Tips On How to Make a "Killer" Resume

It’s March, it’s graduation month, and yeah – it’s time for the grads (and I’m one of ‘em) to gear up for a “serious” job-hunting.

My agenda for the day:  Go to school to finish the final requirements for my graduation, and visit my office practicum professor when I was in my Sophie year.

While I’m having this little chit-chat with my professor, she reminded me the guidelines in writing a “killer” resume, so I ended up sharing these for you guys.

The moment of truth:  It's time to go into action – that is, to plunk yourself before the computer and compose a "power resume".

Any job hunter knows that a good resume is the key to an interview invite, and, ultimately, to employment.  Aside from a summary of your abilities, work experiences and education background, a resume should reveal your unique selling point to entice a potential employer to "buy you".

Here's the secret to an irresistible resume:  It addresses the specific needs of a specific job. A well-done resume has infinitely have more impact than a one-size-fits-all.

How do you draft one?  First, organize information under specific headings such as education, work experiences, honors, skills and activities.  When you have it all on paper, decide on the proper format to play up outstanding qualities that fit the job's requirements.  Below are different kinds of resumes you can choose from to represent your best:

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME - this is the most conventional, with emphasis on an itemized employment history.  Career milestones are presented in reverse chronological order, starting with current or last position held.  Each position should contain a description of relevant responsibilities and accomplishments.  This type is ideal for candidates with solid job experiences and progressive job history in a field or industry, and who want to continue along a similar career path.  Most employers are said to prefer this style because it is based on facts and is easily digestible.

COMBINATION RESUME - it tries to merge the best features of the chronological and functional types - incorporating both a chronological work history and a skills and achievements section.  in this format, skills and accomplishments get top billing followed by employment history.  The combination resume may not sit well with some employers, who may find these longer resumes particularly repetitious and confusing.  This format can be a good tool, however, for someone with strong editing skills.

CURRICULUM VITAE - it is sometimes used interchangeably with resume.  But by formal definition, curriculum vitae refer to a detailed, lengthy and structured outline of educational background, publications, projects, awards, and work history.  sometimes running up to 20 pages, it is usually employed by educators and scientists boasting extensive academic and professional credentials and seeking positions in education or research.

ELECTRONIC RESUME - is one that can be sent by e-mail or be viewed on the Internet, and is specially formatted for scanning and searching by optical scanning systems.  This format is frequently used when sending resumes to electronic resume banks and job sites, and is becoming an increasingly popular choice because it is fast, effective, and convenient.  

FUNCTIONAL RESUME - organizes work history into sections that highlight skills and accomplishments deemed most appropriate for the position.  Job hoppers, career changers and fresh graduates may use this type to help make sense of seemingly disconnected experiences and display transferable skills and related achievements.

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