|
7
Steps to a Winning Resume
You
only get one chance to make a first impression.
During
a job search, your resume is the most critical tool for
gaining initial access to a prospective employer, so it
must stand out from the competition. This doesn’t
mean, however, that you need to rush out to buy neon-colored
paper or hire a graphic designer to add flourishes to your
document. What hiring managers are looking for is a resume
that effectively presents qualifications and contains no
noticeable problems, such as grammatical errors. Here are
seven specific strategies that can help you create a professional-looking
resume.
Target
the content. Take the time to tailor your resume to each
company by highlighting your relevant
skills and experience.
For instance, a company that is recruiting a network security
manager will be more interested in your knowledge of intrusion
detection techniques than your technical support skills.
Many organizations are electronically scanning resumes and
searching for keywords in the documents, so be sure to include
phrases used in the job posting and list specific technologies,
such as operating environments and hardware. This will increase
the number of hits your resume generates during this type
of evaluation and improve your chances of being selected
for an interview. Just be sure that the customized versions
of your resume provide an honest assessment of your background.
Include
a summary statement. To capture the reader’s attention
immediately, begin your resume with a very brief paragraph
highlighting your qualifications. An example might read:
“Dedicated, team-oriented IT professional with 10
years of experience in networking and technical support
management. Recipient of XYZ Company’s 2003 Employee
Star Performer Award for providing exceptional service within
the organization. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
who has led numerous project teams that completed initiatives
on time and under budget.”
Show
your success. Rather than just giving employers a “laundry
list” of IT skills when discussing your work history,
highlight quantifiable ways in which you enhanced productivity,
increased efficiency or reduced costs. Which person would
you invite for an interview? Someone who “implemented
new software” or an individual who “recommended
a software application that reduced the amount of time required
to address technical problems by 40 percent”? The
key here is explaining how your work benefited previous
employers so hiring managers can get a sense of how you
might add value to their organizations.
It’s
not a biography. Leave out personal information, such as
that about your family and social interests, and focus on
what matters most to those reading your resume: your professional
background. Provide more details about your latest work
experience than jobs held early in your career, and—unless
you’re applying for an executive-level position—limit
your resume to two pages maximum.
Format
for accessibility. When applying for a position electronically,
paste an ASCII version of your resume into the body of an
e-mail to ensure recipients can read your material on any
computer system. Busy hiring managers may not bother to
contact you if they can’t open a file you’ve
attached. This means avoiding bullets, underlines, bold
or italics, and using a Web-friendly font such as Arial.
Proofread.
You may be the most qualified candidate for a job, but if
your resume is full of typos and grammatical mistakes, it
is likely to end up in the circular file. Technology professionals
are expected to pay attention to detail, so just one error
can take you out of contention. Always re-read your resume
and ask friends and family members to do the same. Visit
www.resumania.com for examples of common (and funny) proofreading
mistakes you should avoid.
Include
a cover letter. This can be an important tool for capturing
a hiring manager’s interest. While you don’t
want to rehash your resume, you should point out specific
skills and experiences that relate directly to the job opening
and express a sincere interest in the opportunity. Keep
e-mail cover letters to two or three paragraphs, but maintain
a professional tone, using salutations such as Mr. or Ms.
and citing your full name, telephone number and mailing
address.
An excellent
resume can mean the difference between ending up in a company’s
“yes” or “no” stack during the initial
screening process. Take the writing process seriously, focus
on what matters most to different employers, proofread carefully
and attach a cover letter. You’ll be more likely to
make the right impression and gain access to the all-important
interview.
Katherine
Spencer Lee is executive director of Robert Half Technology,
a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and
full-time basis, which offers online job search services
at www.rht.com. She can be reached at klee@certmag.com.
|
