Today, we aim to highlight the importance of effective resume writing to all job seekers out there. Taken from the recent presentation from the co-founder of YourPartTime.com, Janet Tan (you can follow her on Facebook and Twitter). She called it the 7 Golden Rules of Resume.
Rule#1: Clear Job Search Objective
A professional summary at the top of your resume with clear objective. The objective should vary for different job positions/company that you are applying. This sells you like nothing else on your resume does.
Rule#2: Market yourself by using the right marketing tools
Selling yourself through quantifying your accomplishments and highlighting your accomplishment. Do not be afraid to mention the exact post you are in. For example, instead of "I organized a system to track outside vendors", put "Office Manager". Conclude with a real result, like "reduced operating costs by one-third". This will boost your credentials significantly as you have figures and numbers to show.
Rule#3: Clear and Concise
Resumes that are easy on the eyes are in. Hot resumes are organized with bullet points, not paragraphs, and have enough white space to look clean and visually interesting. Gone are the days where resumes are "with large chunks of unbroken text" that require recruiters to slow down. Chances are they won't take the time.
Rule#4: Know your strengths and highlight them
Again sell, sell, sell. Highlighting all recent events or work that you have participated in is the "in" thing. Link these events to your personal strengths/characteristics and how these will influence the company that you applying for. And never allow your resume to be outdated - which also speaks volume of yourself.
Rule#5: Show what you know
Being up-to-date with the current issues like social networking. Including your LinkedIn or other social network address in your resume's header. Make sure it's a custom ("vanity") URL if it's LinkedIn (these are free). Not being up-to-date only shows your ignorance and care free lifestyle which is a big no-no.
Rule#6: Show who you know
Show not only what you know, but who. In other words, by showing what as mentioned above, you indirectly inform people who you are associating with. Take for example, your work with the HR Dept before, therefore your LinkedIn account should have at least some sort of relation with the HR communities or groups. Then, you can associate these people with you and might even get some good recommendations!
Rule#7: Have someone else review your resume
Friends, relatives, ex-colleagues, etc. Someone should review it before you send it out. It's always better to get feedback from someone else in not only resume but everything you do.
