This type of negative information will only decrease your chances of interviews. Other negative or extraneous information includes sex, race, maiden name, spouse's occupation, children's names and Non work related achievements. You are writing a resume to help you get a job so stress user benefits.
Do not give your life history! No one works at reading resumes. Make it more readable by underlining or capitalizing key words, use headings, and have margins and white space.
Principle styles of resumes are: standard, functional, and directed. The standard or chronological resume is very similar to an application in terms of the order and type of information given. It tells where and when you worked. Essentially it is an attendance record. Nothing is told of achievements and how a person could help a prospective employer.
A functional resume describes results and achievements in terms of functions. You can highlight items when aiming toward a specific job target. Some examples of functions or areas of experience are: leadership, research-development, and quality control, administrative services such as accounting and purchasing, production, maintenance, supervision, and control systems.
Regardless of your background - age, number of job changes, narrow experience, lack of education, being unemployed - you should use a functional or directed resume. You may wish to develop one of each and use the one most appropriate. If a response in three to four weeks is not made to an individual letter, you may want to send a brief cover letter plus resume to prime potential employers. If they have not responded the additional contact probably will not hurt. The want ad position could already be filled but the person hired may be proving to be unsatisfactory to the firm.
Sell ability and potential by using accomplishment oriented statements. Stress your strongest points which will benefit the prospective employer. Use numbers - percentages or actual figures - when possible since both profit and non-profit organizations communicate with figures. A person with several years of employment will emphasize the areas of work experience. Someone entering the job market will stress part-time jobs, education, and community activities. Resumes should be one or two pages long. Identify - name, telephone number - both pages with complete address on one page. The longer you make a resume the less likely it will be read.
Your job objective is of major importance. Let the firm know what you are seeking. Indicate several positions that you could fill because of your background. This is a short range objective, say 1 to 2 years. Experienced workers can follow objectives with a brief summary of their career.
Examples of areas of experience and work experience that show achievements and results are given in a separate section. This is the critical section of a resume. Use action words that show how your achievements and results can benefit an organization. Other possible headings for this section are Career Highlights, Typical Accomplishments, Areas of Major Experience, Professional Experience, and Accomplishments - A Brief Summary.
Military experience should be emphasized if this background is directly related to the type of work you are seeking. Otherwise briefly indicate the highest rank obtained, branch of service, and time period. Often employers have trouble relating military positions to company positions. Help them out by providing the proper civilian language.
In a functional resume, industrial experience is a brief listing of employers and dates of employment. This information is shown with the work experience in a directed resume.
If your education is recent, stress it. Emphasize things of interest to an employer. After all just about everyone completes high school. There is little need to mention high school if you are a college graduate. What is there in your education that makes you unique?
Activities include items outside of work. For example community, professional societies, and hobbies. Definitely indicate any leadership positions. It is best to indicate just activities or associations that are directly and positively related to your job qualifications.
Briefly indicate personal items. Most people are of average height, weight, married and have children. Only stress personal items if they will benefit a potential employer. For example, a seven foot person seeking a position on a basketball team.
When you think you have an excellent resume - write, edit, and critique it several times - put it away for a week. Then rate the resume by considering and answering these questions:
- Will a reader want to read it? Do the strong points stand out?
- Are user benefits emphasized? Is the layout and appearance attractive?
- Are problem solving skills conveyed? Do sentences start with action words?
- Are accomplishments and results stressed over job duties?
- Is language clear and understandable in order to make the resume brief and to the point?
- Should you write the resume again?
Keep the reader's attention focused on the content of the paper; not on a cute or colorful appearance. Any device that may switch attention to the appearance will lessen the effectiveness of written material. You want readable typed material that implies good taste and quality.
PAPER: Use top quality plain white paper of 20 pound weight or higher. Bonded and rag content paper feels like quality. The standard size is 81/2 x 11. Use the monarch size (7 x 10) for a more personal touch such as in a follow-up letter. Use quality envelopes of appropriate size. Never use the letterhead stationary of your employer. Never use paper torn from a school notebook. Go first class on the paper - save the extra pennies that quality costs elsewhere.
REPRODUCTION: Select an easy to read type style - pica or elite. Use a typewriter with a carbon ribbon, not a worn fabric ribbon. Individual letters should be individually typed. A resume can be typed -perfect, no errors - then reproduced on quality paper at a print shop. Do not reproduce any use resumes copied from an office copier or a ditto machine. This detracts from the written message.
POSSIBLE RESPONSES
You can expect a wide range of responses. If a company is not hiring because of a high level decision your employment chances are slim indeed unless you have critical skills. Consideration at a future time is always possible. The range of responses are:
a. No response at all.
b. A rejection letter which may be polite. This letter often says your letter and/or resume will be kept on file. Files may be active or inactive.
c. A letter asking you to complete an application form or provide more detailed information. If a company is seriously interested in you, it probably would not take the time for the completion of an application.
d. A firm contact - letter or phone call - requesting an interview. You may be requested to complete an application. Confirm the interview time. Now get busy and find out all you can about the company and its industry. This is must information for the face-to-face contact.
