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::: RESUME WRITING SKILLS :::
A quality resume is the crucial first step to obtain an interview. The following are some of the tips which can help you to make your Resume attractive and informative .
BE CONCISE :
While the length will vary depending on your education and working career, each section should only contain important highlights, accomplishments, and skills. A common mistake done is to include too much information in the hopes that more is better, when in reality it just makes the resume difficult to read. As a general rule, you should try to keep the resume to one page. Only focus on your last 2 positions if you've been with different companies or 10 years if you've been with the same company in specific terms. Remember, the goal of the resume is to grab the reader's attention not to tell your entire story. That is what the interview is for.
PROVIDE EXACT DATES :
From the employer's perspective, this is one of the most crucial aspects of the resume! At a glance, it quickly shows an applicant's job history and work "stability" and can be a major or even the sole deciding factor in resume. Unfortunately however, so many times the importance of this crucial part of the resume is underestimated, and dates are shown in the broadest of terms, showing the year only. Professional experience and research has shown that when a candidate uses this type of dating format, at least 50% of the time there was probably some sort of an employment gap - especially if the person has held several jobs over a relatively short period of time or number of years. When a resume is created in this way, it is usually met with initial concern by the employer! Employers are aware of this tactic, and in many instances, they perceive it as deliberate deception, and unfortunately, the candidate is not considered further. Don't let this happen to you! Remember, the month and the year as a rule should always be included for the 2 most recent positions (if different companies) or 10 years (if with the same company). If you have had a longer working career, it is OK to list jobs beyond the 10 year mark by years only and in "general terms" to conserve space on the resume. Keep in mind - If an employer has a specific question about the dates of these positions they will ask, so it's still a good idea to try and have the exact dates available if needed! Likewise, in nearly all cases, if an employment gap does exist and it is made apparent, the prospective employer will usually give the candidate the opportunity to explain the reason (if they are concerned) during the interview. Bottom Line - It says, " that you want to be up-front and honest" (traits of a good future employee)...
BE TRUTHFUL :
Keep in mind that any and all information contained on your resume or application will probably be compared and verified. In today's business world, most companies actually check employment references and employment history, and most will even go as far as requesting permission to perform a thorough background check. For this reason, it is strongly suggested that all of the information on your resume be accurate.
BE NEAT AND ACCURATE :
This is one of the important aspects in every resume. After all, first impressions are everything! If your resume is sloppy and contains misspellings what does this say about you as a future employee? Is this how you want to be perceived doing the job? Of course not! There is no excuse for a resume that isn't perfect. Even if you have the resume prepared professionally, it is your responsibility to proofread it after completion to ensure that it is completely perfect before sending it out.
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