Resume Writing

Students & Grads

Tips from the Pros

Mar

Graduate Resume Writing

Resume Writing Skills for Entry Level Candidates

As a current student, recent graduate or entry level job candidate, entering the job market for the very first time, you are probably also getting ready to write your very first professional resume. As you sit at your desk with an empty looking document staring straight at you, I bet you’re thinking the same thing that millions of other entry level job seekers have all thought at some time. “Where do I start and what do I do first?”

The first thing to understand as a new job seeker is that your resume is a representation of you. If you want to be considered as a professional job candidate, then your resume needs to be presented, structured and submitted in a professional way. First impressions are so important and in a world where a hiring manager can often receive in excess of 500 – 1000 applications for a graduate position. If your resume does not immediately stand out, it will be deleted.

What should I include in my professional resume?

The key to writing an expert resume that will get noticed is to focus on targeting your application to the job that you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a teacher role than you need to present as much information to the reader that will make you the best possible candidate for the teaching position. This information needs to be highlighted on your CV and backed up with quantitative evidence (where possible).

The best way to shine above your competition is highlighting your achievements as opposed to just including your general work duties and responsibilities. This is a great way to stand out from the pack and provide the reader with all the great value added skills that you have to offer. For example, if at school or college you were involved in extracurricular activities, don’t just mention these activities but highlight how you managed to add value.

I recently sat down with a marketing graduate who worked on campus in arranging, co-ordinating and organising university events. On her original resume she had five bullet points explaining what she did in her role (basic duties). There was nothing wrong with what she had written, however her resume was never going to stand out against all the other marketing graduates she was competing against. In order to upgrade the resume and turn her original resume into a marketing document, we turned the duties and responsibilities into achievement statements. Rather than saying “Developed the newsletter” which tells the reader nothing, we converted this statement into an achievement statement with quantifiable evidence. “Developed the newsletter throughout the entire campus leading to an increase in subscription from 1000 to 5000 people within a 6 month period.”

Target the Job you are applying for

The “one size fits all” strategy does not work for a professional resume and it is not realistic to think that you can send the same document out for every job you apply for. Your resume needs to be tailored towards the specific job and answer the questions that the role is identifying. Do not waste the reader’s time with including information that is not relevant or required in your resume. It will only reduce the professionalism of your resume. Rather than including a section on your hobbies and interests (which is outdated and not required in this day and age) include a “Key Competencies and Skills” section to further highlight to the reader all the great skills that you have to offer.

Final Thought …

Remember the more value added information you can provide the better your new resume will be – As a hiring manager, I would rather know about your teamwork and communication skills, as opposed to knowing that you like long walks and enjoy watching the football!

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.bestresponseresume.com

The #1 student and graduate Professional Resume Service

Tags: body language, body language. positive body language, graduate cv, graduate resume, graduate resume sample, key achievements, professional resume writer, Professional writers, resume example, resume length, resume sample, resume structure, resume writing

Mar

RedStarResume New Online BookStore

By RedStarResume No comments yet

With the help of Career Experts, Professional Resume Writers, Hiring Managers and Specialist Job Interviewers, RedStarResume are proud to present three brand new EBooks that have been written to provide you with tips, advice, knowledge and all the little industry secrets that will help you succeed in your career. Job Seeking has completely changed over the past 10 years and finding that perfect job has become harder and harder. On average hiring managers can now receive upwards of 500 – 1000 applications for every job! In order to succeed, your entire job application needs to be 100% spot on. From writing the perfect resume, to answering those hard interview questions – every element of the job search needs to be outstanding!

Interview Secrets Exposed, Resume Secrets Exposed and Career Secrets Exposed are a three part trilogy designed to give you an edge and help you stand out over your competition.

Buy each book separately or buy the books as a package. The choice is yours (Save over 30% when you purchase the Books as a package! )

Click Here and Purchase the Package for only $19.95

Mar

Essential Criteria To Include In Your Resume

By RedStarResume No comments yet

When it comes time to write your resume, you will find that a lot of people will offer differing advice on what to include and exclude from your resume. Sure, a lot of these thoughts are subjective, but there are 5 vital things that need to be on your resume – no matter what. Hiring managers will be looking for the below information (whether it seems obvious or not), so be sure to include these somewhere in your resume.

Contact Information:

While this may seem more than obvious, it goes without saying that it is beyond important that your name and contact details be included in your resume – and make sure these details are correct! I can’t tell you how many times I have tried calling a candidate, only to find that their number listed on their resume is incorrect. It is also quite common for people to have typos in their email addresses. The important thing here is to double check – you don’t want to miss out on an interview simply because a hiring manager can’t contact you!

Professional Experience (if any):

Potential employers are looking for the best candidate to fill a job position, and your professional experience can give them an insight into your capabilities. Remember – they do not know you! The only information they have to go off is on your resume, so make sure you are detailed in listing your experience, duties and responsibilities.

Achievements:

When you include your professional experience on your resume, do not just merely list your daily tasks. Sure, employers do want to know that you’ve held similar or relevant positions, but they also want to know that you are capable of making a positive difference to the organization. Did you introduce new initiatives into the business that increased revenues? Did you consistently meet your targets? Be sure to include this type of information as it is exactly what they’re looking for.

Educational Qualifications:

Educational qualifications are not always compulsory to some job positions, but listing them will never hurt you. If you don’t have a Degree, this is a section where you can list any other relevant certificates you have earned.

Relevant Skills:

Every job advertisement calls for certain qualifications or skills from a candidate, and it’s always a good idea to incorporate these somewhere on your resume. Relevant skills are either incorporated into the body of the resume (for example, skills can be listed as part of a candidate’s professional experience), or they can be listed as their own section either right before or after professional experience on a resume.

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that all resumes are different, and you need to write one that sells you. That being said, however, there are still things that hiring managers must see on a resume, so remember to include your own version of our top 5 suggestions.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.bestresponseresume.com

RedStarResume is the number one source for expert Resume Writing and Cover Letter Services

During the last decade, RedStarResume has successfully written hundreds of professional resumes for candidates across the globe. From the student or entry level position to the CEO, our unique, custom-made resumes are written specifically to match the goals and desires of our clients and to help them land jobs.

Tags: cv sample, grad resume, graduate resume, resume, resume company, resume format, resume presentation, resume sample, resume secret, resume tips, resume writing, student resume

Dec

The Aim of the Resume

By RedStarResume No comments yet

Before we seek to find out the real aim of the resume, we need to define exactly what the resume is. As per Wikipedia, a resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skillsets. Resumes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment. This basic definition is true to an extent as the resume is typically used to find a new job. However is preparing the resume as simple as presenting “their background and skillsets”? Is this enough to stand out from potentially hundreds of job seekers and get THE job?

There are so many aspects that make up a good resume and while a job seeker does need to present their background and skills, there are many other aspects that make up the perfect resume.

As a professional resume writer, I have broken down the three most important elements of preparing a professional resume. No matter if you’re an entry level job seeker or a high flying executive, the same rules apply.

Target the Reader:

It does not matter how much you like your resume. The most important thing is the reader likes your resume. After all, the reader is the only person that you need to impress. Knowing your audience is imperative when writing your resume. If you are applying for a corporate role your resume needs to give off a corporate feel. Fancy fonts and colours should be changed to bullet points and headings. Alternatively a graphic designer resume can be more creative with their resume as the target audience is a creative audience. Before you apply for any job you need to take a step back and imagine that you are the hiring manager and ask yourself the question “Is this resume targeted towards the role that I am applying for?”

Presenting a Professional Image:

First impressions are everything when it comes to hiring. Think about this. Imagine that you are sitting at home and your brother or sister tells you that they are coming over to introduce you to one of their friends who you have never met before. As the doorbell rings, you open the door to meet this new person for the very first time. Now imagine that when you open the door the person is standing there with a big spaghetti stain right in the middle of his shirt. Before you even shake the persons hand or introduce yourself you have already created a first impression of this person. The same goes for your resume. If a hiring manager opens your resume and sees a “spaghetti stain” right in the middle of your resume they will have created a first impression before reading a single word. In the world of job seeking, creating a professional image and positive first impression is the first hurdle you need to pass on your way to a new job.

Highlighting Achievements and the Value Added Skills:

There is a huge difference between an average resume, a good resume and a great resume. Typically, what makes a great resume is being able to identify your key achievements and the value added skills (tangible and intangible) that you can bring to your next job. Where most people fail with their resume writing is that they concentrate too much on their daily duties and responsibilities (For example “I did this on a daily basis”) as opposed to creating more achievement statements which focus on how you have added value to the organisation. Providing examples to back your statements up will give you an automatic edge over your competitors.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.bestresponseresume.com

The #1 Professional Resume Service

Tags: expert resume writer, first impression, professional resume service, professional resume writer, resume, resume sample, resume writer, resume writing, resume writing service

Aug

Resume Writing Tips to Succeed in a Tight Job Market

By RedStarResume No comments yet

It’s an undisputed fact – today’s job market is tighter than ever before. During this period of economic strife and instability, competition for the best jobs is extremely stiff. Job stability seems practically non-existent. Turnover rates are at an all-time high, given the number of layoffs and agency closings. Millions of individuals are unemployed and clamoring for employment regardless of skill level. Whether you are a doctor, a chef, an engineer, a secretary, housekeeper or even a resume writer, individuals from all walks of life struggle to retain their current positions since the economic future is not promised.

But what route should you take if you yearn for a better opportunity or are even without a job right now? How can you ensure that your name is at least known to companies looking to fill positions? One way is to hire a resume writing expert to help ensure that your resume / CV goes to the top of the pile.

Let’s look at it in a simple way. If you want to build a new house, you can go online, research how to build a new house and go out and buy the materials to begin building your dream house. However, as building anything is probably not your expertise and you want the house built properly the first time, it makes sense to call in a professional builder who has all the expertise and experience in building homes. The same is true of the resume writer. You can easily pick up a pen and paper and write a resume, however a resume writer can do it a lot more effectively and professionally because they have the experience, knowledge and skills in the art of resume writing.

The first stage of building your professional resume includes starting off with supplying the information that you wish to have printed on your document. This includes the obvious, such as your basic information (name, address, phone number, city, state and zip code). You should also be prepared to have a chronological listing of your past and current employment (if applicable).

It is important to have an idea beforehand of how you’d like to word your list so that your job duties don’t sound mundane or discredit your actual tasks. Never simply state that you were just a “cook” if in reality, you were a culinary arts service person!

Make sure your resume includes targeted keywords that leave no doubt that your past employment was productive. Stay clear of the ordinary, eliminating redundant phrases such as “typed letters”, “filed documents” or “bussed tables”. Yawn!

Most importantly, you need to use achievements throughout your resume to highlight your skills. You need to turn your basic duties into “accomplishment statements” and, if possible, use quantifiable results to the duties you have performed. A successful resume will highlight achievements rather than focus on responsibilities.

Job seeking is a cut throat business and in order to succeed your resume needs to be 100% right, and it needs to be presented and formatted professionally and correctly. When you apply for a particular job you only have one chance to succeed. Make sure that you give yourself every opportunity to get that new job!

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Expert Resume Writers: #1 for resume writing and Cover Letter Services

Tags: best resume, cover letter, cover letter service, cv writing, expert resume, free resume, professional cv, professional resume, professional resume writer, resume, resume sample, resume service, resume template, resume writer, resume writing, resume writing service, resume writing services, resume writing tips

May

What is the most important aspect of Professional Resume Writing?

By RedStarResume No comments yet

One of the biggest mistakes which candidates make with their resume writing or CV writing is preparing the document from their point of view. I recently sat down with a young lady who had graduated university top of her class and was seeking a role with one of the large law firms. She had written her professional resume and cover letter and was now ready to begin the application process. The resume was perfectly formatted and presented. As a graduate with no prior work experience she focused her professional resume on her academic achievements and also the extra curricular activities and community work she had been involved with over the years. From a readers perspective I was able to gain a very good first impression or insight into this candidate. Everything was perfect besides one major element. At the top of her resume was her name which she had bolded to make it stand out but had also changed the font colour to pink!

Does a Professional Resume have pink colour?

I couldn’t believe my eyes that she had decided to use a pink font on her resume. When I asked her why she had done this she said that she liked the colour and it also made her name stand out.

The most important aspect of writing a professional resume is targeting it towards the person who will be reading the resume. In this situation the hiring manager may be a partner in a law firm. Imagine how seriously a partner will take a resume application which has a potential candidates name in pink.

Another mistake many candidates make is trying to make their resume stand out from their competition by using fancy fonts or borders. A well formatted and presented resume and most importantly targeted resume, will stand out because of its professionalism. A hiring manager can easily identify the difference between a “fraud” resume with “bells and whistles” and a “legitimate” resume.

Ensuring that your resume stands out from the crowd is not about making the document a piece of art. How many times have you seen a resume being framed and hung up on the wall? The aim of the resume is to portray to the reader the value you can offer the business or organisation.

Remember that your resume is the first impression a hiring manager will make. Make sure that your first impression portrays the right professional image.

Check out Interview Secrets Exposed

The Brand new EBook from RedStarResume “Interview Secrets Exposed” is an insider’s guide on everything you need to know in order to nail your job interview.

Follow our steps and make sure that you are well prepared to answer every possible interview question when the opportunity presents itself. This E-book is a compilation of many months of research and discussions with hiring managers and career experts in recruitment, career counselling and interviews.

The purchase of this E-book is your first step in ensuring that you get the job! Interviewing is all about research, confidence and creating a good rapport. The hiring manager needs to know that you are capable of performing the tasks of the job and also that you will be a good addition to the team.

Tags: cover letter, cv tips, cv writer, free resume, hiring manager, how to write a resume, professional cv, professional resume, professional resume writer, resume, resume example, resume examples, resume sample, resume tips, resume writing

Mar

Best Resume Tips – Guaranteed To Help You Get Hired!

By RedStarResume 1 comment

Secret Resume Tip from the vault

When a hiring manager first opens your resume the first place their eyes will take them is directly into the middle of your resume. I like to call this area “Prime Real Estate”

As such it is important that your greatest strengths, skills and achievements are highlighted in this prime piece of real estate.

What I like to do is create a KEY ACHIEVMENTS category

All you need to do is jot down your top achievements that best describe you. No matter what stage of your career you are at, listing your achievements will add value to your resume and help you stand out from your competition.

Tags: best resume, cv tips, expert resume, free cv, free resume, interview, interview success, job search, professional resume, real estate, resume sample, resume secrets, resume tip, sample cv, sample resume, student resume