Want a job? Your resume better shine!
A recent survey by CareerBuilder.com found that 27 percent of human resource managers receive more than 50 resumes for each open position. With such stiff competition, your resume needs to be flawless, persuasive and customized to a particular position in order to stand out in the crowd.
The perfect resume
Here are the top resume essentials that HR managers said they take into account:
Keywords matter
HR managers search for certain words when screening resumes. Here are some top-searched keywords:
Top resume mistakes
Here’s a list of resume errors that makes HR managers cringe (and then toss your application in the trash):
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As a national expert in workplace issues, the HR tips are good but they don't tell the real story. You can have the best resume, that includes great experience and accomplishments and all the keywords but the major component is whether you're able to pass the company's background and drug tests. They check to see if you are fiscally responsible, any bad debt, and if you have a criminal history.
I received my B.A. through an online degree program. I feel I worked very hard to obtain my degree and it should be included on my resume, but I'm not sure how acceptable this method of learning is with employers. Should this degree be included on my resume?
To "help" on this major issue, you who write these articles are not really encompassing the whole spectrum of workers. I am a clerk (mail-financial-office-copy) just to name a few of my talents. But filling in the gaps that have recently happened need a better approach. No one will believe I was a consulting specialist. I don't think using additional funds to survive can take the extra hit for voluteering as I live from month to month right now and have to make the best out of it. You seem to cater to those white collar upper executive types, and then always, always leave a link to some type of paid service. You know, times are bad. It would be nice if your genuinely sincere and please, just for once, cater to our section of the workforce. I don't lie on a resume. It's too risky, and keep it on 1 page. But the gaps are widening now with the last temp job was help in November. I am growing very concerned. Because I see no real solution. But if there is, I'd like to know where to find it, because I need some idea of what will get me in, then I can prove my worth. I have excellent references, but the gap is killing me I think.
Steve
Also, important to mention is that you should think of the top half of the first page of your resume as your advertising section. This is the area where you will want to point out specific accomplishments and highlight your special skills. Remember - if you don't catch the reviewers interest right up front (first page) they will never get to your second page. Use the bottom half of the first page and the second page to list professional experience, etc.
And one other thing, if you use a professional objective make sure that it focuses on what you can do for the employer and 'not' what you want from the employer.
Good Luck!
Robin Ogden
http://firedupcareers.com
http://careeradvicetalk.com
After 9/11 - Jobs I sent my resume to said they received a stack of 150+ - and they called me out of all of them - luck? or a good resume?
