Important Tips for Resume Writing - Newspaper Article by Farzad Minoo Damania on Parsi Times

Hi Friends,

Check out my article on Parsi Times Newspaper dated 8^th December 2012, on Important Tips for Resume Writing.

Article Title: Important Tips for Resume Writing
Article Date: 8^th December, 2012
Article on: Parsi Times Newspaper
Article Author: Farzad Minoo Damania

For all your career queries, reach out to me on farzad.damania@gmail.com or 9833971773

You can read the entire transcript of my article below:

Resume is one of the key necessary elements required during job search. Many people get overwhelmed and frustrated when asked to write their resume. Here are some key points that will help you to successfully prepare a compelling and forceful resume.

Font Type and Size:

Use a basic font type such as Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, or Verdana.  Font size of 11 points or 12 points is easy to read. Capital letters, and features such as Bold, Italic and Underline should be used sparingly. 

Bullet Points:

Employers don’t have the time and patience to read long paragraphs of information. Thus, writing your resume in a bulleted format will enable the manager to scan your resume quickly. Bulleted job descriptions are faster to read than long paragraphs.

Contact Information:

Make sure that your contact details are clearly listed on your resume. If you have more than one pages of resume, then it would be a good idea to display your name and contact details on all the pages.  Contact information should include your full name, address, zip code, mobile number, home phone number, and email address.

Length of Resume:

Most employers and recruiters prefer a resume that is one to two pages in length. The shorter your resume, the better.

Action Verbs:

Action verbs help in clearly communicating your achievements, accomplishments and skills. Positive action verbs or power verbs make your achievements sound even more impressive. Few action verbs are: accomplished, administered, managed, enforced, lead, analyzed, rectified, formulated, illustrated, and many more.

Resume Format:

Depending on your skills, work history and job requirements, choose the best resume format. You may choose a chronological, a targeted, a functional, or a combination resume.

Keywords:

Your resume should be tailored as per the job description.  The easiest way to find keywords for your profile is to use a job search engine (such as Naukri, Monster, etc.) and search for job listings. This will make your resume match the given requirements, and will increase your chance of getting an interview call.

Customizing the Resume:

This is a time consuming process, but it is worth the time and effort. Writing a targeted resume will highlight the skill and knowledge you have that is pertinent to the job you are applying for. Edit your resume according to the job description. Take the keywords that appear in the job posting and add them in your resume.

Prioritizing Content:

Prioritizing the content of your resume is very crucial. Make sure that you list the most relevant and important work experience first. Put yourself in the employer’s position, and decide whether the information in your resume makes you a worthwhile candidate for the given job post.

Resume Objective:

Objective is the first thing on your resume after your contact details. A good objective can convince the hiring manager, that you know what you want to do and achieve. If you are applying for a specific position in a company, your resume objective should match up with the position you are applying for.

Statement Length & Language:

A resume must consist of short and crisp statements. These statements do not necessarily have to be complete sentences. Also, use plain and simple English. Avoid usage of jargons and keep away from normalizations (i.e. nouns that are built around verbs to make a bulky statement). Example: “Provided support in the facilitation of ....” can be replaced by “Helped facilitate ....”

Pronouns:

Your resume should not contain pronouns such as “I” and “Me”.  Resume writing is a form of business writing, and thus use of pronouns should be avoided.

Name Prefix:

If you have a gender neutral name such as Kiran, Viral, Ashwini, etc., make sure you include prefix (Mr. /Ms. /Mrs.), so that the employer will not get confused about your gender.

Accomplishments versus Responsibilities:

Avoid using expressions like “Responsibilities included”, “Duties included” or “Responsible for” in your resume. Describing your professional achievements and accomplishments are more important than listing your roles and responsibilities.

Use of Facts and Figures:

Employers like the numerical facts. Using numbers, percentages, and figures, help in making your abilities and accomplishments more remarkable. Example: Instead of saying “Increased annual revenue of my department”, you can say “Increased annual revenue of my department by ` 1.5 cr.”

Use of professional Email Address:

A silly email address can make the employer think that you are not serious in your job. Avoid using unprofessional email addresses, such as cooldude@xyz.com, partygirl@xyz.com, crazyforbeer@xyz.com. Use email addresses that contain your name.

Usage of White Space:

White Space is the blank area of your resume page where text is not printed. Make your resume clutter free. Avoid using unnecessary dates, parentheses, articles (a, an, the), and statements such as “References: Available upon request”.

Proofreading and Second Opinion:

Before sending your resume to the employer, proofread your resume. Spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and grammar mistakes create a negative impression. Also, have a friend or two read your resume to provide second opinion.

Professional Help:

If you are having trouble writing your resume, then you may reach out for professional help. Professional resume writing and editing services can help you craft your resume from scratch.

Your feedback is highly appreciated.

Best Regards,
Farzad Minoo Damania
Career Counsellor & Corporate Trainer
Career Nurturer
http://www.careernurturer.com
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