Assuming that your qualifications and other achievements have the effect of your name being listed as a probable for further contact by the organization, then it is your resume that they will refer to for further clarifications. So your resume assumes the all-important role of telling a prospective employer any facts that he may want to know. And just think, when you want some information from written material, what would you prefer - to have it highlighted or to have to wade through other information before arriving at what you want. Undoubtedly you would prefer to have it highlighted as everyone prefers to get things done quickly.
The actual sections of your resume should be easily distinguishable.
The different sections of your resume like qualifications, work experience, projects handled and so on should be easily distinguishable. They should be highlighted in such a manner that one glance should suffice for a person to locate the section that he is looking for. While taking a decision a prospective employer may need to look at certain specific areas in your resume in order to compare and contrast it with others. So the resume should be as �user-friendly� as possible.
Your name and contact information should be given the vantage point in the resume.
It is essential that all information about how to contact you be mentioned boldly. It should ideally be mentioned along with your name. If everything else works in your favor and a prospective employer has to go through the entire resume to find your telephone number or address, it may not reflect well on your ability to organize information.
Focus on job specific requirements.
Focus on a job specific skill/experience and ensure that it stands out at first glance. Often when inundated with many applications prospective employers may glance through them cursorily to sift out inappropriate ones. Highlighting your strong points boldly, especially if you happen to have what they are looking for, will ensure that you pass through this stage successfully.
Some �power� words to add to your repertoire
Demonstrated, earned, established, proficient in, recommended, facilitated, generated, implemented, improved, solved, streamlined, initiated, set up, instructed, maintained, launched. These are but a few drops from the vast sea of words. Wading through these words will undoubtedly put you on the right track to look for words that specifically describe you and your achievements in a flattering manner.
Trust And Integrity - Two Aspects Your Resume Must Highlight
One of the main qualities that a prospective employer looks for is trust. It is only when employees can be trusted wholeheartedly that an organization can function well. And as a resume is your first contact with a prospective employer, this aspect needs careful consideration.
The references you furnish
Trust is not necessarily conveyed by the words on your resume alone. The references you furnish for this purpose play a part too. Provide references, if possible local people, who can be contacted easily. Clearly indicate their contact addresses and telephone numbers if any. And it is also essential that you get in touch with the people whom you have referred to and tell them that you have given their reference. This way, however busy they may be they will remember you and handle queries regarding you in a favorable manner. Remember first impressions are very important. If your prospective employer calls up somebody for reference and that person is not able to place you immediately it will not reflect well on you.
Family is important - let it show
Trust and stability are two qualities associated with a person with a good family background. Remember �good� does not indicate prosperity. A mention of marital status/ father�s employment or retirement etc., indicates your background. This will indicate the type of conditioning and upbringing you have had and whether it is the type of mindset the prospective employers are looking for.
Your contact information - be precise about it
Not everyone has a telephone in their house, so if you are furnishing a neighbour�s telephone number as your contact number, do mention it specifically and indicate that a message may be left for you there. And you can in turn get in touch with the company after receiving the message. Not having a telephone at home is nothing to be ashamed of. It won�t help your case of the company calls up your neighbour�s house and gets the information (about the telephone number) from them. And do brief your neighbour accordingly too.
Qualifications And Experience - A Job Specific Focus
When you start applying for jobs it is advisable to apply to different types of organizations. In today�s fast changing scenario you never know where your skills may be put to use. Without limiting yourself to a particular job definition you could make an effort to diversify and then develop job specific skills. So your resume for each job that you apply to should be different, it should be customized according to the job requirements.
Where should the spotlight be?
The listing of your educational qualifications and work experience need not be the same for every job that you apply to. Analyze the kind of work that you feel they expect and elaborate on your skills in that aspect. Let us assume that a graduate in computer science applies for the job of a sales executive in a software company. Well the software related skills are important, he should be mentioning that but what needs to be elaborated upon is his �people� skills. A sales executive needs to meet a lot of people and sell his product/concept, and even if the product is of very high quality its features need to be highlighted and showcased. So the type of person that the company would be looking for would be a person with excellent communication skills backed by knowledge of software. Emphasis can be laid on interaction with people like teamwork during projects, visiting various companies to showcase and test one�s project and presentations made if any can be mentioned, as it points out public speaking skills.