If what readers are looking for is dynamism, be dynamic! Any descriptions of jobs, activities, interests, or achievements should be phrased in an active way. Try to reflect the very results you are outlining in your writing style.
Think about your targets. What do they want to know? They're probably interested in hiring someone to complete a specific writing assignment. They have a deadline in mind. They have an idea of what the book should be about, and, naturally, they want the book to be as well written as possible. Odds are that they don't want to pay top dollar, either, though they expect some experience. (Some of these requirements may actually show up in the job description for others you will have to read "between the lines.")
Now: how do the three resume examples we've come up with address the employer's criteria as we've identified them? The fact is, not one of them does so convincingly. So you "wrote" something. Who cares? If you can't 'Write," there's not a heck of a lot you can offer as a freelancer in the first place. So you were "responsible" for a "144 page book. "What information does that give the employer than he or she didn't have before picking up your resume? Was the book ever published? Was it finished on time?
Was it well received? So you "took" an assignment. So what? All the employer knows is that you didn't actually refuse your last project and that's not much to go on!
After establishing exactly what the employer is looking for, you can write a much better summation of your accomplishments, and make yourself sound like a bit of an overachiever at the same time:
Researched and wrote, under strict deadline, comprehensive, well received, trade quality handbook for job hunters.
This description, which begins with two powerhouse verbs and continues with straightforward, discrete chunks of relevant information, is more of what you (and the employer)want.
Take a close look at that sentence one more time. You'll notice that it begins to get at some of the issues in which the employer has an interest. (It also avoids mentioning how much you were paid for the project This is generally a good idea.)
Remember, your goal is to get as close to "top dollar" for your efforts as you can. Whether you're freelancing or looking for a full time job, it goes without saying that you want to be in the best possible position once it comes time to discuss salary. One good way to make your accomplishments stand out is to use an active, specific grammatical style. (Which sounds better: "Was named to post requiring me to edit and supervise class yearbook", or "Edited class yearbook and supervised staff of twelve"?)
Use descriptive language. Wherever possible, put some kind of relative dimension on the work you have done. How much money did you raise? How many books did you sell? Did you lead a ten member or 1000 member tour? Did you graduate fifth in your class, and if so, was that five out of 500 or five out of six?
Give your potential employer a yardstick by which to measure your accomplishments. That way, you may even outshine someone with a more impressive record who neglects to describe their background effectively!
However, make sure you're using a 36 inch yard stick and not a two inch model. It bears repeating: keep in mind that you must always state truths. You're trying to create a document that sells your virtues, but don't get carried away. If you worked on just part of a project, don't take credit for all of it. If you waited on tables, don't say you were a restaurant manager. Truth in advertising and that really is the field you've entered into here is an absolute must.
It goes without saying that your resume should be proofread meticulously. One spelling error or typo can automatically eliminate you from consideration for a position. Keep in mind that along with your cover letter, your resume is one of your most important writing samples. It's a pretty clear indicator of how well you communicate. If you miss a typo, your reader may think, "Maybe this person will miss important details while on the job, too." Get a friend or an objective third party to read your resume after you've proofed it. A new eye can often pick up an obvious error that you've missed. Remember that over time you may well lose the ability to look clearly at something you've been working on intensely.
You needn't worry about producing a resume that looks like a Cadillac when a Chevy will do the trick. Some people believe that top notch design and typesetting is always necessary to make the right impression, but unless you're applying for a position as a graphic artist or design professional it's generally not the case. Most employers look at how each resume describes a person who could fill their needs; as a rule, they couldn't care less about whether the thing is set in Futura, Times Roman, Bodoni or on your word processor or quality typewriter, for that matter. Of course, a well designed and pleasant looking resume is easier to read than one that looks like a second cousin to a ransom note. The fact remains, however, that it's not, in the final analysis, how your resume looks that really matters it's what it says.
It's usually wise to be somewhat conservative when it comes to selecting a color for your resume. Accepted colors include white, beige, and grey. You begin to take chances if you opt for any other color.
Keep the size standard: 8 1/2" x 11". Legal size ma stick out in a pile, but it will also get a lot more abuse, and an odd sized resume may get thrown out by a meticulous employer who doesn't like loose ends.
When you create your master copy, use a good quality typewriter or computer printer that offers "letter quality" output. Stay away from smudgy typewriter ribbons, and(even worse) dot matrix printers, which reproduce with horrific results. Your final reader may be looking at a copy of a copy of a copy!
To illustrate the idea of tailoring a resume to fit an employer's needs, three different samples follow using the same job seeker's background.
