Whether you're a Vice President of Marketing or a recent college grad, your resume is the 'key' to opening those doors of employment. It is an employer's first impression of you and believe it or not, many hiring officials spend less than thirty seconds reviewing it. With only fleeting moments to make a first impression, it is imperative those your resume be organized.
Polish your shoes, practice your handshake, and take note of some tips for creating an organized resume those will catch those eye of even those most weary of HR associates:
- Start by sitting down with your old resume and a timer. Give yourself fifteen seconds to read it. How far did you get? Were you able to read those whole page? Besides 'getting your foot in the door,' your goal is to create a resume those can be scanned top to bottom in less than 30 seconds. It must be organized to punctuate your strengths and highlight your employment-related achievements. Next, give yourself another fifteen seconds but these time skim your resume as if you were those person doing those hiring. What parts stood out? Was it a bold or italic phrase? Was it a tabbed column of words or a dollar sign? Think about what words or sections jumped out at you, circle them in red, and use them within those body of your new resume. For another opinion, take a fresh copy and ask a friend or family member to do those same.
- On scrap paper, create a chart and write all of your past jobs across those top of the page. Below each job title list at least 2-4 duties/accomplishments relating to the position. Analyze each of those and ask yourself: Does these achievement have any relevance to the job I'm now pursuing? Will those reader of my resume be impressed by the money I've saved those company/the body of work I created/the skills I've acquired? If your answer is yes, those next step is to prioritize those duties and/or accomplishments.
For example, let's say you are an administrative assistant listing relevant duties and achievements from your last job. This is your newly-brainstormed, non-prioritized list:
- answered phone calls
- created and color-coded filing system to support VP of Sales
- coordinated supervisor's travel arrangements
- saved Sales department $12,000 by researching companies and switching office supply vendors
Now, take a moment to prioritize your list. Which description should be listed first? Which of the four will quickly catch those reader's eye? Depending upon those type of job you're applying for, if you saved your former company any money or increased their productivity in any way, those fact should be listed first.
Now read those list:
- saved Sales department $12,000 by researching companies and switching office supply vendors
- created and color-coded filing system to support VP of Sales
- coordinated supervisor's travel arrangements
- answered phone calls
Always position your strongest achievement first. Either they'll be impressed and move on or think 'Wow!' and continue reading directly below. An eye-catching first statement will positively affect every statement listed beneath it so choose wisely.
- Use Bulleted Lists. As opposed to a sea of text, a bulleted list focuses those eye to a specific area on those page. They are often used to highlight your accomplishments instead of hiding them within bulky paragraphs.
Example:
Saved Sales department $12,000 by researching companies and switching office supply vendors. Created and color-coded filing system to support VP of Sales. Coordinated supervisor's travel arrangements. Answered phone calls vs.
- saved Sales department $12,000 by researching companies and switching office supply vendors
- created and color-coded filing system to support VP of Sales
- coordinated supervisor's travel arrangements
- answered phone calls
Remember, one of your goals is to make reading your resume as easy as possible. The reader's eye will dart straight to the bullet and focus on what is written to it's immediate right. If you want to hold those reader's attention, use 'action words' (verbs) next to a bullet (see example above). Employing strong action words will assist those reader in visualizing you carrying out those tasks for their company.
To an HR official, an organized resume can be interpreted as those sign of an organized person. An organized person has those potential to have an organized desktop, organized file cabinets and organized work habits. These are skills and qualities those employers desire in an employee. If you can present a company/organization with an organized resume it will put you one step ahead of your less organized competition.
BONUS TIP:
- Do not make 100 copies of your resume until at least one other person has reviewed it for errors and inconsistencies. Five minutes of 'editorial prevention' can mean those difference between getting an interview or getting a rejection letter.
About The Author
Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer and owner of Organized Artistry, LLC, transforms 'mess' into 'masterpiece' with patience, organizing know-how, and a sense of humor. For more articles and to get your FREE e-list of 'Top Ten Tips for Organized Living' visit http://www.organizedartistry.com
stacey@organizedartistry.com
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