|
||
|
|
|
April/May 2007 |
Volume 48, Number 1 |
|
||||||||
|
Which Resume Format is Best?In our effort to excel in different careers or jobs, we eventually must dust off our resumes. While some people keep their resumes up to date, others dread updating their resume and put it off until the last possible minute. If you are suddenly involved in a downsizing, you can find yourself at a disadvantage. If you aren’t aware of resume formats, you might consider doing some current research to help make your resume stand out from others. First, there are two resume focuses and two basic formats. The focus will be either a resume targeted to a specific job position or an “inventory” resume that contains a general objective without limiting you and that might be suitable for all jobs. Resume formats are chronological (the older format that many of us are used to) or functional, which is another way of describing a “skills-based resume.” You can combine the two formats to create a combination resume. As technical communicators, we should take resumes very seriously. Any way we can improve them will help us stand out from our talented competition. To help you find the latest on resumes, I’ve collected some of my favorite websites for helping people with their resumes (and this line of business generally doesn’t pay well, by the way, so don’t get your hopes up).Resume Format and Focus ExamplesI found the most concise examples of resume focus and formats on Michelle Dumas’s “Distinctive Documents” website at www.distinctiveweb.com/choose.htm. She provides details about how to make both focus and format decisions along with advice on the content and how to best arrange it. Her years of experience show—there is a lot of good information here. Another good site for this type of resume information is “Quintessential Careers” at www.quintcareers.com/best_resume_format.html. This site provides extensive information about the purposes and attributes of resumes, more than you want to know about resume formats, and the Top 10 Things You Need to Know about E-Resumes. Also, be sure to check out Resume and CV Resources for Jobseekers. Believe me, this site is worth a visit. I think that it contains the most excellent information and advice about careers you will find in one place on the Internet. As the authors say, In the end, the most important lesson here is that the days are gone when a jobseeker developed one resume format and printed 100 copies of it on high-quality paper. In today’s job market, resumes need to be modified and fine-tuned at the drop of a hat, as well as available in multiple versions. In fact, electronic resume versions are taking over as the most popular formats for resumes. Still, there will probably be a need for years to come for attractive, eye-catching print resumes with appropriately organized content. How can you apply your skills to create a stellar resume? There are several methods, but as a technical communicator, you can use the ingenuity you’ve developed over the years. Here’s a new twist: Find out which resume format is best for you by listening to the CareerStrides Podcast on www.careerstrides.com, the website of a nationally certified resume writer. By now you can tell that you must adapt and learn new technologies to stay up with the pack! Here are four steps that have worked for me in the past. The following sections contain reasons why and suggestions for how you can do the same things:
Why Should I Focus My Resume?Over the years, I have received fewer responses when using a “generic” or “inventory” resume. I receive more responses when tailoring a resume for a specific position. Sure, it takes more time and effort, but it is worth it. When I reviewed resumes before hiring, our group looked not only for people with the correct technical skills but who were specifically suited to our company working environment and corporate culture and who were obviously team players. We looked for innovative people by interviewing them separately with different types of questions. So do some research and consider what you know about the company you are targeting to determine the best focus for your resume. Which Resume Format is Best for Me?I have also received more responses from a functional resume format. I believe it is because I provide a skill, attach it to a completed task or project, and show a result. For example, I might say “Introduced and enforced company style guides and document review processes, resulting in increased accuracy and consistency of product and project documentation and project coordination.” I also provide relevant section headings like “Web Development and Web Management” that describe general work or skills. This organization allows me to more easily customize resumes. As a consultant, most of my work is from referrals, so I’m not always asked for a resume, but my resume and overview are always updated in case the right opportunity comes up. In case you’re wondering, these aren’t the best examples from my resume because that might put me at a disadvantage! How to Start WritingStarting to write is often the most difficult task for many people, including some technical communicators. But starting to write really doesn’t have to be so challenging. Start by organizing the main categories from most important (first) to least important (last) for the specific position. Then begin to create sentences describing the skills that you applied to the project (or task), and make sure you end with a tangible result (like improved productivity, or reduced costs or support calls). The result describes to a prospective employer or client the real benefits you can provide. Sometimes it’s hard to toot your own horn. But this is the time to do it! Enlist a good friend or colleague and ask for some help clarifying what you did. Or it may help to read emails from your “attaboy” or “kudos” folder that remind you of what you did to help someone find information or make the job easier.SummaryAs technical communicators, we must adapt to ever-changing technologies. Being flexible and adaptable isn’t just an option—it’s required for success in our technical communication field. Because we communicate information about technology, it is imperative that we stay informed about the latest technological improvements and are able to use technology and software to our advantage to help our employers and clients. Remember, employers or clients want results, and you need to analyze their problems and provide solutions. Your resume should reflect your ability to do just that. Additional Resourceswww.distinctiveweb.com/choose.htm www.quintcareers.com/best_resume_format.html Top 10 Things You Need to Know about E-Resumes Resume and CV Resources for Jobseekers www.jobweb.com/Resumes_Interviews/default.htm hotjobs.yahoo.com/careertools/?refsrc=ysem content.monster.com/resume/home.aspx career-resources.dice.com/technical-resume/tips_and_articles.shtml  |
|||||||
|
||||||||
|
© Copyright 2007 |
||||||||
