Gay Executive.com » Resume Tips

Independent Contractor Resumes

Steven — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:53:49 +0000

If you are self employed and want to move into a more structured environment you need to have measurable results to present. Consultants need to have references that can give the interviewer hard facts. If the reference says, “yeah, he/she helped us”, this really does nothing for anyone. While at a job, reinforce in the minds of the employer what you do for them, how long it took you to do it, and how much you saved or made. Then when the interviewer calls the reference they will have the points you brought up on the tip of their tongue.

Only Worked For One Employer?

Steven — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:44:41 +0000

Do not put one line that says employers name and 1980-2000. This is just going to make your interviews that much longer. The first thing they will ask you at the interview is “Can you tell me what you did over all those years”? You will have to answer this question over and over, at each interview. Break out those years and write short descriptions of responsibilities and achievements every few years, attempt to put something new every 2 to 4 years.

Should You Include Hobbies on Your Resume?

Steven — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 07:37:31 +0000

Leave hobbies off a resume unless they directly relate to the position. If you tell an employer you rock climb, the first thing that will pop into their mind is you in a cast unable to type at your desk.

What’s Your Objective?

Steven — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:27:10 +0000

Some career counselors advise against objective statements because they can limit you to a specific position when your skills match several. However in certain cases objectives provide the necessary opportunity to sell facts not easily garnered from an accomplishment oriented resume.

Here are some cases where including an objective might be a good idea:

Recent college graduates without work history can use the objective to let the potential employer know what type of work they would like to do.
Those who know exactly what job they want should use the objective to spell out why they are the perfect candidate. Let the employer know you designed your course work around your love of shoes and accounting.
Those whose career goal isn’t obvious on their resumes. If you worked in finance for 10 years but are looking to work in human resources take this opportunity to let the reviewer know it wasn’t a mistake your resume ended up on their desk, even better, let the reader know what skills and lessons you learned in your prior field that you can bring to the new one.

Stick To A Standard Format

Steven — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:26:00 +0000

There is no reason to ever try to be a pioneer when it comes to your resume. Tried and true resume formats have landed interviews for job seekers for many, many years. They are still around because they work. These resume outlines give hiring managers exactly what they need. If you are thinking about coming up with your own resume format, think twice about it. Simple and easily understandable is always better when it comes to writing a resume.

Stay On Topic

Steven — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:47:41 +0000

Unrelated job experience or unrelated qualifications just bog a resume down. Try to stay on point and keep everything in the resume directed at your potential employer. No one will care that you were a busboy at a restaurant when you were in high school. If you want to enter the big leagues, companies want to know what you can do to improve their bottom line. Unless you are planning on picking up plates at their luncheons, then this experience has no business in your resume. If you really think about it there is plenty of relevant information that you can list, so run with that.

Use Symbols to Emphasize Key Points

Steven — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:18:45 +0000

As you are looking for ways to make your resume stand out from all of the rest, don’t neglect symbols. Things like #, $, and % stand out in the middle of a resume. Symbols are a great way to draw the readers eye to especially important points on your resume. If you managed a certain percentage of accounts at a marketing firm, then throw that percentage sign into your resume. If you helped land a certain dollar amount of business for a company, put a dollar sign in your resume. These things are impressive and eye catching. They will, if nothing else, make you stand out.

Reconsider Your Resume Format

Steven — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:26:17 +0000

Do not automatically assume the only way to list the information on your resume is in reverse chronological order. Yes - Many recruiters are accustomed to this format, but it may not be the best choice for you if you have had a choppy work history or if you want to change careers. Consider a functional resume which will help you highlight your most marketable skills.

Keep It Clean

Steven — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:37:11 +0000

This one should be pretty obvious, but it is important that your resume be free of errors. Proofread and proofread again to make sure that you didn’t miss a basic grammar mistake or a typo. Spellcheckers don’t always solve the problem as they miss common mistakes such as using “from” in the place of “form”. Nothing ruins a good resume more quickly than bad grammar or a misplaced letter. Some hiring managers will simply lose focus on the good things in your resume when they see simple mistakes. Make sure that they have every reason to think only about your chances with their company.

No Half Pages

Steven — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 06:02:46 +0000

Make sure that your resume is either one full page or two full pages. If you submit a resume that includes a half of a page, it will look like you ran out of positive things to write about yourself. As a general rule, the best resumes will be loaded with solid information and references. Don’t shortchange yourself and certainly don’t let potential employers think that you didn’t have enough good things to say about yourself. The resume should finish strong, not with a thud.