How to Prepare a Professional Resume

Many of our candidates have asked us over the years on the best way to prepare a profes­sional quality re­sume.  Well, here is the quick and dirty approach to the best way to do it!  Follow this outline to make yourself the most presentable on paper!

Do

•        Use a high quality paper - white heavy weight paper is the best.  Size to be 8 1/2" x 11" only.

•        Have your resume engraved, type set or off-set printed — certainly no less than laser printed.

•        Use the standard outline that is provided on the next page.

•        Use success stories - not just job descriptions.

•        Use multiple pages if you have the story to tell - the old idea about keeping a resume to one page is dead.  Just don't cre­ate a novel!

•        Brag on paper — just don't overdo it.

•        Ask your friends, families, and business associates to solicit informa­tion on your strong points.

•        Prepare different resumes for each position for which you are applying to amplify your skills in those areas.

•        Prepare "custom" cover letters for each job that you apply for.

•        Call your Friends, Relatives for constructive criticism.

Don't

•        Photocopy your resume

•        Use a dot matrix printer or a typewriter to prepare your resume.

•        Put your resume in a cover or binder or use a booklet style.

•        Put your resume in anything less than a #10 business enve­lope.

•        Get carried away with typefaces on the resume.

•        List strictly a job description of your employment history.

•        Put any salary or earnings history on your resume.

•        Use "canned" cover letters.

•        Use hand written cover letters or envelopes.

The body of your resume is subject to your personal tastes. The resume should include:

Heading                     Your name, address, work and home telephone number.

Objective                   This part of your resume is optional.  90% of the hiring managers don't read this section anyhow!  Nearly everybody uses the same canned objective statement.  It is our suggestion that you forget it as part of the resume.  Put it in a clear and concise cover letter in­stead addressing the actual requirements of the job.

Employment

History                       The month and years of employment, company name, and your title.  Be certain to put your employment history in reverse chronological order (most recent job first).  The most recent job should show from start date to present (see example).  College employment and part-time jobs are not relevant unless this is your first professional job.

Job Duties                 Should include a very brief description of what the specialty of the company is.  The balance of the description should be a brief de­scription of the specific duties that you performed followed by a de­tailed description of your "success stories".

                             Your job duties should show a clear progression of how your contributions in one job lead to advancement within the company and how your career path from company to company was a planned career progression.

                             By all means be sure to include how you hired, trained, promoted and best utilized your talents in developing people.

Education                  Your formal education and any specialized training that you have earned.

Personal                    No sex, drugs, religion, politics, or rock and roll!  Special awards can be in­cluded as well as special skills or unique hobbies that can be considered non-of­fensive.  Very acceptable to leave off the resume altogether.

Name                              :                  CA Prakash Somani

Mail ID                            :                  p_somani@yahoo.co.in