 |
Cover
Letter Writing Tips |
|
Resume Writing
Advice
|
|
|
|
Tip 1 - Use Titles or
Headings That Match The Jobs You Want
|
|
|
|
With employers receiving hundreds of resumes you must make sure that your
resume hooks an employer's attention within a 5-second glance. A great way to
do this is to use job titles and skill headings that relate to and match the
jobs you want. For example, compare the headings Roger used in his before
resume to the headings used in his after resume.
|
|
used in his after resume.
|
|
Before Resume:
Accounting / Record keeping
Administrative
Computer Skills
|
|
After Resume:
Management of A/R and A/P Accounts
Computerized Accounting Applications
Departmental Administration / Record keeping
|
|
|
Which set of headings are the strongest for an Accounts Payable / Receivable
Manager position?
|
|
Even though Roger's title was Accounting Assistant, he actually managed over
1,000 A/R and A/P accounts. Using skill headings that market the true nature of
Roger's job duties will generate him more interviews and higher salary offers.
For more examples, like this one and the ones discussed below, click on 60 Free
Online Resume and
Job Search Workshops at ProvenResumes.com.
|
|
|
|
Tip 2 - Use Design That Grabs Attention
|
|
|
|
Employers make snap judgments when glancing at your resume. If they see
unrelated job titles or skills the likelihood is very high that they will make
an immediate assumption that you are not qualified for the job you want. Adding
to this problem is the fact that employers don't have the time to read through
each of your job descriptions to determine if you have the skills they need.
|
|
You Must Do That For Them! The design of your resume must
highlight the most important information about your work experience, skills and
education. At first glance this information forms the image that employers have
of your skills and abilities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tip 3 - Create Content That Sells
|
|
|
|
Resume design should get attention but it's really the content of your resume,
the descriptions you include of your skills and abilities, that determine how
many interviews you generate--as well as the level of salary offers you
receive. Compare the before and after statements from Roger's resume shown
below:
|
|
Before Resume:
Maintained records for accounts receivable and
accounts payable accounts.
|
|
After Resume:
Managed over 1,000 accounts receivable and payable accounts working directly
with the Chief Financial
Officer
|
|
|
Which of these examples presents Roger as being more qualified, having higher
skills and worth a higher salary? As this example illustrates, our image of
Roger is changed and elevated when we read the after example. For more examples
of how to create powerful content click on 60 Free Online Resume and Job Search
Workshops.
|
|
|
|
Tip 4 - Quantify and Use Power Words
|
|
|
|
As Roger's after statement demonstrates, using numbers to describe your
achievements and responsibilities can greatly expand and elevate your image.
Using numbers and quantifying creates vivid images in our mind when we read
them, whereas general statements like the before examples are easy to skip over
or forget. Typically the more specific you can be in describing your duties the
better.
|
|
Another strategy that is extremely important in controlling the image that
employers develop about you--is to use Power Words or verbs that match the
level of position you want. For example, Roger wants to use the experience he's
gained to move into a management position. To strengthen his image he should
use as many "management oriented" words as possible. Which example below do you
think is the strongest?
|
|
Typical Verbs:
Gave work assignments to staff of entry level accounting clerks.
|
|
Power Words:
Directed workflow, supervised and trained accounting staff performing posting
to general ledger, accounts receivable and payable accounts
|
|
|
|
|
Tip 5 - Analyze Ads and Job Descriptions to Identify Key Words
|
|
|
|
Learning how to analyze the key words that employers provide in help wanted ads
and job descriptions is a key element in creating powerful resumes. For
example, read the ad Roger found for an Accounts Receivable Manager below and
see how many key words, phrases, or skill descriptions that it includes.
|
|
Accounts Receivable Manager
Seeking experienced A/R Manager to oversee accounts, manage billing and
collections, train accounting and clerical staff, develop status reports for
management and prepare monthly balance sheets. B.A. Degree or A.A. Degree with
minimum of 2 years experience required
|
|
Even though this ad is small it contains 12-13 key words or phrases that should
be addressed in Roger's resume. Roger can also key words from an ad like this
to create headings for his resume such as:
Key Word Skill Headings
Management of A/R Accounts
Billing and Collections
Supervision of Accounting and Administrative Staff
Balance Sheet and Management Status Reports
|
|
|
|
Tip 6 - Identify and Solve Employer's Hidden Needs
|
|
|
|
In addition to the skills or needs listed in the ad shown above, the employer
will have many more needs that Roger should identify and address in his resume
and cover letter. For example, this employer will need someone who can deal
effectively with other departments, research accounting issues and records to
solve problems. To beat today's heavy competition for jobs, it's important that
you identify and anticipate the full range of needs each employer faces and
show how you can solve those needs.
|
|
|
|
Tip 7 - Sell the Benefits of Your Skills
|
|
|
|
Most resumes provide a list of duties that each applicant has been responsible
for--without explaining the benefit of those skills to employers. For example,
a secretary's resume might state she can type 80 wpm and is extremely accurate.
This statement lacks an explanation of how her typing speed and accuracy
benefit an employer's bottom line. The real benefit is that the employee can
produce more work and ultimately save the employer money. A better statement
for this person's resume would be:
Selling The Benefits of Skill
Achieved top production volume by maintaining high degree of accuracy with
typing speed at 80 wpm. Cut labor expense over $6,000 annually by eliminating
the need for part-time wordprocessing staff.
|
|
|
|
Tip 8 - Create An Image That Matches The Salary You Want
|
|
|
|
As you write your resume, keep in mind the level of job and salary you want. Be
sure to create an image that presents you at the appropriate level. For
example, language used in a resume for an $8 an hour position is much different
than the language used for a $16 an hour position. I recently met Lynn, who had
held a Health Insurance Claims Management position making $42,000 per year. She
had retrained for the accounting field and hadn't yet gained any "direct
accounting experience" although she had prepared monthly accounting reports as
a Department Manager.
I was appalled when she shared the resume she had been counseled to create. It
began with this statement:
Seeking an entry level
position in the accounting field.
Now what pay rate do you think this statement would motivate employers to offer
Lynn? A much better statement would be:
Seek an Accounting
position utilizing my experience:
· Managing a department and
accounting for up to $250,000 in monthly claims.
My goal is to help people either stay at their current salary level or move
up--not go backwards. As you can see, the last statement greatly elevates
Lynn's image and will be much more likely to generate salary offers comparable
to her last pay rate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tip 9 - Prioritize the Content of Your Resume
|
|
|
|
Another big mistake that job seekers make is to list very important data in the
lower sections of their job descriptions. As you compile statements for your
resume, prioritize them by importance, impressiveness and relevance to the job
you want. Remember that a strong statement which uses power words and
quantifies will affect every statement under it. Read the two examples below.
Which one has the most impact?
Unprioritized
Maintained records control, filing, office supply purchasing and equipment
maintenance. Managed front office functions to support the President, Vice
President and staff of 20 Sales Representatives.
Prioritized
Managed front office functions to support the President, Vice President and
staff of 20 Sales Representatives. Maintained records control, filing, office
supply purchasing and equipment maintenance.
|
|
|
|
Tip 10 - Tweak and Target Your Resumes and Cover Letters
|
|
|
|
You will generate many more interviews by tweaking your resume and cover letter
so that they address the specific skills each employer requests. For example,
Sally originally wanted a customer service position, then found an ad for a
Retail Management opening. How well qualified do the headings in the left hand
column present her for the Retail Management position? Do you think the
headings in the right hand column will generate more and better interviews for
Retail Management positions?
|
|
Customer Service
Cash Accountability
Computer Skills
|
|
Retail Management / Customer Service
Cash Accountability / Supervision of Retail Stations
Retail Accounting Applications
|
|
|
|