Five Ways to Whip Your Resume Back into Shape

You know that resumes are important.  You know that a good resume can make you, and a bad resume can break you.  So if you have used the same resume for awhile, and you aren't getting good results out of it, it's time to give it a makeover.  Here are five ways to  get your resume back on track:

1. Don't forget what you're selling here...yourself.

Your resume needs to boast and brag about you; that is, in a professional way, of course.  Employers aren't looking to hire someone just so-so.  They want the best, and if you think you've got what it takes to meet those standards, then you've got to flaunt it.  So remember who your audience is and what they are looking for.  Then make it clear and easy for them to see those qualities in you.

2. Time to switch what type of resume you use.

Most everyone is aware of and uses the chronological type of resume: listing employment history starting from most recent and working backwards.  However, that type of resume may not be as effective as the functional resume.  Contrasted to chronological resumes, which mostly benefit only those who have had a steady employment history and who are on a specific career path, the functional resume emphasizes your skills and qualifications rather than your employment history.  Functional resumes are especially beneficial for those re-entering the workforce after a period of time off or who are switching over to a new field of work or who have had to change jobs repeatedly for whatever reasons.  When constructing a functional resume, your main sections should be titled by skills and strengths.  For example, "Management Skills" or "Sales Experience."  Each qualification should have under it specific experiences and accomplishments which prove your abilities.  Employment history is included, but it is near the bottom of the resume and only features previous companies' names, your job titles, and the employment dates.

3.  Start out your resume with an eye-grabber.

You are selling yourself, so you need something right from the start that will catch the employer's attention.  Two effective ways are by beginning with an "Objective" or a "Skill Summary" section.  Both intend to show your reader why you are an excellent candidate for the job, and they also prepare your reader for what follows.  The first emphasizes your personal vision or what you want to contribute to the company, whereas the second focuses primarily on your stats: how many years of experience you have, how you would describe your abilities and skills, how you would describe your personal/social traits (i.e. are you a good team player?), and so forth. 

4. Change your focus from job duties to employment accomplishments.

Explaining your job responsibilities in companies past is important, but keep it limited to one or two sentences.  What you really want to emphasize is your accomplishments in those previous positions.  Again, this is about selling yourself.  Express your employment history in such a way that accentuates any benefits or solutions to problems you contributed to past employers.  However, be careful not to go overboard and exaggerate or even go so far as to lie about what you actually accomplished.

5. Back up your claims

Anyone can say they did this and that and were successful here and there.  But when you actually attach evidence and supporting data to those claims, that is what will impress your reader.  So get specific about what you have accomplished (advice #4), but don't just stop there and fail to support yourself with numbers, dollar amounts, and any other form of important data.

Of course you want to get the job.  Of course you want a resume that will put you at the head of the competition.  So spend the time and effort reinventing your resume the way both it and you deserve.  You will find it an investment with no end to the results coming your way.