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“Previously I found it difficult to get hiring managers to respond to my resume, and had a very limited network of contacts. John showed me how to transform my resume so that it got noticed. He coached me on how to look at it through prospective employers’ eyes, and I found I was not only prepared for this search, but had gained a new life skill!
After only 7 sessions with John, I had a job with my 1st choice of companies, doing exactly what I wanted to do, with an offer at the very top of their salary range - my starting income is at least 10% more than I expected!”
Patrick
"5 Keys To A Winning Resume"
From Career Tips, 2004 Volume 1, January 2004
1. Create a Clean, Professional Appearance2. Open With a Strong Summary of Qualifications
A brief, generic job objective is OK, but frankly, it doesn't add much to your resume. After all, everyone knows that your real objective is "I want a job!" What is really key is your opening statement of the skills, qualities and qualifications you bring to the table. A common error is to make this primarily a list of technical skills. Be sure to describe the business and leadership skills you offer.
3. Keep to the Right Length
Never, ever go beyond 2 pages - unless you want your resume to wind up in the circular file! At the other extreme, many people recommend limiting resumes to 1 page. I disagree. Don't arbitrarily limit your resume to 1 page, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE SOMETHING WORTH SAYING. And if you've been working 10 years or longer, a 1 page resume can be a red flag - it gives the impression that you haven't accomplished much in your career, since you don't have much to say about it.
4. Experience Bullets Should Be About What YOU Did
Phrases like "member of team that created..." convey little about YOUR contributions. Tell what specifically you did and accomplished as a member of that team. And be sure to use active words and tenses.
5. Don't Just Tell What You Did, Talk About Results
A potential employer doesn't just want to know what you accomplished, he or she wants to know that you are capable of producing results. (This is also a good way to show that you understand the implications of your work.) Particularly powerful are statements about improving profits, increasing revenues, saving expenses, and more efficient use of resources. And whenever possible, include numbers.