Miss Applesassy is sympathetic to the plight of so many who are forced to dust off their old resumes in these tough economic times. If you are a job seeker, take heart, and know that often when one opportunity ends, it is in fact a gift, and a chance at a new beginning. With that in mind here are a few resume writing tips to help you prepare for the journey:
1) When writing a resume, keep it to one page. If you need a second page for references or educational information, that’s fine, providing you are applying for a job that requires extensive specialities, and you have the background to require that extra ink, but for most of us, one page is the limit. And when Miss Apps says one page, she means one page in twelve point standard type with plenty of white space.
2) Take some time to reflect on your passions. If you could create your perfect future, what job would that include? This is so important. If you love animals, for instance, and love spending time at your local zoo, then work in this field would not seem like work at all for you. Remember the old saying that if you do what you love you will never work a day in your life. It’s true. And it makes you a better employee. If you love your work, you are going to show up everyday, on time, (or even early) ready and rearing to go. You will be a happy person, a pleasure to work with, and an insparation to those around you. You will be eager to learn new skills, and as a result will quickly earn promotions.
3) Think about all the possible job opportunities related to your passion. I could think of a million things related to animals. Feed stores, Zoos, Pet stores, Environmental groups, Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers, Animal related publishing companies, Veterinarian offices, Vet supply companies, University Husbandry Programs, State parks, etc. Then think of all the different jobs these organizations hire for. They need everything from grounds maintenance, to secretaries, to office workers, to animal care workers to public liaisons, to ticket takers, to bookkeepers, to administrators, computer experts, PR people, marketers and more. Where do you fit in? What skills do you have that they might need? What departments could you get in on that will put you in contact with mentors who will help you reach the next level on the road to your dream job? Answer these questions before writing your resume. Then use your resume to sell yourself to the people who need you in the job field you want.
4) When writing your resume, avoid overly used cliche words. Real Simple magazine has a list of “the six most highly abused phrases on resumes and profiles, according to research by LinkedIn, the professional networking site.”
The words they suggest you avoid are:
- “Proven track record”
- “Problem solver”
- Fast paced”
- “Due diligence”
- “Cutting edge”
- “Results-oriented”
In addition, while women tend to overuse “attention to detail”, men apparently do quite a lot of “disaster recovery.”
If you litter your resume with these cliches, you are wasting the valuable real estate space on your one page of self advertising. Make every word count. Tell the reader what you have done in the past. Give them a real example. Instead of hollow hyperbole about “having a proven track record as a results oriented problem solver” say “I took a $4000.00 budget and used it to create an advertising campaign that brought in $15,000 dollars worth of new business.”
That is something any employer would want to hear. That is something that adds value to their mission. And that is what is going to get you the job.
Good luck, and happy resume writing to you all. Miss Applesassy sincerely hopes you land the job of your dreams.
