Resume Writing Strategies
I have taken the word R E S U M E, and associated each letter with a strategic process, which can be utilized to craft a professional and compelling career-marketing document.
Research
Expand
Script
Underpin
Materialize and Methodize
Edit
RESEARCH
Begin by collating all relevant information regarding career and educational history. This includes:
Employment history:
Company name, industry, size of company (i.e.; national/international world-class manufacturing company), dates employed, reason for being hired (i.e. recruited to spearhead development of hydraulic manufacturing division).
Job accountabilities/responsibilities, supervisory capacity (how many people)
Professional Development & Education:
Courses and certifications completed will demonstrate keeping up with the latest trends in your industry.
Memberships & Associations:
Professional association memberships that relate to your current career target (i.e. Accountants would include Chartered Practising Accountants Membership).
IT & Computer experience:
Hardware and software utilized throughout your career or personal use - particularly if the software packages are relevant to your position, i.e. MYOB for accounting.
Awards:
In recognition of achievements that are directly transferable or relevant to your current career goals.
Written References:
From employers or supervisors that may include information regarding a particular achievement or initiative you implemented.
EXPAND
Once you have completed the initial collation of employment details and other transferable data, it's time to expand on the relevant data by digging deeper in order to identify information that will truly separate you from the rest of the applicants. Utilize the process below in order to identify any significant contributions or accomplishments throughout your career.
C = Challenge - identify the challenges that you faced; A = Action - identify the steps which you undertook to alleviate the challenge; or solution you implemented to improve/turnaround the challenge, and; R = Result - the (preferably quantifiable) result.
For instance:
Challenge: Staff turnover high, performance levels extremely poor, with overall costs to recruit and train new staff high.
Action: Developed staff monitoring and incentive programs; implemented staff training programs.
Result: Increased staff knowledge base; decreased staff turnover by 66.7%; increased staff morale and collaboration; increased productivity levels by 77%.
This is a great achievement, and written in the right way, can definitely make a powerful impact. (See scripting section).
SCRIPTING
With all your relevant transferable data and corresponding accomplishments, it's time to translate the information to the written word, in such a way that captures and maintains the reader's interest right through to the last sentence.
This is not the time to rewrite your entire position description, but to identify the key accountabilities relevant to
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