writing an effective résumé / dr. michal yefet
the following scenario is familiar to anyone who has looked for a job – it cannot be avoided. you find the desired position, send your résumé and anxiously await a response. you continue to wait but a response never comes.
in most cases, you will not receive a response to your application, or you will simply be rejected without an explanation.
today, searching for work is a long and difficult task and good positions seem harder than ever to attain. the road to finding a good position is full of uncertainty and unanswered questions.
we are here to make things clearer… because as you already know – jobnet works for you.
the first step in shortening the long and tedious process of finding work is writing an effective résumé, one which:
the writing process:
in general, a résumé should take up no more than a page. if you are applying for a senior position, a two-page résumé may be appropriate.
résumés usually fall under one of three categories: reverse chronological order, functional or combined.
reverse chronological order résumé: presents your education and experience in reverse chronological order. there is no need to list every position held, only those relevant and appropriate to the position for which you are applying.
do not list positions that are not relevant, those which you held only briefly or which coincided with positions held later. the important factor in writing a résumé of this type is its flow and the chronology.
functional résumé: presents your professional experience according to skills, independent of chronology and allows you to emphasize your current and potential capabilities and to de-emphasize other elements, for example, periods of unemployment. this type of résumé is recommended particularly to those who are entering the job market for the first time or re-entering after an extended absence, for example, people looking for work after raising children, who can list volunteer and community work as pertinent experience.
experience is presented according to subject or the fields in which it was gained, and placed in order according to importance and relevance.
combined résumé: presents a functional outline of your professional experience followed by a chronological list of positions held.
first step: focus
decide on the position for which you want to apply. write a set objective at the top of the page.
in principal, there is no need to write your objectives or the position sought in the body of your résumé. your objectives and the position sought can be written in the cover letter and rewritten to suite each application specifically. however, if specifying your objectives and the position sought does not limit the range of your professional possibilities, you may choose to include these in the résumé itself. the statement of objective must be written clearly and should include the title of the position sought (for example, “marketing manager with strong international background,” rather than “a position in which i can use my skills and experience for mutual benefit”).
second step: job description
indicate the years during which the position was held, the position title, the name of the company and a brief description of the highlights of the position held. list your experience starting from the last position held and moving back, according to their relevance to the current position. it is important to use professional terminology and keywords. begin with the most current position – first, the position title, then the company name followed by the dates. company addresses do not need to be included, although the city in which the work was done is sometimes indicated.
include exact months if you wish, though they are not necessary. if, however, you held a position over one and a half years, it is preferable to indicate years (1996-1997) rather than the exact months. whichever method you choose, it is important to be consistent so that your résumé is clear and reads smoothly.
under each position, indicate the tasks that the position included. it is preferable to include your concrete contributions to the company while holding the position, including special achievements, which suggest to potential employers that you will be able to achieve similar things in a new position, for example:
it is sometimes preferable to list achievements by number, which makes a strong impression – but only when justified.
keep sentences short and concise, positive and accurate. using the first person makes a bad impression and should be avoided. beginning sentences with a verb makes a powerful impact, for example: “improved the production department”.
organize sentences according to their relevance to the position and logical progression.
finally, review your job descriptions and remove all irrelevant details. remember, your résumé does not need to contain every piece of information about your experience. your objective is to focus on what is important and avoid burdening the reader with verbiage.
using keywords for computerized searches
today, many résumés are scanned and placed in data bases, which makes it important to include keywords taken from your professional field in your job description, for example: c++, unix, fiber optics, project management, network management, or names of large companies like ibm, motorola and at&t.
it is also advisable to include keywords from the original job description. however, it is important to state the truth and avoid exaggeration, which will immediately be apparent in an interview and ruin your chances.
third step: education
start with academic education (there is no need to include matriculation exams). afterwards, list relevant courses and continuing studies programs including the number of academic hours of study, final projects, distinctions or relevant projects and specialization. although continuing studies suggest ongoing growth and learning, it is important to remain concise and include only relevant studies.
fourth step: other relevant skills
consider other information that may help you to obtain the position. this may include licenses, membership in an organization, conference lectures or related areas of interest (for example, the fact that you play tennis may be significant if you are applying for the position of a marketing manager for sports products).
fifth step: general
in four or five short lines, provide a general summary of your résumé that addresses your experience, professional development or a number of relevant outstanding character traits.