It’s time for Part 2 of my TOP resume writing advice! In case you missed it, here is Part 1. Although there are hundreds of articles and tips around the internet with Resume writing advice, these are some of my MOST IMPORTANT resume “do’s” that I would like to share with you:
6. Do focus on the skills you want to use in your next job.
Keep your career goals in mind as your write your resume. If you spent 10 years working as a MDS Coordinator but don’t want to do that anymore, focus more on what you’ve been doing since then, and other experience you’ve gained.
7. Do focus on accomplishments.
Accomplishments will distinguish you from other applicants, and convey your skills in a positive, proactive way. In addition to including your job responsibilities, include anything else that is noteworthy, such as special presentations, research, unusual responsibilities, training tools, etc.
8. Whenever possible, include quantifiable information.
Experience looks much more impressive and legitimate if there are concrete numbers involved. If you managed a group of people, list how many. If you increased a company’s profit, list by how much. If you saved your company money, list a percentage or an amount.
9. Do think about where you are applying when you write your resume
If you have a particular job in mind, make sure the accomplishments and skills are geared toward the job you want. If you have several specialties and are applying for different types of jobs, it may be a good idea to have a few versions of your resume (i.e. a manager resume and an educator resume). Just keep track of which one you sent so you can bring the right one to the interview!
10. Do keep track of where you have sent your resume
Nothing looks more disorganized than applying somewhere more than once, forgetting you previously interviewed, or having a recruiter send your resume when you have already sent it on your own. You want your first impression to be that you are on top of it and in charge of your own job search.
11. Do proofread!
All of this hard work will be for nothing if there are typos or misspellings on your resume. Use spell check, but remember spell check doesn’t catch everything. Print out a copy and look over it that way, your eye will catch more. Do also have a friend or family member do the same thing, as you may not catch everything.
Good luck updating your resume!
Alison Kuhns
Director – Healthcare
The Execu|Search Group
