EFFECTIVE PROFESSIONAL RESUME

WRITING

WRITING AN EFFECTIVE RESUME

Create a stunning resume that showcases your

Skills

Creativity

Risk-taking ability and

Qualifications

FOR A SUCCESSFUL RESUME

Focuses on skills. Use action words to define the

responsibilities of your job-related experiences

Easy to read and understand

Visually powerful and free of gimmicks

One page, or at most 2 pages long

Formal Style

Spelling Check

Keep the design simple

No grammar errors

A professional looking

Margins at sides and bottom

Layout makes reading easy

Use of white space is effective

Must always be truthful

Produced on a computer

COVER LETTER CONTENTS

Research the company. Address the letter to a specific person

Name, title, company, address, city, state, and zip of person you’re writing to

Mention the person who referred you if appropriate

Your address, city, state, zip, telephone number and date

Concise overview of work history and skills that will help you perform the job

SOME ALTERNATIVES FOR TRADITIONAL

Employers will take no time in discarding your paper resume that typically lists your work history and educational qualifications in chronological order. You have got to think out-of-the-box if you want to make a great first impression.

Video Resumes

Online portfolio

Brochure Resumes

Audio Resume

Social Networking

Genre Breaking Resumes

Business Card QR Code Links

Video Resumes

It helps you to enhance your online presence and it also makes you a candidate who is willing to experiment and take risks. The best part about presenting a video resume to an employer is that they get to know you even before the actual interview. Your communication skills are judged and if you are a natural in front of the camera then your resume will leave a greater impact.

Online Portfolio

You do not need to be a writer or a photographer to have an online portfolio. Even if you have worked on important projects at office, you can create a portfolio of them. You can make use of websites such as Posterous, Tumblr, or Wordpress to set up your own online portfolio.

Brochure Resume

Any resume is a great marketing tool. Brochure resumes

allow you to input your details and credentials while

adhering to the format of a brochure listing. You can even

insert photos and stylize the format to suit your needs.

Creating a brochure resume requires time and effort.

Audio Resume

Through an audio resume, you can talk about hobbies,

interests, experiences, or contributions to companies, thus

supplementing your paper resume.

Social Networking

Interaction with potential employers and other people is a great way to talk about your skills and experiences. Many employers are looking for portfolios that demonstrate true talent rather than a mere listing of your qualifications in a resume.

Genre Breaking Resumes

Genre breaking resumes help you to stand out, far above the rest of the crowd. Retain your professionalism but be different.

Business Card QR Code Links

Adding a QR code to your resume provides an instant connection for managers and HR personnel. All they have to do is scan the code with their smart phone and they will be directed to your homepage.

WHAT DO EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR IN A RESUME?

Resumes, these days, are often screened by databases,

employers, and hiring personnel. There are a few basic

things that employers look for on a resume, non-traditional

and traditional.

Does this candidate have the potential to solve specific

problems?

Employers look for problem-solving ability in job candidates.

So when writing resume, you have to demonstrate, clearly

and concisely, problems and challenges that you have

overcome by using your skills.

Before you mention any skills on your resume, it is

important for you to have done your research on the

company’s needs and expectations from their employees.

Is this candidate worth the investment?

YES! You are an investment for the company. Every

company wants their employees to build shareholder value

and contribute to the growth of the company. In your

resume, it is important that you highlight all experiences in

the past, where you have succeeded in building shareholder

value.

COMMON MISTAKES

Few mistakes you HAVE to avoid on a non-traditional resume:

Never included an unedited video on a video resume

Never use distracting backgrounds for video or photographs

Let others review your video before you upload it

Focus on content rather than length

Never include incorrect, false, or irrelevant information

about yourself

Technology and the internet have made it possible for you to

present your resume in a number of different ways. So think

OUT-of-the-BOX’ for your resume and make a good first

impression.

FOR THE BEST IMPRESSION

On-Time

Dress

Physical Contact

Eye Contact

Smile

Fidgeting