The New Year is the Time to Tune Up Your Resume

By Deborah O’Connor

January is the perfect time to update and refresh your resume. Because people today change jobs so frequently, it is imperative to have a current resume prepared.  It is definitely the most important presentation you will make in your job search. You need to display a specific skill for a specific job, but how you relay this to the reader is just as important as what you know. If you cannot get the message across that you can do the job, you’re not going to be interviewed, much less hired.

The first key is to identify your value proposition. What is it about you that sets you apart from everyone else? If you’re like most people, you can’t answer this question off the top of your head. You haven’t spent a lot of time sitting around analyzing yourself and your performance because you’ve been too busy. But if you want a resume that really gets results, you need to do some serious thinking. To get started, answer the following questions:

• What are your top 5 personal qualities?
• What are your top 5 professional abilities?
• Finish these sentences:

1. I have always been really good at
2. Other people always compliment me on
3. If I could do anything at all with my life I would
4. At work, I am happiest when
5. At work, I am unhappy when

If you look back over your career, do you see any consistent themes? For example, you always seem to be the one organizing everything, or you’re always the one who has the creative ideas.

It also needs to come through on your resume that you are familiar with the company. A lot of people tend to believe that you only need the company familiarity upon an interview, but employers want the best of the bunch. Unless your resume shows that you have familiarity with the brand, it might be overlooked time and again.

It is very important to include all your contact information on your resume so that employers can easily get in touch with you. Include your full name, street address, city, state, zip code, home phone number if applicable, cell phone number, and email address.

Stick to a standardized font. For most positions, human resource representatives just want a resume they can read that captures the skill sets they are looking for. Fonts such as Times New Roman and Georgia are your best bets for making it readable, as well as a 10 to 12 point size. Whichever your choice, make sure to stick to one to keep it presentable versus using a few different fonts that can crowd the page and make you appear disorganized. On the other hand, if you are applying for a creative position such as graphic design, your resume will likely be expected to bend the rules and show your creative skills.

Keep important points at the top. Assume a hiring manager is going to skim your resume in 10 to 15 seconds, and will concentrate mainly on the top half. They will want to see immediately that your experience is a fit instead of tossing it out to get to the next one in the pile. Highlight your most relevant skills and experience first and then work your way down to other pertinent information. The following subheadings could be included: Contact Info, Summary of Core Qualifications, Relevant Work Experience, Volunteer and Other Experience, Education, Honors and Awards. Use bullet points when you can, it makes it easier for the reader to scan.

Remember, this is your one chance to shine. Spend time perfecting your resume and keep it updated, and it will pay off. However, if you do not possess the skills to write a sterling resume, there are professionals available to assist you.

Please feel free to send questions to Deborah at: www.successfulimage.biz.

She will answer them in her weekly column.

Deborah O’Connor is a social strategist and founder and president of Successful Image LLC with offices in Columbia and Atlanta. She offers training and seminars on image management, workplace etiquette, and social skills necessary to succeed in life professionally and personally. Contact at:  [email protected]        www.successfulimage.biz