Tips for Writing an Effective Resume

An effective resume is the key to getting that job you have always wanted and even those to build your experience up to that point. A resume is the first thing an employer sees and is the first thing they have to develop an idea of that person. There are several different ways to create and display a resume but here are some general guidelines to go with almost any resume.

Use a design that gains attention

It is very important to use a design that gains attention at first glance because when employers are going through hundreds of resumes for a single position, you only have one quick glance at either grab their attention or bore them as they move on to the next application. It is a must for your name and contact information to be at the very top in bold lettering to be easily found and get that attention right away.

Provide enough information

Don’t sell yourself short by providing only brief explanations of other positions you have held and the responsibilities with them. You may hurt yourself and not express all the great skills and qualifications you have by only providing an insufficient amount of information.

Provide accurate skills and qualifications

Be sure to provide skills and qualifications that you actually have and know how to use. As important as it is to provide the necessary information of your skills don’t stretch one into another because if you get that ever important interview, it is almost guaranteed that you be questioned on that skill you claim to have but really don’t.

Professionalism around the board

It is imperative that you leave good contact information including phone numbers including home phone and cell phone, e-mail address, or any other professional means of contacts. If you don’t have an e-mail address you should most definitely set up a free account from google, yahoo, msn, etc. And last but not least, being professional extends beyond the resume. If you have a voice messaging system such as answering machine or voice mail on a cell phone, it is best to have a professional message instead of those immature, funny ones.

References: http://www.free-resume-tips.com/10tips.html; http://www.jobweb.com/resumesample.aspx?id=274; http://www.rockportinstitute.com/resumes.html