I would recommend that your paragraph of accountabilities outlining your job scope (specific to your career target) be no more than 12 lines. If this is not possible due to the extensive nature of your role, I would then separate into two (or more) paragraphs with relevant tasks appropriately grouped. Again, remember to keep your writing succinct; no long boring sentences that will cause the reader to lose interest.
UNDERPINNING
It is vital to underpin your job scope with a bulleted section of key accomplishments and quantifiable results. These value-added achievements provides the prospective employer with the results your initiatives and expertise have secured as well as presenting the reader with potential cost-savings, increased revenues and market growth that you can contribute to their organization. Remember, you are marketing your competencies while proving to the reader that you can add value to their bottom line.
In order to provide an example of how to create and word such an achievement, I will utilize the above previous example. To recap:
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%.
Bulleted achievement:
ยท Enhanced staff morale; optimized productivity
levels by 77%; and reduced staff turnover by 66.7%
through implementation of strategic monitoring and
incentive programs.
Notice how we deliberately detailed the results first and then how this accomplishment was captured.
MATERIALIZE & METHODIZE
Begin by formatting all of your details into a carefully structured, concise and aesthetically pleasing document. Keep headings and other formatting (i.e. italics) consistent throughout the document. Do not bold one job title and then italicise the rest - bold them all.
Your name and contact details should be at the beginning of the document - don't make contacting you difficult by placing your phone number in an inconspicuous place. Do not include information such as date of birth, marital status or number of dependents. This information is not only irrelevant but in some countries, illegal for an employer to request this data as it could be considered discriminatory.
Next, goes the qualifications profile (also known as the career profile or professional profile), which is a strongly written paragraph that summarizes your expertise in one concise paragraph. This is your hook, with the rest of your marketing document qualifying your opening statement, that you are the best candidate for the role. Many people begin their resumes with a career objective, however this is often a weak statement and seems to focus more on your own needs than that of an employer). Summarizing your competencies into a strong opening statement will seize the reader's attention and encourage them to read on.
