Career advice, interview advice, job search advice, cv advice, resume advice, cover letter advice
Want to create a resume in 3 minutes? Careerfriend recommends the Amazing Cover Letter Creator.
Click the link to find out more

Winning Resume Writing Guide (page 1)



Be Complete
Make sure that your resume includes EVERYTHING your prospective employer would need to know to be able to offer you an interview.

It is NOT unheard of for your carefully-crafted cover letter to be separated from your resume - if your contact details were only on your cover letter, how will they get in touch to arrange the interview?

Therefore, make sure that your resume includes AT LEAST the following information:
  • Full contact details
  • The position you are applying for or are interested in
  • Employment history
  • Personal and professional achievements
  • Academic and professional qualifications
  • If not included elsewhere, evidence of your key strengths that will make you an irresistible candidate!
And while we're at it, functional resumes are a big NO-NO!! As a professional recruiter, when I see a functional resume, I think "What is this guy (or gal) hiding?". It's like smelling fresh paint on an old car. Just stick with a chronological resume ALL THE TIME and paint any inconsistencies (e.g., career breaks) in as good a light as possible. This will ALWAYS be better than trying to hide it in the first place!
Be Relevant
Seasoned recruiters are AMAZED by the number of applicants who have clearly not tailored their resume to the job they are applying for.

Make sure that you put yourself in THEIR shoes. Think about what they are looking for in your resume.

If, for instance, you are applying as a job as an office manager and your experience is in telesales, make sure that you emphasise your team leadership and time management skills.

If, however, you were applying for a sales job, then clearly focus on your ability to get leads, convert leads into sales, and sell more products to existing customers.

In short, every time you mention something you've accomplished in your resume, make sure it will strengthen your case for being given an interview.

If it doesn't, CHANGE it or DELETE it!!


Next page
Jonathan Lewis, MA (Cantab)

Jonathan Lewis has extensive experience of selecting, recruiting and retaining exceptional personnel in a variety of professional roles. To learn from his experience, visit Careerfriend at http://www.careerfriend.com now.