Want to know how to write a powerful, more effective resume that will get you interviews in less time? I’m here to tell you that it’s possible, and you CAN do it! Resume writing gets a bad rap, but I’m here to make it as painless as possible for you. Knowing the information to include and to leave off is the first step, so that is where we’re going to start.
Personal information:
Name, email address, phone number (only one!), and LinkedIn address. These are the important pieces of information the recruiter or HR manager is looking for. You no longer need to list a physical address on your resume.
Summary:
This is 4-5 lines, summarizing your professional skills and experience. Do NOT write in complete sentences, and do not use “I” or any personal pronouns. The first line should include the job title you are applying for, along with your level of experience in the position: “Licensed Physical Therapist with over 7 years of experience managing rehabilitation facility.”
Skills:
You can use a bulleted list of skills. I like to use 2 columns. The first column has skills that match the specific job you are applying for, while the second one has other skills and personal qualities you offer.
Accomplishments:
Ideally, you should use 3 bulleted accomplishments. They need to be measurable outcomes with specific numbers, such as, “Increased department sales by 25% within 9 months.” Be honest, and be as specific as possible. (Note: This is one of the reasons it is important to update your resume as you accomplish things in your current job – later on it may be harder to remember specific accomplishments you had!)
Experience:
This includes work experience, as well as volunteer or other unpaid experience. Start with your current (or most recent) position. List the company name first and then the dates you were employed there (year started-year ended). Below the company, list your most recent job title. Do not write out every job duty! Instead, summarize some of your notable accomplishments in the position. The general rule is to go back 10 years, unless your most recent experience is unrelated to the job, and your relevant experience was more than 10 years ago. Obviously if you were at your last position for more than 10 years, indicate your full work history there.
Education:
List your most recent education first. If you have any type of college degree, do not include high school information. Do NOT include date of graduation, unless you have graduated within the last 2-3 years. It is generally not necessary to list your GPA.
Last, but not least…
References:
This needs to be a completely separate sheet, with your personal information listed again at the top of the page. Please do NOT include the outdated phrase “References Available Upon Request.” This is understood, and does not need to be mentioned. In fact, resume reviewers do not want to see those words!
Another thing to beware of…do NOT include an objective. As a hiring manager, I am going to assume that your objective is to get the position you just applied for. A summary gives much more valuable information about who you are and what you bring to the job! Recruiters want to see that as soon as they glance at your resume.
Ok, there you have it. That’s my quickest resume run-down. I hope it helps! If you still have more questions, though, guess what? You can email me and ask. You can also sign up for a FREE Real Resume Tips course where I go into more detail and give you practical downloads to help with your job search!