Education Short List

For the nearly 10% of Americans out of a job, revamping your resume is key. And to those looking for make a change in position or career, it’s time to make adjustments to your CV as well. Here are the Top 6 steps to improve your resume.

1. Add new skills

a. Learn how to use Photo Shop? Just finished a scuba diving class? Taking Spanish lessons? These are all valuable skills that you have – put it on your resume.

2. Don’t have any new skills? Find one

a. Maybe now is the time to enroll in a class at your local community college. Learn a skill, meet potential friends, make new work connections. Attend a workshop

3. Update the language

a. This isn’t to say that you should use slang, but modernize your language. Instead of ‘keyboarding’ using typing or computer speed. Words per minute.

4. Update each part of resume

a. When was the last time you looked at your resume? Probably the last time you were looking for a job. Are there parts to your previous positions that you forgot to mention? Also check that your phone number, address, and email are correct. Revisit what skills and duties your previous jobs held. Didn’t you do more than just filing and sorting mail? Wasn’t there connect with vendors involved with your college role?

5. Volunteer

a. Volunteering is a great way to spruce up your resume. It’s gets you out of the house, helping out with organizations you want to support, lets you meet new people, and build future work connections.
Volunteering is something that will be mentioned in more detail in another post this week. If you don’t have the time to volunteer, think about financial contributions you have given to charities or non-profits, those can be included.

6. Change the Fonts

a. It might sound silly or frivolous – but just like giving a room a new coat of paint, changing your font size or style can bring new life to your resume. Obviously this isn’t the most crucial aspect; but it can be the little touches that catch an employer’s attention.

“Many job listings use the word ‘must,’ not ‘it would be nice to,’” according to Dave Opton, CEO and founder of ExecuNet. “If it says you must have experience in X, then tailor your resume to show that,” Opton says.

If you’re answering a job listing, be sure you respond in exactly the way the company wants. And be aware that if you’re not applying for a specific job but rather sending out dozens or hundreds of form letters, your resume is likely to end up in companies’ spam folders.

Now take another look at your resume. Get a second opinion, and a third. Does it present you in the right light? Is it professionally formatted? Does it feature accomplishments, rather than merely job titles and dates?

Although making changes to your resume isn’t a guarantee of landing that new position, it will give you greater confidence in what your abilities and qualifications are. Plus, it will speak more clearly of who you are to potential employers.

Good Luck!

**Addendum on 10/30/09**

– Make sure that for each position you are applying for, that you tailor your resume to fit that position. Look at what the requirements, descriptions, and responsibilities; from there you want to ensure that your resume includes those skills. This does not mean that you should lie. However, if your general resume states “telemarketing”, and the job description says, ‘includes talking to potential customers on the phone’, you should alter your resume to include that. The same applies to the cover letter that you send to potential employers.

– Keep a separate computer file for all applied positions. Title the resume as the position you applied for ( PDX Tutors tutor); that way, when you are asked for an interview you can guarantee that you take the correct resume and cover letter.

– Remember to give details to the schooling that you’ve had. Don’t just put that you went to college, add some of the classes, skills you learned, workshops you attended.