Creating a Successful Resume

An effective resume is one that gets you the job. Sounds simple, right? Well, anyone who’s been in the job search for more than a month knows that it’s not quite that straightforward.

What Makes a Good Resume?

All good resumes have a few things in common. First, your resume should be free of grammatical errors and visually appealing. These two qualities show that you put time and attention into your resume. Remember that today’s resumes are viewed on devices such as tablets, computers, and cell phones. You need to use lines, shading, color, and other elements if you want to stand out.

Additionally, avoid outdated language. A modern resume does not include an objective and does not use wording such as “responsible for” or “accountable for.” Overused action verbs like “managed” or “led” are outdated, too.

Finally, your resume will accurately tell your professional story in a succinct way. Reviewers are short on time. You need to be clear and concise because they will not spend time searching for information to determine if you are qualified for the job or not.

A good resume will contain a core message. It should show how well-suited you are for the company. You will want to play up your strengths and experiences that apply to the position you’re interviewing for. In her book, Breathe Life into Your Resume, Dr. Jeannine Bennett says, “The entire resume should be a story of your professional career with quantifiable, supporting evidence to demonstrate you are the perfect person for the job in which you are applying.”

What Makes a Resume Bad?

There are many reasons why your resume could be failing you. First, if your resume was thrown together at the last minute as a response to a job posting that just popped, then it probably doesn’t contain the right information to get you noticed. Resumes are not a one-size-fits-all type of document. It’s possible that your resume is not designed for the correct audience.

Next, your resume is boring. Keep in mind that your prospective employer will read, on average, 25 other resumes for the job you are applying for. If you did not include anything in your resume that will make you memorable, you are likely to get lost in the stack.

Finally, you only have six seconds to capture the attention of the reader. If your resume doesn’t sell your true worth, then you have already lost.

Should I Hire Professional Help?

A resume writing professional is worth their weight in gold. Seasoned resume writers are pros at crafting targeted resumes. Vision to Purpose founder and CEO, Dr. Jeannine Bennett, literally wrote the book on creating the perfect resume. Lucky for you, she has made it so easy to glean from her successful method.

If the DIY route isn’t your cup of tea, Dr. Bennett has a wide range of resume writing packages available to suit your needs. Even easier, schedule a quick and free 15-minute resume consultation to chat with her about your current resume situation.

About the Author

Melanie Lemus is the Communications Specialist for Vision to Purpose providing self-help, business, and career-focused topics. She lives in Virginia with her wonderful husband and witty daughter. Melanie loves her freedom – in Christ and America. She’s passionate about natural health and homeopathy, and she’s always down to take a hike through the mountains.

About Vision to Purpose

Vision to Purpose is dedicated to helping individuals and businesses succeed by offering tailored career, life, and business solutions, specializing in military transitions. We also help writers become published authors!

Need a resume writer? How about a writing coach? Perhaps a business consultant? Look no further; Dr. Bennett and the Vision to Purpose team can help! You can learn more about Vision to Purpose by visiting www.visiontopurpose.com.