Career Directors International Provides Six Keys to Crafting a Powerful Resume for 13th Annual Update Your Resume Month
Melbourne, FL (PRWEB) September 24, 2013 -- Thirteen years ago, the global association of resume writers and career coaches, Career Directors International (CDI), registered and launched the international event, Update Your Resume Month. During this month CDI encourages job seekers to take extra steps to update their resumes and be prepared for any opportunity.
In celebration and support, CDI offers the following resume writing tips:
1. Target and Be Specific. Employers aren’t looking for a jack of all trades. Instead, they want a specialist to meet the needs of their position. A job seeker with many different skill sets and targets needs a different resume for each. Never expect the employer to pick out the skills – get specific with keywords and matching the needs of the position.
2. Emphasize Value. Too often resumes read just like a long list of skills. If a job seeker is qualified for the job, then this is just the standard information. Skills need to be built upon with proof. A job seeker should ask him or herself, “What’s the bottom-line value I bring to an employer? How do I work smarter, faster, save the company money, or put it in a better position than it was in before?” Bullets can then be entered that give a specific challenge, action, and result that shows how well each skill has been used.
3. Remember Words are Still Key. There’s no getting away from the importance of the skills when it comes to having a key word section near the top of a resume. It is crucial to include a list of said skills in a 2-3 column section following the summary. A job seeker should aim to include 12-21 concrete skills that show the required skills for the job.
4. Provide Proof. Anyone can say anything about themselves in their resume, but is it true? Unfortunately, sometimes it can look too good to be true and leave a prospective employer questioning. This is why including a quote, with permission, from a former boss’s evaluation or client’s letter can add true punch. It can easily be slipped into a text box next to the summary to really catch the eye.
5. Proofing and Fine-Tuning Makes Perfect. One of the top reasons candidates don’t make it to the interview is due to silly errors such as spelling, thick and difficult to read paragraphs, run-on sentences, and long lists of content in the resume. A first draft is never good enough! A job seeker should have a thesaurus handy, check carefully, and have at least one other person with a good grasp of English, grammar, and punctuation taking a critical look.
6. Never Waste Time Going it Alone. The resume is no different from any other professional service, such as taking the car to the auto mechanic or the broken tooth to the dentist. It makes sense to trust a certified professional who has the talent and experience to solve the problem the first time. Can a job seeker really afford to leave their career to chance?
CDI’s Job Seeker Center provides a variety of free resources along with search tips for locating a professional.
CDI also encourages resume writers and career professionals to spread the word about Update Your Resume Month. This event offers a crucial reminder to job seekers about the value of keeping their resumes up-to-date or simply taking advantage of recording their new experiences as they happen in order to prepare for their next professional update.
For those who wish to take part, CDI offers official event badges for download.
CDI is committed to helping its members to maintain the pinnacle of skills, making them the industry’s top service providers to job seekers.
About Career Directors International – http://www.careerdirectors.com
CDI is a global professional association committed to ensuring that career and resume professionals can grow and thrive in a rich, vibrant, exciting, and nurturing environment. CDI is focused on championing the industry’s cause for credibility and visibility; fostering exceptional success in every generation of career and resume professionals; and cultivating the career superhero that exists within each one of us.
Laura DeCarlo, Career Directors International, http://www.careerdirectors.com, 321-752-0442, [email protected]
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