Skills and Key Words - Make Your Resume Shine
Tips To Make Your Skills Shine In Your Resume - Learn how to strategically list your most important skills and achievements throughout your resume for greater impact.
If you create a resume that simply covers every job you have held in reverse chronological order for the sake of listing your “duties,” you are missing out on a prime opportunity to make a powerful impression.
Focus: Brand Yourself
One of the first items on a resume should be an objective or a branding statement. This is no different than the title of an essay or the heading on a billboard. It immediately communicates what you are about or what you aspire to be. Key word: immediately.
Explain: Profile
Still, the reader does not know anything about you. The inclusion of a profile about your career path is a good thing to do. Take this opportunity to be specific and include certain key words that match the requirements in a job ad.
For example, include the level of experience you have in that field, the types of organizations you’ve worked for and about two or three of your most important skill sets and your most important credentials such as MBA, J.D., PMP or MSCE. Core competencies could include project management, budget control and staff training and supervision. The more specialized you are, the more specialized your key words will be.
Sell: Your Achievements
You can take your resume to the next level by including a career achievements section to really grab the reader’s attention. Once they read your brand statement, profile, key words or career achievements, they are going to want to read more.
Cover Letter: Back Up Support
You may be wondering if that is too much, as well as wondering if that information should be included in the cover letter. The answer is yes and no.
The cover letter is more conversational and less technical. The cover letter is intended to introduce you, express the exact position you are seeking and to peripherally cover your career in a narrative style without repeating the entire resume.
It is also the place to cover your situation such as relocation, a recent layoff due to a major acquisition, a desire to transition your career or a desire to start your career after earning a degree. The cover letter is your introduction. It is your voice. It is also used to request and interview, either in person or by telephone, as well as to disclose your salary requirement.
That said, the cover letter is also a good place to include key words and to highlight achievements. Any opportunity you have to impress should be taken advantage of.
Where and How To Place Your Key Words
There are many ways to include key words in your resume. You can add them to the top of your resume in a tagline. You can create a profile that includes them throughout. You can create a key words section. And then you can use them throughout the resume.
Where and How To Place Your Achievements
As for your accomplishments, you can list them at the top of the resume or highlight a set of achievements under each respective position. Or both! Just be careful not to repeat yourself exactly. If you are creative, you can list the same achievements in slightly different ways.
A resume is a both a technical and creative document. If done right, it can serve as a very compelling marketing tool. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Whatever you do, keep it organized.
By Ann Baehr, CPRW - http://www.e-bestresumes.com
