The Fantastic Four of Great Resume Writing

There is no general format for writing a resume. There are only guidelines. However, the reader of your resume will ask four questions.

• What is it you want?
• Why are you qualified to do it?
• Where have you done it?
• How well have you done it?

Answering these four questions in an honest and convincing manner will greatly increase your chances of developing a resume that results in job.

These four questions are the critical ingredients of the resume writing recipe. The answers to these questions will not only give you the material you need for building a strong resume but will also prepare you for networking and interviewing.

So, be sure your resume completely answers all four questions.

Question #1 What is it you want?

What is your job target? The resume should be built around your job target (whether you include an objective or not) so that prospective employers can immediately see what position you are looking to fill.

Question #2 Why are you qualified to do it?

This is the summary or "professional profile" section. This is where you outline the skills and credentials that qualify you for the job. You can break your skills into functional sections or use bullet points to highlight key points. If this section is done properly, it will convince prospective employers that the rest of your resume is worth reading, bringing them to the next question.

Question #3 Where have you done it?

This is the "experience" section. The reader needs to know whom you worked for, the city and state where they are located and what you did.

Be aware of the continuity of your work history. The reader will be looking for reasons to eliminate as many resumes as possible. Writing resumes with gaps of unaccountable time are often thrown away.

Ideally, your job descriptions should include lots of active verbs and focus on keywords and functional skills that are most relevant to your job target. 

Question #4 How well have you done it?

You must list accomplishments and special projects to show by example that you have contributed to previous employers' bottom lines. The best accomplishments are those that demonstrate quantifiable results or your willingness to go "the extra mile."

• Did you come up with an idea that saved the company money?
• Were you promoted because of your team building skills?
• Were you selected for a key program because of your positive attitude?

Whenever possible,describe how you improved  previous employers' bottom lines - i.e., doubled sales, cut costs, reduced errors, streamlined processing or improved efficiency.

Your References

Keep a separate list of references on matching paper and make them available only upon request. Do not send references with your resume but have them ready.

The Cover Letter

Always send a cover letter on matching paper with specific references to the company's needs and your qualifications for the job. A personal letter is always best, so make an effort to get the name and title of the individual making the hiring decision.

Understand this: A well-written cover letter can literally overwhelm you with quality job interviews even when you lack experience or have a weak resume.

Submitting Your Letter

Submit your resume on high quality paper the reader will remember; paper that looks and feels valuable.  A research study conducted among business decision-makers recently concluded that the use of fine business paper used for resumes led to more positive impressions and more positive business decision outcomes than documents printed on ordinary copy paper.

Your resume is only a means to a personal interview. You should carefully structure your resume to set the stage for your interview. Your resume should help you control the interview agenda and discussion.

Remember, your resume and cover letter are your final word that others will see after your interview is over.

So, take the time to do it right.

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