Objective:

For the best possible resume, you should make the objective specific to the job that you are applying for. You can change the objective on your computer and print out a tailored copy for each job. If that isn’t possible, the objective should be vague enough to cover whatever jobs you are interested in. For instance, if you send a resume for a Medical Office position that says your objective is to work with animals, you will give the impression that this isn’t really a job you want and that even if you get it, you will be moving on before long to eventually achieve your objective. You may lose the job because the hiring manager doesn’t want to expend resources training you while you look for a better job, and increase the company’s turnover rate.

Sample specific objective:

Electrician engaged in construction, maintenance and repair of electric power, lighting, and communication systems of buildings, factories, and transportation equipment, at a supervisory level.

Sample blanket objective:

To use my professional office skills to enhance the efficiency and performance of a progressive company in a challenging position with the opportunity for long-term commitment and growth.

Skills

Hiring managers need to know what you are capable of as well as what you have done previously. The easiest way to sell your skills is to put them in a list or table separate from your job experience. See the following examples to compare.

Skills:

Employment:

1997-99 John’s Office Jobs, 123 Main Street, OurTown, USA                                           Receptionist       

Worked in the reception area on a busy switchboard system, answering customer questions, and directing them to the appropriate department. Also performed some data entry using Excel and Access, and occasionally typed letters in Microsoft Word. Also, took money from employees and issued equipment and did some filing.

It’s much easier to read the first example and find all the skills of the applicant. A hiring manager would have to dig through the second example to see whether a particular skill is there. If it isn’t, the rest of the resume might not get read. Also, since the reader is looking to save time, the list will be appreciated as well.

What skills should you list?

Obviously, anything that will help you to get the job you are applying for. For a general office position, your speed and accuracy, the software you are proficient on, the level of your skills on them, i.e. data entry vs. programming, phone & communication skills, and experience with other office equipment are essential.

Recent graduates and unskilled laborers shouldn’t fear listing their skills even if they don’t have many developed, concrete ones like those above. There are more important skills, the ones that can’t usually be taught on-the-job and which can tip the scales in your favor when a potential employer has several qualified candidates. These are personality traits, work ethics, talent, life experience, etc.

Some examples:

Find out what it is about you that an employer will find valuable. Someone with modest experience who shows up every day ready to work is more in demand than a lazy person with extensive skills.

Experience:

It doesn’t matter if you write this section in the first person, the third person, or leaving out pronouns altogether. It is only important that you use your own words and carefully choose what you want to say.

Include:

	Dates
	Company Name
	Supervisor’s Name
	Address & Phone Number
	Job Title
	Your Accomplishments

Remember not to leave large gaps in your experience. Include your recovery from injury, self-employment, child-rearing, caring for ailing family members, volunteer work, etc. if it will help to explain your absence from the work force. Employers want employees that both need and want to work. Gaps can be an indicator that you would rather be unemployed, or that you are hiding something.

Keep your job description short. List important accomplishments and recognition by your employer. The hiring manager wants an employee that performs and produces. You can save most of your job duties for the application or the skills section of the resume. "Increased sales in my district by 30%" is more effective than, "Responsible for sales and development of new accounts." You may have initiated a recycling program, or increased your skill level, or won an award, but hopefully you achieved something that is specific.

Format:

Always strive to make your resume easy to read. Move things around and see how they look. Be objective, and get the opinions of others. Change fonts, font sizes, spacing; use bullets, tables, tabs or anything that sets off what you want to be read first. Large white spaces are a plus for readability, but leave less room for information. Colored paper, unless it is very light, is harder to read and more likely to get thrown away. Experimentation is the only way to get the best look for your resume. In the end, you are the one person that can judge whether a resume represents your unique style.