Microsoft Resume Template

What You Need To Know Before Writing A Resume

Before you even begin writing a resume or updating your old resume there are somethings you need to know and do.

Job Research

Doing some simple job research can make a big difference in writing your resume as well as when you do the interview. When writing your resume, you want to be job specific. This makes me think back to the quote "Know what you want and go after it", meaning you want to know the company your applying for and the job position you want.

After doing some research about that company and the position your interested in getting, you should have a breif knowledge about the company and what they do. This will make it easier for you to customize your resume for that company and job position.

Note: The more information you have about the company and position you are applying for will make the process of writing your resume, getting an interview and the job.

Make Each Resume Unique

This is an important step that many people don't do, most of these people are lazy. But think about it this way, would you submit the same resume to McDonalds to become a hamburger flipper as you would submit to Google to be a programmer. No, of course not!

Each skill or past experience you have can be customized to fit any company or job position you are applying for. For example, if you worked at McDonalds on the counter / cashier taking orders, you would have experience dealing with cash and customer service. Also if you did a count or end of shift paper work, you have experience with accounting. Basically, you want to go through each skill, activity or experience and word it so that it benefits that company or position you are applying for.

I used these techniques about 10 years ago and received great results. These techniques are more important today as there have been so many improvements over the years and many more qualified applicants for those positions. So every chance you get to stand out or stay in the back of the company's mind (as long as it's on a positive note) gives you a greater opportunity at getting the interview and the job.

Note: When you finish your resume and are ready to submit it to that company, make sure to dress the same way you would if your were going for an interview. Look the part, this is another way to stand out in a positive way.

To learn more tips and strategies on writing a resume and improving your chances of getting hired.

MORE ARTICLES:

How to Write a Better CV (UK), or Resume (USA and elsewhere)
The first point to make is that the terms "CV" and "Resume" (with or more often without the French acute accents over the e's) are virtually interchangeable in the UK; they mean the same thing, but if anything the norm is CV. In the USA and elsewhere, the CV (Curriculum Vitae to give it its full title - literally "Life Study") is a different animal - a dry listing of qualifications and experience more suited for a university faculty listing for example.

Business Resume Tips
For most job-seekers, the resume is the only way to get your foot in the door Unfortunately, the employer probably gets so many resumes, that he barely has time to read through them all

Writing That Resume
When preparing your resume make sure the skills you list are accurately conveying your experience and knowledge in each area. It is also recommended that time be spent reviewing the skills the company is looking for in order to highlight these skills in a job interview or cover letter. The cover letter should briefly outline any skills or achievements that you might have and explain why you are a suitable candidate for the position.

Maximize Earning Potential with a Strong Resume
A good resume can make a world of difference when it comes to negotiating salary with a new employer.

TalentDrive's TalentMatch Resume Sourcing Service Now Fully Automated for Small Businesses
With the Click of a Mouse, Small Businesses Can Now Build a Customized Job Description and Search Over 40,000 Online Locations for Quality Resumes.

7 Secrets of a Highly-Effective Resume Cover Letter
Just like the late, great Rodney Dangerfield, the "humble" cover letter gets no respect.Job-seekers spend so much time and energy on their resumes they've got nothing left to offer their poor, neglected cover letters.

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out
Whether or not you're planning to look for a new job, it's best to keep your resume updated Get into the habit of updating your accomplishments and skills so that your resume is always ready

Beat the Crowd with Winning Resume Cover Letters
Far too many people underestimate the importance of resume cover letters. In a sense, a well written cover letter works like an agent on your behalf.

New Video Resume Technology Changes the Job Market
SearchVideoResumes.com links employers and candidates from around the world.

Theres No Need to Pad Your Resume
It seems like a good idea, harmless in fact. Your friends assure you that everybody does it and that employers rarely check resume facts.

Land That Job! Frees Up Resume Template Content
Career site opens up proprietary content for free use giving job seekers access to professional resume and cover letter templates in MS Word format.

Make Your Resume Keyword Rich and Scanner Friendly
If you haven't looked for a job recently, there are new tactics that hiring professionals are using that you should be aware of before updating your resume.Employers and recruiters increasingly rely on electronic resumes, resume posting boards and job banks to find job candidates.

Get a Job! Tips for Organizing Your Resume
Whether you're a Vice President of Marketing or a recent college grad, your resume is the 'key' to opening the doors of employment. It is an employer's first impression of you and believe it or not, many hiring officials spend less than thirty seconds reviewing it.

Free Resume Examples: Use Them, But Dont
There are lots of free resume examples (or free resume samples) on the web.Try searching for "free resume example" at Google and take a look at the almost 5 million pages that come back (the less restrictive "resume example" gives you 7 million pages, if you've got more time on your hands).