Resume Hints:

The resume is a tool with one specific purpose: to win an interview.

Focus on the Employer’s needs, not yours.  What is this company really looking for?

• Determine your objective.  Clearly state what sort of a job you want.
• Use bullet points with short sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs.
• Use Key words and phrases to help the reader see important information.  Some companies scan resumes, and have computers pick the resumes to be looked at. The computers are looking for one thing – keywords that have been picked by the hiring manager.
• Use action words such as prepared, managed, developed, monitored, and presented.
• Use %'s, $'s and #'s.  Percentages, dollar totals, and numbers stand out.
• Highlight strengths, and what is most relevant to the potential employer.
• Match the needs of the hiring company -Read job descriptions provided by your Recruiter, and use key words in bullet points, targeting your resume to the position.
• Adapt your resume to each position. There is nothing wrong with having several different resumes focusing on the needs of the company and how your experience fits.
• Focus on your accomplishments.  Identify where you:
o Made money for the company
o Saved money for the company
o Reduced headcount
o Increased proficiencies or productivity
o Brought a project in ahead of schedule
o Saved time in production
o Generated sales
o Went over quota
o Reduced cost of doing business
o Reduced workers comp claims
o Reduced “return to work” time
o Saved company from regulatory fines
o Saved a life
o Invented a product that brought in sales $
o Negotiated savings
o Reduced turnover
o Thwarted a crisis before it happened.
• Help the company visualize how you are going to pay for yourself, help the company make a profit, and provide a return on their investment.
• Never mind the length of your resume. Be concise, but if you need more space, use as many pages you need to get the interview.