Creating a Resume That Will Get You Noticed
By Janet Ward RN, BSN
A resume is simply a document that highlights your accomplishments, education, skill set and work history. This is your chance to make your resume stand out from the crowd. Your resume is your sales tool to get you and your accomplishments noticed. This is your opportunity to sell yourself.
The first step in creating a resume that will get you noticed is to have all of your employer and dates of employment on hand to begin the process. It is not necessary to go back further than 15 or so years in most cases. Documentation of employment back to 1967, just serves to bring your age to attention rather than your accomplishments. Yes, age discrimination is against the law, but there is no need to get your resume put in the pile that indicates your experience will cost the client too much.
You may need to create more than one resume depending upon the specific position for which you are applying.
RESUME STYLE
You must decide on the style of resume that you wish to present for this position. You may choose a chronological format or a functional format. I personally, would recommend a blend of the two styles. Most prospective employers like to see your career progression and if there are any gaps in your employment history. Utilizing a chronological basic format will cover those issues up front. You then blend the functional information into each position.
FORMAT
When you format your resume, it is advised not to use a template. As you want to update the resume at a later date, it is often difficult to add information to a template and maintain the original formatting.
Most of us would think it is obvious to put your contact information as the headliner. However, we have seen resumes without current contact information or with only a phone number or e-mail. You must include your name, address, telephone contact numbers and e-mail. Most organizations in today’s world parse a resume into a database and this information is needed to contact you and have your most up to date contact information on record.
Do not put an objective at the top of your resume. Your future employer understands that your objective is to get a new position. You may however, list skills and a few noted accomplishments prior to listing your employment history.
GAPS in employment
Do acknowledge any gaps of more than a few months that occur in your work history. You can indicate personal sabbatical, school, or managing family obligations, as an example.
EDUCATION
List education with degrees conferred after employment history. Do not list MBA to be completed in 2012. Only document degrees that have been completed to date include name of school along with city and state, as these degrees will be verified by the employer. Education in progress can be discussed in a telephone interview with the recruiter and this information will be passed along to the hiring manager.
DESCRIPTORS
Be sure and use words to describe your accomplishments that are action words such as, designed, developed, and implemented, outcomes, saved, team building and/or monitored. Do include accomplishments that have saved the company money, made the company money, met quality indicators and include the corresponding metrics to support those facts. This is the information on your resume that gets you noticed. You can focus on what makes you special and worthy of being considered for a position with the employer’s company.
DO NOT LIST TASKS completed as the subject matter under the position. i.e., entered payroll into system, passed medications, and answered phones. A professional resume needs to be focused on , skill set and leadership activities not individual duties.
References
Do not list references in the body of the resume or indicate that references will be submitted upon request. That is a given when searching for a new position.
Cover Letter
Do include a cover letter with your resume and ensure that it is specific to the position applying for and indicate that you have done some research on the company for which you are applying.
SPELL CHECK
It cannot be emphasized enough to spell and grammar check your document prior to submitting it to the employer or recruiter. Nothing will kill your opportunities more than misspelled words or poor grammar.
Good luck and show off your skills and accomplishments utilizing metrics that will grab the attention of the hiring manager.
Creating a Resume That Will Get You Noticed
By Janet Ward RN, BSN
A resume is simply a document that highlights your accomplishments, education, skill set and work history. This is your chance to make your resume stand out from the crowd. Your resume is your sales tool to get you and your accomplishments noticed. This is your opportunity to sell yourself.
The first step in creating a resume that will get you noticed is to have all of your employer and dates of employment on hand to begin the process. It is not necessary to go back further than 15 or so years in most cases. Documentation of employment back to 1967, just serves to bring your age to attention rather than your accomplishments. Yes, age discrimination is against the law, but there is no need to get your resume put in the pile that indicates your experience will cost the client too much.
You may need to create more than one resume depending upon the specific position for which you are applying.
RESUME STYLE
You must decide on the style of resume that you wish to present for this position. You may choose a chronological format or a functional format. I personally, would recommend a blend of the two styles. Most prospective employers like to see your career progression and if there are any gaps in your employment history. Utilizing a chronological basic format will cover those issues up front. You then blend the functional information into each position.
FORMAT
When you format your resume, it is advised not to use a template. As you want to update the resume at a later date, it is often difficult to add information to a template and maintain the original formatting.
Most of us would think it is obvious to put your contact information as the headliner. However, we have seen resumes without current contact information or with only a phone number or e-mail. You must include your name, address, telephone contact numbers and e-mail. Most organizations in today’s world parse a resume into a database and this information is needed to contact you and have your most up to date contact information on record.
Do not put an objective at the top of your resume. Your future employer understands that your objective is to get a new position. You may however, list skills and a few noted accomplishments prior to listing your employment history.
GAPS in employment
Do acknowledge any gaps of more than a few months that occur in your work history. You can indicate personal sabbatical, school, or managing family obligations, as an example.
EDUCATION
List education with degrees conferred after employment history. Do not list MBA to be completed in 2012. Only document degrees that have been completed to date include name of school along with city and state, as these degrees will be verified by the employer. Education in progress can be discussed in a telephone interview with the recruiter and this information will be passed along to the hiring manager.
DESCRIPTORS
Be sure and use words to describe your accomplishments that are action words such as, designed, developed, and implemented, outcomes, saved, team building and/or monitored. Do include accomplishments that have saved the company money, made the company money, met quality indicators and include the corresponding metrics to support those facts. This is the information on your resume that gets you noticed. You can focus on what makes you special and worthy of being considered for a position with the employer’s company.
DO NOT LIST TASKS completed as the subject matter under the position. i.e., entered payroll into system, passed medications, and answered phones. A professional resume needs to be focused on , skill set and leadership activities not individual duties.
References
Do not list references in the body of the resume or indicate that references will be submitted upon request. That is a given when searching for a new position.
Cover Letter
Do include a cover letter with your resume and ensure that it is specific to the position applying for and indicate that you have done some research on the company for which you are applying.
SPELL CHECK
It cannot be emphasized enough to spell and grammar check your document prior to submitting it to the employer or recruiter. Nothing will kill your opportunities more than misspelled words or poor grammar.
Good luck and show off your skills and accomplishments utilizing metrics that will grab the attention of the hiring manager.