with career changers, newly graduating seniors and people who for many reasons, inlcuding layoffs, are seeking employment. In this world of layoffs and scare news, take heart. A good resume and a good attitude can make the difference.
The best time to look for a job? When you've got one. You can take your time to write, edit and polish, as well as network, gather references and job prospects.
First, the simple stuff:
Use your spell checker. Then proofread for spelling, grammar and punctuation. Then proofread again. If you aren’t great at these tasks, get a grammar book or ask a friend who has excellent English skills to proofread for you.
You can find resume templates online to make your resume look really crisp. My favorite choices come from Microsoft, which has a library of good-looking templates that fit a variety of needs. Click here for more info.
Then:
Use action words to note what you have DONE and how you have been valuable to each organization where you have worked. Words like “pioneered,” “introduced,” “integrated,” and the like make you a valuable employee and therefore valuable to the organization and its success. If you have saved the organization money, developed new procedures that have helped with efficiency, better service or some other advantage, be sure to mention them.
Spend some time to take inventory of your special contributions to each work setting. Don’t think you have to go on and on with lots of verbage – give the message clearly and directly. Don’t feel afraid to brag. You’ll want make yourself look very good.
If you have done volunteer work, include it on your resume. Ask the person who has been or is your volunteer “boss” to provide you with a letter of praise, a reference or both.
Don’t think you have to say everything in your resume. Remember that you will also have an accompanying cover letter, at which place you can go into detail about special skills or attributes for a specific job. Each cover letter should be crafted to address a specific job that is available.
There are a zillion books that can help you craft a really good resume. You can find them in your local book store, online or at your public library. One is The Resume Handbook: How to Write Outstanding Resumes and Cover Letters for Every Situation by Arthur D. Rosenberg.
