Resume advice abounds for the job seeker trying not only to make a good impression, but also to stand out from the competition. Reading books and clicking through websites, people search for the secret that will so elevate a resume that an employer immediately calls to schedule an interview. Forgotten are all other applicants as the employer worries that his competitor will grab this amazing job candidate first. Unfortunately, for some do-it-yourselfers, there’s too much advice out there to unearth any secrets. After looking for help writing a resume, instead of feeling energized and ready to create, we feel more trepidation, more at sea, and need even more help than before we started.
So what do you do? First, before looking for resume help, understand there is no one “right way” to create a resume. Knowing this will help you decipher advice. That advice needs to acknowledge the fact that a good resume depicts your unique situation while also being tailored to each prospective employer. With this in mind, choose your helpers.
- The online route. To evaluate whether a site has good resume advice, look for the website’s credentials and those of its author. Is he a resume writing professional? Has the site been around awhile? Is it dedicated to career matters? Is the web copy well-written? The websites of reputable resume writing and editing services, human resource specialists, career mentors and universities are good places to seek competent, effective resume advice. Consult more than one and synthesize their guidance. The downside of the online route is the potential for information overload. Overcome that by limiting yourself to a few select teachers.
- The networking route. Find resume advice by consulting your personal and professional networks. Approach friends and trusted peers who have recently gotten jobs or promotions and solicit two things. First, request a look at their resumes as an example of what works. Ask why they took the approaches they did and how they tailored resumes to respective employers. The second thing to ask of your network is feedback on your resume. Give them your “best effort” resume, intending to improve it once you receive relevant advice. The upside of the networking route is receiving real-world guidance. The downside is that what you learn might not transfer to your situation.
- Books. Purchasing a resume writing book might be a good idea, especially if it offers online updates and further advice. This forward-looking relationship between you and the author or publisher is important, because career and resume advice grows and evolves as the economy and job market shift. Before purchasing, it’s wise to “audition” books by checking them out of the library. Look for an expert author, recent publication, an index and more than one approach to resume layout. The upside of purchasing a book is that someone has already sifted through existing resume expertise, organized it and written it out for you. Additionally, having a book on hand makes it easier to keep your resume up to date. The downside of buying a book is the possibility that you choose unwisely or that the book becomes obsolete.
Whatever route you take in learning to create a resume, be ready to invest time. A good investment will help decide salary.
Theresa Foster has a professional interest in the art of resume writing and how strong resumes can improve job search results, although she is not an expert. To get help writing a resume , she recommends you contact a resume service. You can find one of the most respected resume firms online at www.distinctiveweb.com
