Expert Tips on Resume Writing

I love this time of year because we get to spend more time with friends and family. I also love that it gives you a chance to reflect on the year before and plan for the New Year. For some a new job might be on their list of resolutions and the first step is creating an awesome resume.

Resume writing is a craft itself that appears to be ever evolving. When we graduated from college our resume was all about what we accomplished in school and it had to be confined to one page. But as we got older and gained more experience it became next to impossible to cram all of your “work experience” onto a one page resume.

It is now common to see two page resumes. But what do you include and exclude? Should you include every job you've ever had? What if you want to change careers? What if you haven’t worked in 10 years?

While everyone’s resume and situation is different, we searched the web and asked several experts to share the biggest no-no’s in resume writing.

“Always make sure that your resume is accomplishments and results-driven so you can measurably demonstrate a record of career achievements.” --Gigi Bozzano from www.careerwalk.com

“How you deliver the resume is important. I've had students push resumes at me at career fairs and then slink away without saying much - they're missing an opportunity to interact with me and build a rapport, and I give those resumes no consideration. Similarly, when people mail, fax, or email resumes without an introduction or a cover letter, I give them less weight. Talk to me first, visit my Website, or at least read my job posting, and draft a cover letter that explains why you're the perfect candidate for the opening.” -- Brian Plum @ www.MaverickSolutions.biz

“Think of your resume as a trailer for a movie. In the trailer you see the best laughs, the most dramatic moments, and the award-winning actors. In the resume you include the best accomplishments, the most significant achievements and any awards or significant statistics. If the audience likes the trailer they go to the movie. If the employer likes the resume you go to the interview.”
-- David Cooper @ WWW.DavidCouperCoach.COM

“Leave "you" out of the resume entirely. Make it a business plan that shows the employer how you'll do the job profitably.”
--Nick Corcodilos @ www.asktheheadhunter.com

“Reflect that you know what the employer is looking for, and that you have the skills to provide it. ”
-- Sandra Lamb @ www.sandralamb.com

“The vast majority of resumes read like a series of job descriptions, listing duties and responsibilities at each position the job applicant has held. But resumes that stand out do something very different. For each position, they answer the question: What did you accomplish in this job that someone else wouldn't have?”
-- Alison Green @ www.askamanager.org

In today’s economy competition is fierce so you really need a resume that will stand out from the crowd. Remember that sending your resume out isn’t enough, find ways to connect to the decision makers.

Do you have a great resume tip? We would love to hear about it. Plus, check out expert tips from my interview with Haley Johnson star of Lifetime's new unscripted series "The Fairy Jobmother."