Professional Resume

What exactly is a professional resume? When you come across a position that interests you, essentially you want to stand apart from the “pile.” Is yours ordinary, one that is nothing special and will probably get tossed quickly in to the pile? Anything but average, a professional resume is one that jumps out quickly within seconds of a potential employer reviewing it. You want your resume to easily demonstrate why you are the only possible candidate for the job.

If you want to put your best foot forward and increase your chances of securing the job, create a professional resume. Yes, it will take time, but the results are well worth the effort. Once you have completed your first one, any others you build will be much easier.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

Does it highlight your accomplishments and skills rather than job duties?

Does it target the position for which you are applying? Employers like a resume that showcases accomplishments or qualifications that are relevant for the job opening.

Do you include too much personal information? Rambling on about hobbies, talents (unless job related) or other interests is really not important – and employers would rather peruse information related only to your qualifications for the job.

Did you use keywords, or strong action verbs? Keywords are necessary today due to the fact that many employers find applicants online, or keep resumes in a database for later reference. Employers are attracted to sentences that begin with verbs or “action words,” as they offer a greater sense of dedication to getting the job done.

Does your professional resume LOOK professional?

Now is not the time for fancy artwork and intricate fonts. Keep your resume basic and simple, and easily readable. An employer should be able to scan your professional resume in seconds, and see immediately any accomplishments or qualifications that highlight your career.

Always remember to keep the information brief and to the point. Relate your work history as much as possible to the job for which you are applying. Proofread your resume to check for misspelled words or grammar errors, and have someone else read it as well.

Look for the little things

It's often hard to notice small things that may look confusing or jumbled to someone else. Review your professional resume to ensure that it is uniform in appearance. If you used bulleted points in the beginning, follow through with that format. Any information included at the bottom that needs special attention should be bulleted as well. Don't include bullet points at the top, then dashes or asterisks at the end – it just looks messy.

Creating a professional resume really isn't that difficult. The key points to remember are to highlight accomplishments relative to the job you are seeking, keep things short, and make it apparent why you are the one for the job. Double check your work, and you've likely created a resume that will attract any employers attention.