Effective Resume Writing: How to Get Noticed!

With the overwhelming number of people unemployed in today's economy, the harsh realization is-there are hundreds of thousands qualified people out there, all competing for the same jobs. Writing an effective resume is essential. It has to stand out and catch the interest of a prospective employer. With hundreds of resumes being received on a daily basis, the tedious task of filtering through every single one of them to find the "perfect" candidate has recruiters skimming over the resume, looking for specific key words or "buzz" words. Even if you possess the qualifications and skills for these jobs, if your resume doesn't stand out, you chance being over looked.

Resume writing techniques vary and everyone seems to have their own opinion about what it should look like. Some people will advise you to use an objective versus a summary; others will tell you to list your education above your skills. Keep in mind that writing styles vary; it's really a matter of personal preference.

So how can you put yourself ahead of the competition?

You have to be willing to go the extra mile and put a little effort into your job search. When applying for a job, the one size fits all resume doesn't work. Your resume should be saved on your computer for easy access, but should be altered as needed for the specific job for which you are applying.

Job postings usually include specific verbiage that relates to the experience or qualifications required for that position. Your objective or summary should be adjusted to highlight your qualifications that address those skills. If the position is for a Customer Service Representative, make sure that your intro speaks to that. You can draw more attention by including Customer Service in your objective or summary. In addition, if they require someone experienced in Word and Excel, list those skills in that same section.

Resumes are scanned by the reviewer for a brief ten to fifteen seconds, as they look for key points that match the position qualifications. You want to make sure that your resume catches their eye quickly.

Another important thing to remember when applying for a position and submitting your resume is honesty-never fabricate your resume and inflate your experience. This is a killer and will ultimately cost you your chance at employment. If you aren't an expert in a particular area, don't say you are. You can use adjectives like "proficient" or "intermediate" to describe your skill level and knowledge of computer programs or applications.

Let's say for example that you are applying for a position as a Collector. What do you think is important to that employer? Not only are they looking for someone who has collections experience, but someone who is effective as a Collector. So what makes you effective? Experience and effectiveness are distinctively different. You might be able to make one hundred calls a day, but what is the result of those calls? Have you reduced delinquency? Have you effectively collected these debts?

Once you answer these questions, the results achieved from your experience become your accomplishments!

As you tailor your resume to each position and job for which you apply, you need to list those accomplishments and quantify the results. This does require a little thought on your part and then you will incorporate these results into your resume. Effective resumes note your accomplishments and they need to stand out.

With the stiff competition in today's job market, employers and companies alike all want to know what you can do for them. They are looking for candidates that are knowledgeable, experienced and most importantly, someone who will add value or make contributions to the success of their organization.

You can follow the links provided to some other published articles relating to the job search process, that might interest you.