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Many people would love to get a
better job. And most of these same people have the proper
training and skills to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, so
many job hunters have very poor communication skills. They
are unable to clearly tell potential employers about their
job qualifications. In short, they do not have good job
seeking skills. In many cases, this prevents them from
getting a high paying job that they could easily do. Often,
the job will go to someone who is less skilled but who has
written a eye-catching resume.
Often, job seekers have a few mistaken opinions about
potential employers. They believe that employers are able to
easily separate the qualified job applicants from the less
qualified applicants. But this is likely not true. Sometimes
there are from 30 to 300 resumes for the same job. So the
interviewer first does a fast screening of all the resumes to
eliminate as many as possible. The "good" resumes
usually make it through the screening process. Many times the
best job candidate is screened out due to a poor resume.
In today's business world there is often many qualified
applicants applying for the same job. What if, out of all of
those who apply, one job seeker turns in a skillful resume?
Who do you think stands the best chance of getting the job?
It's the one with the "best" resume, of course.
This is so often true even through some of the other
applicants may be better qualified for the job.
In order to get a good job you must communicate to the
employer that you are ready, willing, and able to do the job.
So if you are capable of producing a top notch job resume,
you definitely increase your chances of getting a better job.
Virtually every potential employer will want to see a
resume from you. The resume will determine who gets a job
interview. Your resume is a mini-statement about yourself.
After reading your resume the employer should have a better
"feel" for you as a person and as a potential
employer. It serves to get acquainted with the employer so
that they can decide if they want to know more about you.
The resume is the first step, your introduction to an
employer. First impressions really do count. If you make a
poor first impression, you'll never get to step two -- the
job interview.
To the purpose of your resume is to make a good first
impression. In effect, your resume should tell the employer
that you have good abilities and are truly interested in
working. This report will help you make that good first
impression. And it could very well help you to get the better
job you're looking for.
RESUME BASICS
All good resumes follow the same general basic
guidelines. While there is some flexibility in these
guidelines, you don't want to stray too far from them.
You want a resume that is bold, exciting, and enticing.
But not too much so. You also want a resume that is
somewhat conservative. In other words, it must be bold.
Not flashy. You must show that you have confidence in
your abilities, but not sound like a braggart. You must
sound eager to do the job, but not desperate. So there is
a fine line that you must walk in order to produce the
best possible resume.
You want to use intelligent language. However, you
don't want to try and impress the employer with long,
flowery, or uncommon words or phrases. Use everyday
language whenever possible. Of course, if you are
applying for a highly technical position, it's acceptable
to use some of the special terms used in that particular
profession. But as a rule you should keep it simple and
straight to the point.
The word resume comes from the French word
"resumer" which means to summarize. So the
exact purpose of a resume is to summarize your
experience, knowledge, and accomplishments. Therefore,
you must avoid being too wordy. Say exactly what you mean
in the least number of words possible.
The length of your resume is important. Resumes should
be from 1 to 3 pages long. Don't be tempted to make your
resume longer than 3 pages, even if you have a lot to
tell. Remember, a resume is supposed to be a summary. A
resume that is too long simply will bore the reader.
There will be so much material that nothing will stand
out and be remembered.
RESUME APPEARANCE
The overall appearance of your resume is also
important. A sloppy looking resume will greatly lessen
your chance of getting a job interview. The first thing
that an employer, or personnel manager, evaluating your
resume will notice is it's appearance. There are several
different things that can be easily done to increase the
overall appearance of your resume.
The first of these appearance factors is the paper
that your resume is printed on. There are many different
kinds of paper other than regular typing paper. You could
make an improvement by using a colored paper. I suggest a
subdued color like brown, off-white, or gray.
Next, you could use a better grade of paper. Go to a
local office supply store and examine the different types
of writing paper. You'll notice some big differences.
Pick out a nice looking, more expensive grade of paper
for your resume.
The next thing to consider is the quality of the
material that is typed onto the resume. Never use a low
quality typewriter to type your resume. If necessary,
rent a good quality typewriter. Then make certain that it
has a fresh ribbon in it. It's very important that you
make sure the writing on your resume looks good. This
means clean, crisp, and sharp looking letters.
Another good way to produce a top looking resume is by
having it typeset. If your resume was produced using a
computer and saved on a disk, you can hire a commercial
typesetter who can use this file. Or, you can locate
another computer user who owns a laser printer. Laser
printers can produce a good grade of typeset documents.
The other alternative is to find a local word processing
service that can typeset your resume for you.
You can use the typeset master copy of your resume to
make more copies. But be certain that you use a top notch
copying machine. Otherwise, you'll still end up with poor
looking resumes. Another alternative is to have the
typesetter produce as many original copies as you need to
ensure that they all look good.
A third aspect of your résumé's appearance is more
subjective. It takes into account such things as the
letter spacing, how each section is arranged, and it's
overall appearance. Some resumes simply look better
because of the way they have been designed. At the end of
this report, you'll see an example of a properly prepared
resume.
Never overcrowd the resume. Leave some "white
space" so that important points can appear to pop
out. Never submit a resume with handwritten corrections.
You can highlight sections of a resume by using a
different typeface or size or by using
"bullets." If possible, use larger letters for
the headings used in the separate sections of the resume.
Never try to be too fancy by using wild colors, cute
graphics, and so forth. Don't be overly creative. A
simple, straightforward, factual resume will do nicely.
Make it stand out, but stay conservative.
Another phase of your résumé's appearance is it's
accuracy. Make sure there are no misspelled words!
Mistakes will create the wrong image.
Make sure that the punctuation is correct. And make
sure that all of your columns line up. See that all of
your facts are correct. Don't say you attended 3 years of
college, but only show two years worth of grades.
Potential employers will note all inaccuracies and wonder
why they appear in your resume.
OPTIONAL DATA
There is a variety of personal data that may be
somewhat controversial if included in your resume. In the
past it was acceptable to include all kinds of personal
data, but times and laws have changed. Affirmative Action
laws have made it illegal to discriminate based on such
things as age, sex, marital status, race, religion, and
so forth. Therefore, most experts recommend against
placing this kind of personal data into your resume.
Your salary requirements should not be listed in the
resume, if you can avoid it. The reason is that if you
put too low of a salary, you might be paid less than the
real value of the job. If you put down a figure that's
too high, you may not get considered for the job. If an
employer likes you, it may be possible to negotiate a
higher salary during the interview stage.
Another thing that your resume doesn't need is your
photograph. Potential employers can decide if they are
interested in you after reading your resume. They can see
what you look like during the interview.
RESUME STYLES
There are several styles of resumes along with
numerous variations. Your experience and the kind of job
you are applying for will help to determine the style of
resume you use. The two basic styles are: Chronological
Resumes and Functional Skills Resumes. Some of the
variations include the main themes of business, academic,
general, student, standard, professional, or engineering.
A Chronological Resume lists work experience in
reverse chronological order (the most recent experience
first). It includes some descriptive text about each
position, usually described in about one paragraph.
This type of resume offers several advantages: it is
widely accepted, they are easy to read, and they show a
clear pattern of your development. The disadvantages
include: it does not highlight your major
accomplishment(s), nor do they effectively show your
other skills.
Functional Skills Resumes highlight your skills and
accomplishments rather than providing a chronological
record of your job history. Your accomplishments and
skills are listed at the beginning. Your job history is
listed at the end of the resume.
This type of resume allows you to call attention to
your achievements. The major disadvantage is that
employers may find it difficult to follow your work
experience.
Many people discover that a combination of these two
kinds of resumes is the best way to go. You may want to
try several different types of combinations before
settling upon a final design.
WRITING YOUR RESUME
Some specific topics that your resume should cover
are:
(1) Job Objective -- lets the employer know that
you are interested in a specific type of work. This
can be done in 2 or 3 sentences.
Example: work in an analytical chemistry
laboratory that focuses on environmental samples.
Oversee and coordinate the activities of other lab
technicians.
(2) Summary of Qualifications -- is a short
paragraph that summarizes your experience and skills.
Example: I have 8 years experience working on all
phases of analytical chemistry for metals. Used ANSI
and ISO methods . Including work with a wide variety
of instruments and computers. Was second-in-command
of a lab with 8 technicians.
(3) Professional Skills -- is the section where
you give specific details about your qualifications.
Example:
INSTRUMENTS OPERATED
A. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
B. Microwave Digestion System
C. Polarograph
D. Laser Fluorimeter
E. IBM Computers
ADMINISTRATION
A. Supervised 8 technicians when the
Department head was absent.
ANALYSIS
A. Waste oils for metals
B. Water and soil
(4) Work Experience -- in this section you give a
one paragraph summary for each of your previous jobs.
This should include starting and ending date, reason
for leaving, job title and duties, and any special
accomplishments for each of the jobs.
(5) Education -- gives a summary of all schools
attended, degrees earned, and special seminars or
training courses that you have attended.
(6) Honors and Awards -- it's a good idea to list
any special awards you have received.
(7) Personal -- information about your hobbies and
activities should be included.
(8) Others -- professional organizations that you
belong to, computer or programming skills, articles
or books published.
(9) References -- you can state something like,
"references available upon request," or
list at least 3 on your resume.
It's important to include all of the basic information
on your resume. But, what is also important, is the way
you say it. Don't use dull, lifeless statements. Instead
use action words. Here are some typical action words:
Accelerated, achieved, advised, approved, assisted,
built, calculated, completed, conceived, controlled,
coordinated, created, decreased, defined, designed,
developed, directed, earned, edited, engineered,
evaluated, found, generated, implemented, improved,
invented, managed, operated, organized, planned, proved,
revised, scheduled, tested, trained, verified, wrote.
These words give the correct impression that you have
been responsible for do different kinds of jobs tasks. In
other words, you weren't just a follower. Of course, you
should always be truthful. Don't try to oversell yourself
by claiming you did things that you didn't do.
As you can see, a resume is really a very simple
document. It is not that difficult to produce a good
resume, if you follow the simple steps outlined in this
report. By dividing it into sections it becomes a much
easier job. These different sections also help you to
stay organized. If you have worked on a special project
or had a lofty responsibility on a previous job, you may
want to include that in a section all by itself. Example:
"I organized a training department for AMCO
Scientific and was responsible for overseeing the
production of training lessons."
Another good way to get familiar with proper resume
writing techniques is to review a good resume. There's an
example included in this report. You can use it as a
model. Then produce several different resumes for
yourself until you find the best possible combinations
for your specific skills. You may also want to have a
friend to read your resume and point out any problems.
UNCOVERING JOBS
Many people do not have good job hunting skills. They
are not experts at locating job openings for which they
may be qualified. Here are some ideas to help you uncover
those jobs.
NEWSPAPER ADS -- usually draw the
greatest number of applicants, so you'll end up with a
lot of competition. If you have no geographic
restrictions, you may want to check out of state
newspapers.
Find a way to make your resume stand out so that it
isn't lost among the many applicants. Here are a couple
of ideas:
(1) Send a customized cover letter with your
resume.
(2) Call before you send the resume in. If
possible, talk to the person who will be doing the
interview or who you'll be working for. If this isn't
possible, talk to the personnel director about the
job and let them know that your resume is coming.
This will help them to remember your name and may
help you get through the resume screening process.
PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES -- these
are agencies that try to match employees and employers.
These agencies vary in the way they work. Some can be
very helpful. Others are somewhat unscrupulous.
Your best chance is to go with an agency that
specializes in your field. Beware of agencies that
continually run the same ad because, often, they are just
trying to build a list of candidates. I recommend that
you only use agencies that don't require you to pay a
fee.
TRADE JOURNALS AND PERIODICALS -- Are
often the best places to look. This is one of the primary
means of job advertisement for some types of professions.
Example: The magazine Environmental Science continually
carries ads for environmental professionals.
Other good places to look include: trade shows and
professional conventions, personnel offices, college
placement offices, friends you have who are in the same
profession as you.
Another method is to simply go through the yellow
pages and look for companies which may need a person with
your skills. Then contact these companies by phone and
follow-up by sending in your resume.
Job seeking is a skill that requires persistence. You
must not become discouraged. Keep making plenty of
contacts. Sooner or later, you'll find the job that's
right for you.
THE JOB INTERVIEW
Most people are nervous when they go to a job
interview. However, by preparing beforehand you won't
have anything to worry about. Believe it or not,
occasionally the person conducting the interview is
nervous, too!
Most interviewers will make a decision within the
first 5 to 10 minutes of the interview. There are a
number of steps that you can take that will greatly
improve your chances of getting the job.
The first (and perhaps the most obvious) thing to
consider is your appearance. No matter what type of job
you apply for, you should dress appropriately. A nice
suit is your best bet. Dark blue or a gray pinstripe are
the best colors. Don't wear a loud tie. Make sure all of
your clothes are wrinkle free and that your shoes are
polished.
Women should wear a conservative suit dress. Avoid
excessive jewelry, make-up, perfume and bright nail
polish.
Interview do's and don'ts:
(1) Arrive early. If you arrive late, you'll be
rushed and the interviewer may consider you
unreliable.
(2) Walk briskly, with purpose, and stand up
straight.
(3) Don't smoke, chew gum, slouch, read a novel,
or other similar activities while you are waiting in
the lobby. If some of the company's literature is
available, read that instead.
(4) Give the interviewer a firm handshake, and
don't be afraid to look him or her in the eye.
(5) Be prepared. Carry an extra copy of your
resume and academic record.
(6) Don't talk too much ... or too little.
(7) Above all, try to be natural and relaxed. Be
yourself.
Questions that the interviewer may ask you include:
what are your career goals? How many sick days have you
taken in the past two years? What are your strong points?
Do you have any hobbies? Why do you want this job? Tell
me about yourself. What did you like most or like least
about your last job? Do you have any questions? She or he
may also ask you some specific questions that relate to
equipment or procedures you'll need to use on the job.
This is a way of determining your overall knowledge and
skills.
Before and during the interview ...
(1) Be positive and enthusiastic.
(2) Try to focus upon your accomplishments and
achievements in past jobs.
(3) Find out as much as possible about the job
duties and requirements of the position you are
applying for. This will help you to be able to ask
further questions.
(4) Find out as much as possible about the
company.
(5) If you are really interested in the job, let
the interviewer know about it.
(6) Questions you need to ask include: when will
the job start? To whom do I report? What would a
typical day be like?
(7) Don't be too concerned about salary and
benefits at first. If you are selected, they will
make you a salary offer. Toward the end of the
interview you can ask about benefits.
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
There are a number of things that you can do after the
interview that will make you an even more attractive job
candidate. Here are a few tips:
(1) Write a thank you letter. If you really want
the job, say so in the letter.
(2) If you have not heard anything within 8 to 10
days, you may want to call. Assure them that you are
not trying to be pushy, but that you are just
interested.
If you aren't hired, you can still send a thank you
letter to the company and ask them to keep you in mind
for any other similar job openings. Also, you may want to
ask the interviewer for a specific reason as to why you
weren't hired. This information will help you as you
search for other jobs.
CONCLUSION
Getting a good job that you want is not always easy.
There are many qualified people after every top paying
position that is available. But if you use the strategies
described in this report, you'll stand a much better
chance of success. Be persistent and don't sell yourself
short. You could end up with a much better job in a very
short period of time.
SAMPLE RESUME
Jerry Jobseeker
12345 Main St.
Anytown, U.S.A.
555-555-5555
SKILLS
Professional
Skills: Experienced in operating a wide
variety of analytical instruments including,
Flame and Furnace AA, Microwave digestion,
Laser flourimeter, and more.
Familiar with the
full range of EPA and CLIP methods and
protocols for inorganic analysis Expert with
IBM-PC computers and have over ten years of
computer experience.
BUSINESS
EXPERIENCE
1971 to 1977
Austin Powder Company, McAuthur, Ohio
Chemistry
Chemist:
Performed
a wide range of chemical analysis on
raw materials, finished products and
competitor's samples. Used classical
wet chemistry methods.
1977 to 1982 Mead
Paper Company, Chillicothe, Ohio
Mead Research
Paper
Technologist:
Worked to
improve paper formulations, solve
problems, and improve quality using
pilot plant and mill studies.
Performed a wide range of paper
tests, wrote reports, and evaluated
results.
1982 to Present
Martin Marietta, Piketon, Ohio
Senior
Chemist:
Performed
a full range of analytical methods
for metals on all types of samples
(soil, water, air, waste samples).
Responsible for quality control and
in charge of department supervising
14 technicians when supervisor was
absent.
EDUCATION
Ohio University,
Athens, Ohio
BS in Chemistry, 1971
Minor: History, Math
GPA: 2.4 Concentrated in inorganic chemistry
PROFESSIONAL
SOCIETIES
1975 to Present
American Chemical Society
PERSONAL DATA
I am very active
with a number of hobbies including: golf,
gardening, baseball, computers, and writing.
I have authored a number of books about
computers and various chemical related
subjects.
REFERENCES
Available upon
request.
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