HOW TO WRITE A BETTER RESUME

Written by Ann Baehr


Continued from page 1

WORK HISTORY

Wireless, Inc., Bay Shore, NY 1998 - Present Sales Representative

Anderson Doors, East Islip, NY 1993 - 1998 Business Development Manager

INTRODUCTION HEADINGS PROFILE STATEMENTS KEYWORDS TITLE HEADINGS SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Use any one or a combination of these headings to communicaterepparttar type of position you are applying for, andrepparttar 105060 value you will bring torepparttar 105061 hiring company at a glance. Remember, a reader spends a brief moment on each resume. Your resume must grab their attention, and hold it!

SAMPLE PROFILE STATEMENT

Accomplished sales professional known for delivering strong revenue and profit gains in highly competitive markets, seeking a Regional Sales Manager position. Bring 15 years of solid experience and select strengths that encompasses sales territory management and key account development. Equally effective at relationship building, program development, and team leadership. Notice thatrepparttar 105062 actual title "Objective" was omitted, yet mentioned! If you prefer to userepparttar 105063 actual "Objective" title, do not userepparttar 105064 outdated colon afterrepparttar 105065 category.

SAMPLE PROFILE STATEMENT/KEYWORDS

Accomplished sales professional known for delivering strong profit gains in highly competitive markets, seeking a Regional Sales Manager position. Strengths encompass:

Capital Sales & Marketing Team Building/Leadership Key Account Development Client/Vendor Relations Financial Analysis & Reporting Program Development

SAMPLE TITLE HEADING/PROFILE STATEMENT

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER

Known for delivering strong and sustainable revenue and profit gains in highly competitive markets. Bring 15 years of solid experience and select strengths that encompasses sales territory management, key account development, staff training, team leadership, presentations, and closings. (Bold, italicize, or underlinerepparttar 105066 Title Heading so it stands out.)

SAMPLE SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Accomplished sales professional known for delivering strong and sustainable revenue and profit gains in highly competitive markets. Seeking a Regional Sales Manager position with a leading pharmaceutical company. Select strengths encompass: · 15 years of cross-industry experience and accomplishments with leading start-up and high-growth bio-medical companies. · Strategically build and maintain profitable business relationships. · Strong communicator and team leader with a pulse on ever-changing industry trends. · Effectively managerepparttar 105067 sales cycle process from client consultation to closing.

COMMON MISTAKES, DO'S & DON'TS

· Name and/or address is too small / too big (headings and name should be at least font size 14 to 16; address 11 or 12) · Font size for entire resume is too small / too big / all caps (not countingrepparttar 105068 headings, text should be no smaller than 11; no larger than 12) · Needs an Objective or Title Heading (make it clear torepparttar 105069 reader what position you are seeking. If you unsure, consider career counseling or purchase/rent a book on career choices) · Could use a Summary or Profile statement (show your career overview) · Objective is weak, cliché, unclear, or vague (State what you can do forrepparttar 105070 employer; not only what you want from them) · Resume does not support Objective (be sure to make a connection) · Lacks accomplishments / career achievements (sell it, don't tell it!) · Lacks industry-specific terminology / Keywords ("speak"repparttar 105071 reader's language) · Jobs are not inrepparttar 105072 proper order-see below for more on resume tips and formats · Sentences are too choppy-five words per bullet (expand; make it interesting) · Wording is weak; statements are too simple (use action verbs and a thesaurus) · Same information repeated too many times (use a functional/combination format) · Too many typos and grammatical errors (read it backwards; have a friend proof-read it!) · Unrelated jobs go back too far in years (keep it to 7-10 years in most cases) · Includes too much unrelated information (stay on track; keeprepparttar 105073 position in mind) · Does not include enough related information (show how well rounded you are) · Uses pronouns - "I, He, She, His, Her" (not necessary or is understood) · Style is outdated looking (headings are underlined and followed by colons ":",repparttar 105074 word "duties" is used, and uses "responsibilities:" as subheadings) · Second page is too short - only a third down or less (condense/combine) · Second page does not include your name (what ifrepparttar 105075 second page is misplaced?) · Too much or not enough white space (looks empty, inexperienced) · Usesrepparttar 105076 full address for employers (list onlyrepparttar 105077 town and state) · Uses full employment dates such as 12/11/01 (list onlyrepparttar 105078 month and year) · Lists reason for leaving or explains situation (if you must, save it forrepparttar 105079 letter) · Includes a Professional References Available Upon Request statement atrepparttar 105080 bottom ofrepparttar 105081 resume (not wrong, but not necessary. Remember, this is not an option. Ifrepparttar 105082 employer wants references, they will ask for them) · Includes a cover letter / salary information onrepparttar 105083 resume (use separate sheets) · Includes unrelated personal interests and hobbies such as "enjoy reading, long walks, music, travel, knitting, and puzzles" (include interests ONLY if it is related to your career Objective) · Includes personal information such as married, homeowner, two children (Leave off. It is unrelated torepparttar 105084 position, and risks possible discrimination)

Ann Baehr is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and President of Best Resumes of New York, a leading resume firm based on Long Island. She currently serves as Second Vice President ofrepparttar 105085 National Resume Writers' Association and is well regarded as a career expert specialized in resume and cover letter writing for cross-industry clients ranging from college graduates to senior executives. Her work has been published in over twenty resume and cover letter books by McGraw-Hill, Jist Publishers, and Adams Media. To learn more, visit Best Resumes online at www.e-bestresumes.com or email Ann Baehr directly at resumesbest@earthlink.net



Ann Baehr is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and President of Best Resumes of New York. She currently serves as Second Vice President of the National Resume Writers' Association. Her work has been published in over twenty resume and cover letter books by McGraw-Hill, Jist Publishers, and Adams Media. To learn more, visit Best Resumes online at www.e-bestresumes.com or email Ann Baehr directly at resumesbest@earthlink.net


CAN YOU AFFORD TO WRITE YOUR OWN RESUME?

Written by Ann Baehr


Continued from page 1
returning torepparttar workplace after raising your children and are concernedrepparttar 105058 gap will put you at a disadvantage. Maybe you are just starting out in your career and do not think you have enough to offer a company. Or, maybe you are ready for a career change and do not know how to create a presentation that will position you for a new field. If you have done your homework (which we believe you have since you are reading this article!), you know that a resume is often referred to as a "marketing tool." No different than a commercial advertisement, your resume needs to enticerepparttar 105059 reader to buyrepparttar 105060 product (you) by grabbing their attention, listingrepparttar 105061 product's benefits (your qualifications), and compelrepparttar 105062 reader to make a move - in this case, to invite you to an interview. As you know, time is money. The more time that passes after sending your resume out,repparttar 105063 more money you lose if it is not generating responses. If you cannot afford to be out of work for several months, you should makerepparttar 105064 decision to have your resume professionally prepared. Here is a quick quiz to help you put things into perspective: Client A: wanted to save money, so she prepared her own resume. She faxed and mailed her resume to over 50 companies over a period of six weeks, but nothing happened. While she kept her fingers crossed, she depleted half of her savings. She eventually landed an interview inrepparttar 105065 seventh week through someone she knew. Client B: understood that having her resume professionally developed was a good investment. Without one, she knew she could not launch her career inrepparttar 105066 right direction. She faxed and mailed her professionally prepared resume out to ten companies over a two-week period. Byrepparttar 105067 end of week two, she landed a great interview that resulted in a fabulous job. Quick Quiz: who came out financially ahead inrepparttar 105068 long run? If you answeredrepparttar 105069 job seeker that invested wisely in consulting with a professional resume writer, you are 100% correct! So, in summary,repparttar 105070 question is not whether or not you can afford to write your own resume. The question is whether or not you can afford not to have it done properly.

Ann Baehr is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and President of Best Resumes of New York. She currently serves as Second Vice President of the National Resume Writers' Association. Her work has been published in over twenty resume and cover letter books by McGraw-Hill, Jist Publishers, and Adams Media. To learn more, visit Best Resumes online at www.e-bestresumes.com or email Ann Baehr directly at resumesbest@earthlink.net


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