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Free Resume Template 01Article Category : Resume Presentation  This is ResumeStandards.com first free resume template provided for all job seekers. Please feel free to use our templates, credit acknowledgement would be greatly appreciated. Terms of use: ResumeStandards.com owns rights to all resumes.
Article Category : Resume Presentation A powerful resume starts with a good statement of objective. This is the headline of your advertisement promoting yourself. The headline has to be simple yet state with clarity that you are the perfect choice for the specific job or position. Clarity of objective requires that you be clear about your own career direction. If you are not clear where you are headed with your career and the specific goals, you may not be the right fit for the position. There are bound to be certain uncertainities in your mind, there may be areas of concern on the path your career is moving. Yet it is better not to reflect those grey areas in your objective statement. There are several ways you can write your objectives. Decide on the specific job title you want to apply for. Then think about one or two qualification, abilities and skills that go with the position. Write it out in short and simple manner. The format could go something like this. Objective: Seeking a middle management position in an organization where Business Development and Franchise network management is high priority. If you are applying for several positions, you can prepare different objectives which will go well with the positions you are applying for. You may also prepare objective based on the positions’ job description and tailor your objectives for each position being applied for. Here are a few examples of targeted objectives: Vice President Marketing in an organization where strong track record of National Business Development in informational technology product is needed. Seeking an entry level position in the software marketing where a basic qualifications in IT would be needed. Senior Administrative position in an automobile components manufacturing company with a background of handling HR funtions. Practice writing objectives in line with your career goals and skills and very soon you will be a master at it. Go ahead and start polishing your resume as you read this article. Creating a perfect resume will take many improvements before it is market ready. The effort is well worth the results it will bring. R.G. Srinivasan is a Certified Trainer, Writer and Author with more than two decades of managerial experience. He also writes a regular blog on home-business resources which you may check out at http://www.home-businessresources.blogspot.com for online marketing tips, resources, opportunities and online promotional strategies
Article Category : Resume Presentation Resume Writing doesn’t have to be a solo gig Resume writing can be the bottleneck to advancements in your career. If you find yourself getting writer’s block consider getting help. You can find experts who have written hundreds of resumes; they can help you, too. A good first place to look for help is online job search sites such as career builder or monster.com. Get help writing resumes that will get you hired There you’ll find a number of expert writers who can provide you critiques as well as do-overs for resumes. There are some services that specialize in niche markets for executive resumes. You can also find help distributing resumes. Even if you’re a professional writer, you’ll recognize that these people know their stuff. They’ll help build resumes into effective marketing brochures that people can use to interviews. People often put too much or too little information in their resumes. They may not have the distance to critique their own resumes to decide what should stay in and what should be taken out. Online job search sites have a number of sources that you can use for your career search. Getting help writing resumes is just one of them. You can also pick up interview tips, learn about career fairs, and get the low down on continuing education. Not only can you learn how to improve your interview skills, you can also learn more about hot careers. Resume writing tips for the Internet You need resume writing tips for the Internet because not all resumes are created equally. Sometimes employers will want their resumes in ASCII format only. That means you produce something in Notepad, not Word. You can write your resume in Word but then you make sure you save it in Text format. You’ll lose a lot of formatting when you do this so keep the resume simple and check what it looks like in Notepad. Getting interviews depends on submitting the right kind of resume The usual reason why an employer wants the resume in ASCII format is that they scan the resume into their resume bank. This way you might get a call for an interview when you’re not actively looking because your resume was scanned in to the employer’s database of resumes. Here are some tips to help improve how scannable your r閟um?is: ? Employ ample use of keywords in your resume when you write it. The recruiter uses keywords to search through the database to find resumes. ? Use a simple font, one that doesn’t have curly shapes to it. Look for sans serif fonts; Arial is a good one to try. This is so that the letter shapes don’t confuse the OCR software. ? Avoid bold or italic font. It’s harder for the OCR software to read the text that way. ? If you are using snail mail to get your resume to the company, don’t fold it. Folds in the paper can obscure the writing on your resume. ? Don’t use columns for your resume. It doesn’t get picked up that well by the OCR scanner. Use a single column table format instead. Consider safeguarding your identity when posting resumes on to the Internet. Minimize personal identifying information on your resume. Create a job search e-mail that you shut down when you don’t need it anymore. If you enjoyed this article, visit my website Get-A-New-Job A site devoted to all the things you need to get a new job…education, resume writing tips, interviews, and career strategies.
Article Category : Resume Presentation 1. Start with an attractive layout. Use bold and italics to highlight key points. I do not recommend downloadable templates because they are very generic and dull. Get creative but not crazy. You can use a little touch of color if you are modest. 2. Justify the text instead of using left align. Most people are accustomed to reading justified text. This will make your r閟um?easy to follow. 3. Choose a common font. Times New Roman, Arial, and Verdana are some of the best fonts for a r閟um? Now is not the time to experiment. Most computers do not have 600 different fonts installed so the file will not read correctly if you use your decorative fonts. Do not use cutesy graphics such as candy canes or teddy bears if you want to be taken seriously. - Yes, I have really received a r閟um?with teddy bears and candy canes on it. It is NOT appropriate for business correspondence, and I guarantee your r閟um?will be canned if you do this. 4. Do not use the word “I” in your r閟um? Start each sentence with a powerful verb. - Organized annual student symposium by securing speakers and working closely with marketing department executives. - Implemented production bonus incentives and “best practices” matrix for all divisions raising overall productivity by as much as 40%. 5. Write a proper cover letter for each position you apply to. Do not ever send out a r閟um?without a cover letter. This is basic business etiquette. Personalize each cover letter directly to the position you are applying to. A generic cover letter will not work to your benefit. If possible, address the letter directly to a person. If you do not know the hiring managers name, use “Hiring Manager”. 6. Print your r閟um?and read it word for word. You can use the grammar and spell check function, but don’t rely on it. 7. When you have a degree, list only the year that you obtained your degree. When you list your dates of attendance, many r閟um?scanning systems will not recognize that you obtained a degree, only that you attended college for a period. 8. Deactivate all e-mail links and web addresses in your r閟um?and cover letter. To do this in MS Word, highlight the link with your mouse, go to the “Insert” drop down menu, scroll down to and click “Hyperlink”, and on the lower left-had side of this screen there should be a little button that says “Remove link”, when you find it, give it a little click and voila! Alternatively, you can highlight the link with your mouse, right click on it, and scroll down to “remove link” to deactivate the link. 9. Be consistent! For example, don’t list one date as 1/2004 and then list another date as 9/22/2004. List software consistently. MS Word and Microsoft Excel are both correct, but not consistent when used together. 10. Adhere to punctuation and capitalization rules. Use a reference manual if you do not understand standard punctuation and capitalization rules. Jennifer Anthony is the owner of ResumeASAP, offering professional and affordable r閟um?writing services. If you have comments about this article, or if you are interested in learning more about professional r閟um?writing, please contact Jennifer Anthony by e-mail or by calling 1-888-722-5211.
Article Category : Resume Presentation While you’re revamping your resume or cover letter or constructing your proof-by-example stories for interviews, you’ll find you need to watch your word choice. Why? Communication is powerful if the words we use to communicate are powerful. That’s not all it takes, but the right words make for a good beginning. So as you craft achievement statements or write paragraphs that sell your skills or draft interview responses to knock the employers’ socks off, consider these suggestions:
Here, then, are 175 powerful verbs and phrases to make use of in resumes, cover letters and interviews:
While you certainly can use the list anytime you’re looking to say something in a more powerful way, you can also use it to help jog your memory about accomplishments on present and past jobs that you might otherwise overlook. Also, consider using the list to help you refine your resumes and cover letters to be more powerful in their presentation and communication. Cheryl Lynch Simpson is a Spiritual Director and Solutions Coach who helps women discover and create the life they’ve always wanted to live.?Cheryl is the author of over 30 print/Internet articles and the founder of Coaching Solutions For Women, a coaching website that produces and showcases career, business, and life solutions that improve the life balance of today’s busy women.?For a complimentary copy of her latest e-book, Ten-Minute Stress Zappers for Women Service Business Owners, visit http://www.coachingsolutionsforwomen.com.
Article Category : Resume Presentation I manage a website for corporate flight attendants that features resumes prominently listed on the first page of the site. Unlike some careers, corporate flight attendants must promote themselves overtly in order to find work especially if they are contractors. Since adding this feature two years ago, I have learned that an online copy must be arranged differently than that of a hard copy primarily for security reasons. Let’s review some of the ‘best practices’ you need to accomplish in order to successfully and safely promote yourself online. 1. Leave out certain personal information. Include your name, your city/state [or region, such as Greater New York], a contact phone number, and an email address. Keep in mind that your phone number can reveal more to people about you than you want. Featuring an unlisted phone number is best; give out your cell number only if you can reasonably expect an advantage in sharing that information publically. Identity theft and sexual harrassment are growing problems; take care that your resume encourages neither. 2. Your photograph. This is optional and not nearly as commonplace in the U.S. as it is in Europe. Still, in some fields it has become a necessity. Make sure you are photographed wearing appropriate business attire. Your picture should be cropped and in most cases be a headshot only. A *jpg or *png extension file looks much nicer than a *gif. 3. State your objective. A one sentence statement outlining what type of position you are desiring is best. 4. Work experience. Okay, now for a dilemma. Do you really want to list information about an employer online? Instead of mentioning companies by name and listing specific employment dates, why not consider substituting that information with general details such as: “Seven Year Position as a Restaurant Manager for an Exclusive Sicilian Restaurant in Manhattan.” You can then follow that statement up with the usual “duties and accomplishments.” 5. Education. List all pertinent information with or without dates. Any training that is related to the position you are seeking warrants a mention. 6. References. Only list “furnished upon request.” Better yet: leave that line out as it is a “given.” 7. Layout and Display. Your online copy should also feature: a border, an attractive background, a decent font [Arial or Times New Roman], font size should be 12 pt., your name should be listed in bold, and hyperlinks must be active [especially for your email address]. Incorporate “Flash” if you desire. Just as with a hard copy of a resume, your online version will get a quick look over by a hiring authority. What they see and read in the first ten to fifteen seconds will go far in determining whether you are contacted or not. Upon contact, offer to forward a complete copy of your resume to them which you can send as an email attachment or within the body of an email message. All in all, by carefully following these ‘best practices’ for listing your resume online, you should gain an important advantage in finding work while safeguarding your privacy. Matt Keegan manages a web design and marketing company based in North Carolina, USA. Geared primarily toward servicing the aviation industry, Matt has helped over one hundred corporate flight attendants post their information online while safeguarding their privacy. You can view copies of these online resumes at http://www.corporateflyer.net/main.htm.
Article Category : Resume Presentation In Part I, we covered how to grab the reader’s attention with the opening sentence. Now we’ll get them interested, arouse desire, and get them to take action. Let’s get moving. Interest Now that you have the reader’s undivided attention. The next step is get them interested in what you have to offer. In this case, since you’re applying for a job, the goal is to get the reader interested in you, right? So how do you do that? You feed them interesting facts. Like how much money you saved your previous employer. By telling them how you were at top of your class. Or that you were one of the top salespeople and the qualities you possess that enabled you to become a top performer. Look at your past. There have to be some accomplishments you can talk about. And you must possess some strengths that enabled you to achieve those accomplishments. Don’t keep them to yourself. Tell the hiring manager. Create enough interest to make the reader want to know more. How else can they make an informed decision? You’re not helping anyone by holding back. Desire You’ve grabbed the reader’s attention and created interested, now you’ll arouse desire by describing the benefits the company will get if it “buys” what you’re selling (which is you). What are the benefits of hiring you? You’ve got a proven track record. You possess qualities that have made you successful in the past and will continue to make you successful in the future. The hiring manger will be congratulated for making such an outstanding hiring decision. Those are some general ideas. I’m sure you can think of some that are more specific to you and your situation. Fill in the details that apply to your situation. Do you have some special certification or accreditation? Do you have a specialized degree? Do you have unique and relevant experience that make you an ideal candidate for the job? Surely, there are several benefits you can use to sell the hiring manager on bringing you in for an interview. Even if you’re trying to switch careers, my killer “System” will get you noticed. You’ll get interviews just because the hiring manger wants to meet someone who’d send such a creative cover letter. Action All that’s left now is to get the reader to pick up the phone and call you. Don’t leave the reader hanging. You’ve grabbed their attention, created interest, and aroused desire. Now tell them what to do next. And don’t be timid. I like to use a subheadline - a headline within the letter. It looks like this: Here’s What To Do Next? Can you be any clearer than that? I don’t think so. You could also use something like: “Here’s How To Schedule An Interview With Me?” Then give them your contact information - all of it. Your phone number, fax number (if you have one), mailing address, email address, cell phone, etc. People are different and you don’t know what their preferred method of communication is so make it easy for them to “order” an interview with you. Some people will want to pick up the phone and call you. Others prefer email. So give them multiple ways to contact you. That increases the chance they’ll contact you for an interview. And that’s what you want, isn’t it? So there you have it, the AIDA formula. Apply it to transform stale, boring cover letters into Killer Cover Letters that’ll get the phone ringing off the hook. Here’s What To Do Next? Hey, haven’t you seen that somewhere before? Well, if you liked this article, you’ll absolutely love my Killer Cover Letter “System.” You can get all the details at: www.CoverLetterGuru.com Robert is an author, speaker, and real estate entrepreneur(both on & offline). Robert applied his direct response marketing skills to develop a Killer Cover Letter System that produced 3 job offers in 72 hours. Please visit http://www.CoverLetterGuru.com to find out more about Robert’s Killer Cover Letter “System.” To request your FREE Report send a blank email to report@CoverLetterGuru.com
Article Category : Resume Presentation The AIDA formula is as old as dirt. It was taught when I was in school over a decade ago. And it’s still being taught for good reason - it works! When you apply it to your cover letter, it has the power to transform a regular cover letter into an attention-grabbing “Killer Cover Letter” that’ll make your phone ring off the hook. AIDA is an acronym. It stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. It describes the process marketers want to take their prospect through in order to make a sale. In this case, the prospect is the hiring manager and you’re selling yourself in the sense that you want the hiring manager to contact you for an interview. So I’m going to show you how to grab the hiring manager’s attention, create interest, arouse desire, and ultimately get him or her to take action (pick up the phone and call you for an interview). By the way, I’ve tested this killer “System” so I know it works. Ready to get started? Then let’s go. Attention The first thing you need to do is grab the reader’s attention. You must get the reader’s attention before he or she can become interested and desirous of your offer to come in for an interview. We’re all busy and we all have several things going on in our lives. So how do you cut through the clutter and grab the reader’s attention? There are several ways actually. One way is to create an attention-grabbing opening sentence or headline as copywriters call it. Think of it like the headlines in newspapers and magazines. You choose which articles to read by quickly glancing at the headlines, don’t you? So why not put an attention-grabbing headline on your cover letter? Most cover letters don’t have an attention-grabbing opening sentence so the mere fact that your cover letter even has a headline separates you from the pack and draws attention to your message, wouldn’t you agree? Let’s say you’re walking along a crowded street and you spot a friend of yours on the other side of the street. Let say his name is Joe. How do you get Joe’s attention? You could start jumping up and down and yelling, “Hey! Over Here!” That might work. A better way would be to yell “Hey Joe! Over Here!” That’d be more likely to catch Joe’s attention, wouldn’t it? Because he hears his name. Personalization increases response dramatically. Now let’s take that thought and apply it to your headline. Adding personalization to your headline is a great idea. Use the recipient’s name right there in the headline. It makes the message more personal and increases the chance the message is read. Let’s take that one step further. Say you’re looking for a job as a nurse and you know the hiring manger’s name is Susan. Susan is understaffed and looking for nurses. So give Susan an attention-grabbing headline to open your cover letter. How about this, “Susan, Finally! A Nurse Who Can Do More Than Take A Temperature! But don’t stop there. Make it big and bold. Remember, it’s a headline. Make sure Susan notices the headline. Grab Susan’s attention. How could Susan possibly not notice that headline strategically placed at the top of your cover letter? And you can take that simple concept and apply it to a cover letter to any hiring manager for any job. So work on an attention-grabbing opening sentence and in Part II we’ll talk about interest, desire, and action. Robert is an author, speaker, and real estate entrepreneur(both on & offline). Robert applied his direct response marketing skills to develop a Killer Cover Letter System that produced 3 job offers in 72 hours. Please visit http://www.CoverLetterGuru.com to find out more about Robert’s Killer Cover Letter “System.” To request your FREE Report send a blank email to report@CoverLetterGuru.com
Article Category : Resume Presentation During my job search I read dozens of books and articles took programs and even sat at the feet of two of the most experienced Human Resource professionals. In a few moments, you will learn the real keys to standing out and rising above the norm. Stick to the facts and only reveal information that will encourage the reader to call you for an interview. If in doubt, leave it out. Pay careful attention to this one. The objective is no longer a practical heading for your resume. Bottom line, don’t begin your resume with an objective statement that talks only about your desires and career goals. Most Human Resource Professionals are overworked and understaffed. The last thing they care about is what you want. HR Professionals are working to meet tight deadlines and desperately want to hire that extra person to make their lives easier. When they look at your resume, they want to know one thing: how will you simplify their lives?Rather than an seeminly selfish objective, create a powerful profile summary that demonstrates how your skills and their needs fit. Read the rest of this article »
Article Category : Resume Presentation The first point to make is that the terms “CV” and “Resume” (with or more often without the French acute accents over the e’s) are virtually interchangeable in the UK; they mean the same thing, but if anything the norm is CV. In the USA and elsewhere, the CV (Curriculum Vitae to give it its full title - literally “Life Study”) is a different animal - a dry listing of qualifications and experience more suited for a university faculty listing for example. This short article by Stephen Thompson, Managing Director and CEO of Top Professional Resumes Limited in the UK (http://www.top-pro-cvs.com), is a brief introduction to writing such a document yourself. It is a fairly obvious truism that a good CV alone won’t get you a job. However a bad CV will prevent you from getting an interview. Since your Resume is primarily a tool to help find a better job or career change, time spent on its proper preparation is a good investment. There is room for some creativity, but not for gimmicks. What works today is a professional, business-like style and a focus on key achievements. We believe the best way to explain the ‘rules’ of CV writing is to explain what you should always do and what you should never do. Do’s: 1. Always print your CV on good quality white or cream/buff paper or vellum. The size should be A4 for the UK, and Letter Size for the USA, Australia and most other countries or territories. The point is that it should be the size that, unfolded, will fit a standard file folder or lever-arch file. 2. Have your Resume typed or word-processed, with plenty of space between paragraphs, and allow for adequate margins. There’s no need to have it professionally printed. 3. Use short paragraphs - preferably no longer than five or six lines 4. Proof read your CV and Covering Letter (another essential document) thoroughly to check for any errors, then get another pair of eyes to give it the once-over. It is surprising how easy it is to miss obvious spelling and other mistakes when you are immersed in it for a few hours. Somebody else will see it straight away. 5. Include your contributions at each one of your jobs. Give the more significant ones greater emphasis. 6. Allocate the largest amount of space to your most recent job. 7. List your activity with professional associations - but only if they’re appropriate. 8. Keep a permanent file of your achievements, no matter how inconsequential they may appear to be, and update it regularly. This will be the source document for a good CV or Resume, whether you do it yourself or have it written professionally. 9. Before applying for any positions, ensure you send each of your referees a copy of your CV. 10. Send a brief, customised Covering Letter with each CV. This is an absolute must, but writing the Covering Letter needs to be very carefully done and is another topic in itself. Email us (info@top-pro-cvs.com) for advice. 11. Send your Resume within a week of a position being advertised, and in any event well within any stated timescale. 12. Re-read your CV before the interview as part of your final preparation. The likelihood is high that the interviewer will have done this just before he or she sees you, so the fresher it is in your mind the better. Don’ts: 1. Never give reasons for leaving a job. In almost all cases, the reader can find negative connotations to even the best reasons. You’re better off explaining in person, if you feel it appropriate, or of course if you’re asked. 2. If the subject comes up, never use negative language about your former employer, rather emphasise your ambition and desire to move on to a more challenging environment. 3. If you feel they need to be mentioned, say to “humanise” your Resume, then do not take more than two or three lines to list hobbies, sports and social activities. If in doubt “leave them out”. As a professional resume writer, I would very rarely include them at all. Nor would I include any other personal information such as your spouse’s occupation or your personal philosophies - they can too easily provide a reason not to see you, the exact opposite of your intention! 4. There is no need to state ‘References Available on Request’. It is assumed, so just clutters up the CV and uses space that could be put to better use. 5. For the same reason, never list references on the CV. 6. Do not give exact dates. Months and years are sufficient (ie May 1998 to December 2002 - always use 4 digits for the year, give it in full). 7. Never include the date your Resume or CV was prepared. If your search takes longer than a few months, (and it can if you don’t invest in a professionally-written CV from Top Professional Resumes )the document will appear outdated and give entirely the wrong impression. 8. Never include your work phone number unless your immediate boss knows you are leaving . 9. Never state your personal objectives unless they are relevant to the position applied for. 10. Do not use professional jargon, and NEVER slang or colloquial terms. 11. Do not provide salary information on the CV. Save it for the interview, and only give it then if directly asked. If this information is requested before interview, state it in your Covering Letter. The Interview-Winning Resume or Power CV - what recruiters look for. What do people receiving them want to see, and in what format? And what do they not want? Most of this section is really elaboration of the points listed as Do’s and Don’ts above. The majority of recruiters want to see personal details appearing immediately below the name. Most selectors prefer the date of birth to age, but if you think your age might be an issue (ie too young or too old), then leave it out altogether. A high percentage like to see some personal information, but they are not generally interested in age of children, religion or a photograph. Neither are they interested in the candidate’s view of their own characteristics. Indeed, as these views are entirely subjective, they are often viewed with scepticism, which can have a negative effect. Practically all recruiters like to see details of further education, degrees and professional qualifications. A surprising number are also interested in numbers of ‘O’levels, ‘A’ levels and GCSE’s(UK), or Grades and Statistics in the USA. Most want details of work related training, particularly those courses which are of reasonable length and lead to a formal qualification. The inclusion of foreign languages is important at all levels, and this trend is increasing. Names of employers, dates of employment, appointments and responsibilities are obviously essential, whilst many recruiters also want a brief description of the company and its business. Employment history should be in reverse chronological order beginning with the most recent job. Responsibilities and Achievements should be listed under each appointment rather than on a separate sheet. There is a preference for the two page CV, although a significant number of recruiters find three pages acceptable, particularly for senior level appointments. Top Professional Resumes also provide a completely FREE, no-obligation CV and Resume review service. If your present CV or Resume is not working for you, email it (mailto:review@top-pro-cvs.com) or fax it to us (+44 if outside UK, and drop the leading zero) to (0)7813 125606. We will respond as soon as possible. Shameless marketing plug. Top Professional Resumes (http://www.top-pro-cvs.com) prepare resumes and other job-search materials specially designed to grab an employer’s attention and COMPEL him to give you an interview. Visit the website to see our Time Limited Special Offer, and take advantage of our Unique Risk Reversal Scheme. Copyright Stephen Thompson and Top Professional Resumes Limited 2005. Stephen Thompson is an HR professional and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Top Professional Resumes Limited (TPR), a company registered in the UK. TPR (http://top-professional-resumes.com) are members of the Professional Resume Writing and Research Association (PRWRA). Stephen Thompson is an Authorised Administrator of Profiling Pro, an organisation that provides online individual Behaviour Profiling Analysis using the D.I.S.C. system. DISC is a widely acknowledged and utilised method of assessing character traits as they apply to relationships, and is a useful indicator of suitability for specific career paths. It is also a very perceptive tool for increasing self-awareness, particularly in relationship handling.
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