The 7 Secrets to Resume Writing and Business Success

I was asked on a radio show what are the real secrets to getting a job in this economy. With so many people looking for employment, you must insure that your resume stands out. There are 7 secrets that will insure that you are the star that your future employer plucks out of the sky. Remember that the goal of a resume is to get an interview, so take a leadership stance and total personal responsibility to make it a great one.

1. What is your job objective? You can't scribe before this step. This is your hook, and the statement that most people don't even consider. It is the key that gets you noticed. And always write it from the employer's point of view.

Self-serving objective: To obtain a responsible (as opposed to irresponsible?) and challenging (what, you don't like dull work?) position where my education and work experience will have valuable application (like finding a cure for cancer?)

Attention-getting objective: Mid-level management position in sales where over 10 years of experience will add value to the sales department and company profits.

2. Companies now scan your resume and will look for key words. Pay close attention to the posting of the job and use their words that have been chosen by the hiring manager. If you use paragraphs, your resume will wind up in the circular file. Chose bullet points for your concise statements. You should always use %'s, $'s and #'s. Percentages, dollar totals, and numbers stand out in the body of a resume.

Incorrect: Was the top sales producer for the region

Correct: Managed 20% of all accounts with sales in excess of $20M annually

3. Customize your resume for each company. This will increase your chance of an interview and remember - that is the goal! It's all about personal responsibility, and self-leadership for you to find your business success.

4. Read a book about graphic design. Look at ads and pay attention to where you look first. Design is important on your resume! Open space or "white space" is good. Font should be no smaller than 10 point and use Times New Roman or a similar style.

5. Stay upbeat and positive. There is no room for toxic behavior and negative stories. If you don't want there to be an issue with your age, do not include your year of graduation. Remember this also when listing your positions and companies.

6. Focus only on what is relevant to the job you are seeking. Leave off irrelevant information such as race, gender, and other personal statistics. Have someone else read and critique your resume with specific examples of why it is good or bad. You are way to close to be objective. Remember to limit the resume to one page!

7. Choose a high quality of 24-pound cream or white colored paper on which to print your resume. Consider water marked paper and envelopes. Make sure the envelope is well formatted, the return address is clear and even check that the stamp is square in the corner. It is all about first impression.

Now that your resume is done, email me for your copy of The Ten Commandments of Cooperation so your interview rewards you with a job offer!