They say in real estate that the three most important words are location, location and location. I would say that in the world of employment, the three most important words are resume, resume and rsum. Today we will discuss the first step in The Seven Steps to Employment Success System, THE RESUME.
Before we start, let me share a few words with you first. This is not resume writing 101. There are numerous resources at your disposal to help you do this. You can ask the advice of ten resume "expert's" and receive ten different opinions and of course, they will all be right. There is no one resume format that is necessarily more correct than another. I will be the first to tell you that if your resume is getting you interviews, DO NOT change a word on it. I will also be the first to tell you that if you are not satisfied with the amount of interviews your resume is generating, be open to revise it. Fair enough? The resume advice I am about to share with you are suggestions. You can decide to use some, all or none of it. Let's Begin.
1. Your personal contact information should be in the middle and include: first and last name, complete address, phone number and e-mail.
2. Use the word PROFILE to replace Objective and or Summary of Qualifications. The Profile will contain your hard skills. Hard skills are those qualities that you acquired thru formal education, certification, training and or hands on experience. Hard skills are what you know how to do. What are your hard skills?
3. SUMMARY of SELF. The S.O.S. contains your soft skills. Soft skills are those skills that describe who you are as a person. Soft skills make up your character. We all know that your character leads to your destiny. What are your soft skills?
4. EXPERIENCE. This is where you describe your work history. Start with your most recent employment. In resume writing, the magical number you do not go past is ten years. If you decide, you can put the years worked on the left side of your page and put the location on the right side, forming two columns if you will. Print your company's name. Underneath print you title. Under your title use bullets to describe your duties and responsibilities. If you are not presently working, make sure you use ed (i.e. Trained, Managed) for past tense. Repeat the process with your next employment and if needed the one after that.
5. EDUCATION. List most recent school you attended and or graduated from. If you went to college, you do not need to include high school. Do not put the year of graduation, unless you recently graduated or still attending and time expected of graduation.
6. EXTRACURRICULAR/HOBBIES/AWARDS/CERTIFICATIONS. Only if applicable to the position desired.
7. YES, one page.
8. You do not need to include, References upon request.
REMEMBER: YOU CAN'T CHANGE DESTINY OVER NIGHT BUT YOU CAN CHANGE DIRECTION OVER NIGHT...THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS...CONTACT MICHAEL CORITSIDIS, LONG ISLAND'S JOB READY STRATEGIST at: doit2001@hotmail.com