by R E Payne

Created on: September 07, 2007   Last Updated: June 30, 2010

On a scale of one to ten, the best resume is one written for a specific job and company. At the bottom of the scale is the general resume written to mail indiscriminately to all types of firms, regardless of the position open or the nature of the business.

As a resume writer, I once helped a Japanese engineer find a job. I suggested to him that rather than write one general resume trying to cover the range of his vast experiences all over the world, that he would fax or email to me each ad he wanted to answer and that I would individualize each cover letter and resume for that particular ad. I wrote six cover letters and six resumes for him. He sent them all out. About 30 days later he telephoned me from Tokyo to tell me that he was invited to five interviews out of the six companies contacted and that he ultimately accepted a position at twice his anticipated salary and was relocating to United Arab Emirates. The fee he paid me for the special arrangements were well worth it! The point is that you need two or three resumes.

Do not worry about the styles of the resumes. There is NO one style for you. You are out of work or in need of a job. You must be flexible.

POWER WORDS
Accelerated,accomplished, achieved, adapted, administered, analyzed, approved, conceived, conducted, completed, controlled, coordinated, created, delegated, demonstrated, designed, developed, earned, effected, eliminated, established, expedited, facilitated, generated, implemented, improved, increased, initiated, instructed, launched, lectured, mastered, motivated, operated, ordered, originated, organized, participated, pinpointed, planned, prepared, proficient in, recommended, reduced, reorganized, revamped, revised, simplified, solved, streamlined, surpassed, taught, trained, translated, utilized, won, wrote are all action or power words.

Employers today want to know concrete things about you, and what you can produce. Most resumes today are filed. By beginning sentences with action or power words, you are showing employers you are capable of tactical strategic thinking and have proven results. (Suggest writing sentences beginning with power words in your resume.)

YOU NEED MORE THAN A RESUME
Attitude really makes a difference

Developing an enthusiastic, positive attitude is, unquestionably, the first thing to do in starting your job search. This can be a marvelous journey for you, the chance to revive your career, to find the job that is ideal for which your talents, skills and abilities

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