Writing Powerful Resumes ? 10 Golden Rules

Your resume is your sales letter. It may not get you the job. But it must get you an interview. The resume should be written to arouse the interest of the employer so that you get your appointment for an interview. This is the primary purpose of a resume. Here are ten golden rules to follow in creating a very powerful resume.

1. While writing a resume you should keep in mind that it is written with the purpose of getting a specific job. This will focus your resume on the requirements of the job and then match your experience and abilities to fulfill the requirements of the job.

2. A powerful resume will be concise and to the point. Care must be taken not to include anything that comes to mind and it is not essential to include everything about you. It is not your autobiography. Every line, every word needs to be evaluated whether they are highly relevant to the job description. You only have few seconds to impress the employer. Within those few seconds you must convey what you do and what are your credentials for the job.

3. A powerful resume starts with an Objective statement. The objective statement should be simple and straightforward. It should state preferably in one or two short sentences the position you are applying for and how you will benefit the employer. The resume must be tailored to the job description. While it may not be possible to write a resume for every job, it is desirable. Otherwise have several resumes with different objective statements.

4. Use plenty of action words in designing a powerful resume. Action words make your resume more interesting, make you look more dynamic.

5. While qualifications are important, employers are looking at applicable skills every organization needs. These skills are Teamwork, Leadership, excellent Communications, Interpersonal skills and Computer skills.

6. Focus on accomplishments and not on duties and responsibilities. Every responsibility must state your accomplishments to make the resume more powerful. Words like 'responsible for' or 'duties include' sounds very dull and passive. Emphasizing on accomplishments sets you apart from the crowd and chances of an interview increases dramatically.

7. To create a powerful resume ensure that there are no typographical errors, miss-spelt words and grammatical mistakes. A badly proofread resume is the surest sign of carelessness and lack of professionalism and an eye for details. So keep checking your resume often. It is better to have it checked by your friends or colleagues to detect any mistakes which might have escaped you.

8. Make your resume very reader friendly. Have professional summaries, bulleted lists and very short paragraphs. Use more white spaces by spacing paragraphs properly. Don't use all capitals, too many highlights with bold letters. Anything over 12 points and using all caps is the equivalent of shouting.

9. Always consider the perspective of the employer while creating a resume. Powerful resumes are one which the employer is immediately able to relate to his needs, job descriptions and requirements.

10. A well designed resume must include all possible ways to reach you. Ensure including your full address, your home phone, mobile phone and e-mail ids. Please include a day phone or your direct phone at the place of work if available.

A powerful resume includes all these elements. Just use this as a check list to assess your resume. This alone will improve your resume many fold and make it highly powerful.

R.G. Srinivasan is a Certified Trainer, Writer and Author with more than two decades of managerial experience. He also writes a regular blog on home-business resources which you may check out at http://www.home-businessresources.blogspot.com for online marketing tips, resources, opportunities and online promotional strategies

---

Career Change Is Not For Wimps! 3 Powerful Steps to Do Work You Love

Tough words... but I truly believe that folks who make... Read More

How to Get Hired by Being Obvious

If you want a drink of water, do you hire... Read More

How to Conquer Job Hunting Apathy

Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a... Read More

Searching for Jobs Online

Searching for jobs online is easier than ever, but also... Read More

Smokin? Up a Storm: Clothing, Smokers, and the Job Interview

You're nervous. You're so nervous that you crave a smoke.... Read More

One Step at a Time in the Job Search

What is the first step to take in a job... Read More

Negotiate Better Job Offers with This Twelve-Point Checklist

You've been through an employer's interview process successfully and have... Read More

During Midlife Change: Are You a Jumper or a Clinger?

Over the years, I have identified two kinds of midlife... Read More

The Network Within

When you hear the word "networking", what comes to your... Read More

Oil, Lube and Filter Employee Pay

We have been studying the labor rates of Oil, Lube... Read More

Careers-Changing Jobs: The Fantasy of the Ideal Job

Most people would agree that the concept of a job... Read More

Ten Healthcare Fields That Cant Wait To Hire You

Healthcare is one of the hottest career fields in America... Read More

When Bad Interviews Happen to Good Candidates

Going through the motions of a bad interview is like... Read More

Fuzzy Headed Job Goals Lead to a Fuzzy Headed Life!

May I clarify in this article what I believe to... Read More

Think Twice Before You Change Jobs

You've got the itch to change jobs. This might be... Read More

The 4 Job Search Facts You Need To Know!

Are you harboring bitterness or anger towards your current or... Read More

Nine Ways to Tell Youre Ready for a Promotion

So you noticed the new job board posting on your... Read More

I Quit!

More and more people are calling it quits to successful... Read More

Factual Employment Screening Part 2

An Employment Screening OutlinePolicy DevelopmentA policy of Factual Employment Screening;... Read More

Practice Speaking

For many people, interviewing is not a natural act any... Read More

Recruiters for MSN or Data Miners?

Is Kenexa recruiting for Microsoft or just mining for data?I... Read More

Your Value Proposition: A Critical Component To Having A Successful Job Search

Your value proposition is a series of statements defining your... Read More

Tips on Finding Employment as a Corporate Flight Attendant

I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic... Read More

Career Moves: Take Charge of Your Life

Every day millions of people let their inner fears stop... Read More

Why One Word Answers are Bad News at Job Interviews

It takes a lot of time and effort to get... Read More