Refurbish that resume and find that new job in 2015
Iowa City, IA (PRWEB) December 30, 2014 -- Most resumes are read in thirty seconds or less. That means a successful resume must be precise and concise. Here are the keys to creating a successful resume:
• The name should be the largest item on the resume. Sixteen point is standard. And use Times New Roman 10 pt. to 12 pt. for everything else. Include all contact information, and make sure the e-mail address is professional: [email protected] is not a good idea.
• Begin the content with a summary of greatest skills and achievements. Call it “Overview,” “Snapshot,” “Highlights,” or something similar. Details will appear later. But do not include an “Objective” and do not include “References available upon request.” Those elements are no longer appropriate.
• Use bold and italic type judiciously or they lose their impact. Avoid underlining. Keep it simple.
• Use bulleted lists, like this one, for quicker and easier reading.
• Avoid jargon and generalities. Talk numbers, amounts, and percentages. Present concrete facts.
• Include links to a professional blog, LinkedIn profile, personal website, and other appropriate online presence. But eliminate any online information that might be construed negatively.
• Travel experiences and language skills should be included. They will stand out.
• Note any experience or project that shows professional, innovative, or leadership skills, but most experts say hobbies and other personal interests unrelated to the job should be omitted.
• If age discrimination is a concern, avoid putting dates on your degrees. Dates are not required.
But a great resume can be undone by a poor cover letter, so be sure it follows standard business letter format and explains what job is sought, why this company is attractive, how the skills and experience match the job, special attributes, and conclude with a plan to follow up soon. And keep it brief—half a page is preferred.
“So glad I submitted my resume and cover letter to ProofreadingPal. The service was great as a team of proofreaders highlighted and suggested improvements to content, resume format, and grammatical errors. I'm so happy I took the time to use this service instead of sending out my resume in its [original] condition. Thanks, ProofreadingPal.” – Christopher Pucci, a ProofreadingPal client
For more information and examples of great resumes and cover letters for almost any purpose, visit
http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/careers.aspx. And then do what Chris Pucci did: Send those documents to ProofreadingPal.com for a professional review and start the New Year right with a new job.
Brian Kaldenberg, Proofreading Pal LLC, http://proofreadingpal.com, +1 888-833-8385, [email protected]
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