How to Write a Good Resume

Whether you want to write a resume to apply for a new job, to change careers, or to simply keep an updated resume handy for a possible future opening, it’s important that the resume you write clearly positions you as the best person for the job you are applying for. Your resume is what speaks to your potential employer and it’s what will determine whether or not you’ll be called for the interview. If your resume won’t impress the employer during the first reading, you’re done. So what should you do to ensure that your resume is actually read and bears fruit?

Avoid templates

There are many free templates available for use by job seekers who want to finish the resume writing job ASAP. Unfortunately, such resumes rarely take applicants far. This is because too many (lazy) people have probably used the same template with a lot words and phrases borrowed from them. This means that the “catchy phrases” have been used by many applicants and read over and over by the panel in various other occasions. At the end of the day, your resume won’t stand out. It will sound just as boring as every other resume.

A Unique resume for a unique job

One other problem that is usually faced by job seekers is the fact that many of them – seeing the task of writing resumes as a bother – choose to write a one-size-fits-all resume. The career objective is somehow vague and the whole resume is designed to be a jack of all trades. Again, no matter how good such resumes are, they don’t usually stand out as the best since they spread there strong points thin over many job titles and organizations. When writing your resume, ensure that it is uniquely written to fit that particular job.

List your achievements, not you previous job descriptions.

Experience matters a lot in determining the best person to hire for a particular job. However, experience is not an end in itself: it is assumed that from your experience, you learnt a lot that would be useful in your new job. To prove your worth, please clearly state what you did for the previous employer and what contributions you have made in previous positions; if you can quantify this, the better. This will be critical in proving that you are able to bring changes in the new organization if you are hired. Focus on what you are going to give the organization, and not how you plan to advance your career.

Use action words and avoid passive voice.

Use of passive voice will make your language dull. Here, it is not what you say, but how you say it. Again, passive language may bring about ambiguity and the employer may not be sure what your contribution was. However, using active voice and action verbs clearly put the achievements where they belong and action verbs make your writing stick out – exactly what you need.

 All in all, it’s important that when writing a resume for a particular job, you keep in mind the job you are applying for and the organization in which you are applying that job. Different organizations or job levels may demand different things from job applicants. Proper research will therefore ensure that you have that job in your hand.