Creative Job Search: Resume Writing

Much preparation goes into an excellent resume. You do not simply begin by writing. First you have to establish clear goals for your job search. Then you must identify and articulate your skills that match your goals. You need to gather supporting materials and summarize your past employment related experiences. Finally, you will write, rewrite and edit until the resume is perfect. Once done, you will want to continuously work at keeping your perfect resume up-to-date. As you grow, your resume should grow with you; its development should mirror your personal and professional development.

Do not overwhelm employers by providing more information than necessary. Do not try to be everything to everyone. The greatest challenge will not be deciding what to put into your resume but what to leave out. An attention-getting resume must be targeted, concise, and must clearly identify your qualifications. Focus on your skills and accomplishments with specific attention to tangible results. At this point you may be overwhelmed and ready to give up. Do not give up yet. The truth is that this same preparation is required for all your job search. Until you have taken these steps, you are not ready to approach prospective employers. Since it has to be done anyway, there is no better time than the present. Of course, if you are already engaged in these activities you are that much closer to a finished product.

Skill Identification

Employers want to know what you can do, not just where you have worked. If you cannot clearly state at least 20 skills directly associated with your job goal, you are not ready to begin your job search.

Take the time to work on developing a list of your skills. As you develop your list, identify examples of places where you have used your skills. Employment related skills do not always come from employment. They may originate from education, volunteer work, personal interests and life experiences. Be very specific when describing your skills. Also be sure to state your skills in a positive light. Avoid any language that may reduce their value. Always be honest and positive.

When drafting your resume, clearly identify your skills. There are several formats that can be used, but always your skills need to stand out. Whenever possible, state your skills as expert skills, to avoid being perceived as a generalist. As an example, if you have word processing skills state which word processors you have used. All resumes today need to be skill-based resumes. Whatever style or format you use, your resume must clearly articulate the skills you bring to the job.

Goal Setting

An important element in resume preparation is establishing clear goals or objectives. You should not approach your job search, or write a resume, with the goal of just "anything." It is critical that you target your resume to a specific occupational goal. The content of your resume should point to that goal. Without this focus your resume will be mediocre at best. If you have already established specific goals then you are prepared to write your resume. If not, you are encouraged to first spend some time establishing your goals.