Resumes that Increase Interview Opportunities

Looking for a new job or wanting to change jobs? Here are some tips for preparing a resume that will get you noticed:

• Use a heading that includes your name (typed in bold and capitals), address, phone number (where you can be reached easily), and a professional-sounding email address.
• Limit the resume to one or two pages--employers do not have time to read through several pages no matter how much experience you have.
• Use a current style--check one of the many resume books or find a sample online.
• Add a summary of your skills and accomplishments in two or three sentences at the top of your resume in place of a job objective.
• List your work experiences chronologically backwards, highlighting accomplishments instead of just listing tasks. Limit work experience to the last ten years. Do not include irrelevant work experience.
• Make sure your achievements stand out--you don't want them to be overlooked.
• Show that you can deliver results and solve problems--demonstrate your skills through examples.
• Use numbers, dollars, and percentages where possible.
• Customize the resume to the specific ad you are answering or to the position you want.
• Make your resume internet friendly by eliminating bullets, underlines, and fancy fonts.
• Eliminate personal information such as health and marital status.
• Proofread carefully and then have someone else proofread for you.

Once you polish your resume, send it out to as many places as possible. It cannot do the job if it is not circulated.