Focus on what your target customer/employer is looking for. Look at the job description or ad and circle the words they use to describe job responsibilities and experience. Make sure your resume shows that you have the identified skills, knowledge and experience and that language matches their job description or ad verbiage. Don’t just leave it to the cover letter or to the hiring manager to assume that, for example, your “extensive computer experience” means that you have used and are proficient with the software product they specifically list as a job requirement.
This means, you're likely to have multiple resumes. Each one tailored to the job you're after. I recommend maintaining 3 versions, depending on the industry/target company. Then you're ready to update, as necessary, for each individual company or organization.
Tell your story with numbers – Employers want to know the scope of the work you’re experienced at and results you’ve achieved. If they need someone to supervise employees, don’t just say you supervised employees. Tell them how long, how many, what caliber, (line level, professional, management) and the scope of dollars or results you or your team achieved.
Avoiding the circular file – Don’t let a recruiter dismiss your resume because of bad grammar, misspellings or disorganized information. Always ask a trusted friend or colleague to proof read your resume.
There are often excellent, free or inexpensive resume writing resources at colleges and unemployment offices as well as great tips on monster.com and other national career websites*. Most of the big outplacements firms are backing off of “retail” (individual paid) career advising. Look for mentors, career and business consultants (like Polish Your Star) and recruiters to help you fine tune your resume.
* http://www.careerexplorer.net/resume_assistance.asp, http://resume.monster.com/
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/CareerBytes/Articles.aspx
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