Q. I know you say accomplishments are important in resumes but what if I do not have any? I go to work every day (I am a secretary) to answer phones, type reports, do research, organize files, answer questions for employees, talk to vendors and customers, and make travel arrangements. Every secretary in the world does that. I like my job and would not be looking for a new one except that my boss, the company owner, is retiring and… Read More
Resume Q&A: What Are Employers Looking For?
Q. Everyone tells me that my resume has to stress accomplishments—but what about skills? What about education and years of experience? Doesn’t anyone value those anymore? A. Skills, education, and experience are still highly valued. For example, no one would hire a CPA, lawyer, or software engineer without the proper skills, education, licenses, and certificates. But your resume will be competing against dozens of applicants with the same credentials and often with the same length of experience. The only way… Read More
Is Everything on Your Resume Worth Mentioning?
Job seekers often worry that they are including information on their resume that is not worth mentioning. For example: Everyone in Beth’s retail store gets to be “Employee of the Month” at some point—should she mention that honor on her resume? Ralph is fluent in French but has never used that skill on the job—should he mention it on his resume? Frank took time off to help a very ill sibling but volunteered at a local community center during that… Read More
Talking Turkey on Your Resume
If you truly want your resume to talk turkey, you need to give examples and results. You need to prove the claims you are making. Would you ever expect a job applicant to admit that they are not “a team player and able to work independently” and they are not “a great communicator” or “a subject matter expert”? Those phrases are more or less true for everyone—and any job applicant can make the same claims. Your goal in your resume… Read More
Resumes for Career Changers
When you are ready to change careers, to a new field, a new position in your existing field, or a new industry, make sure your resume is ready for the change. By thinking ahead, you will be prepared to create a resume that is attractive to hiring managers and recruiters in your new career. First, find out if you will be a more attractive candidate with certifications or classes in your new career. Someone moving from hands-on product development to project… Read More
