How to Write a Job Winning Resume

by Ruth Mayhew
Set aside time for writing an effective resume.

Set aside time for writing an effective resume.


A job-winning resume is more apt to be a resume that persuades the recruiter or hiring manager to contact you for an interview. Resumes and cover letters get interviews; a candidate's successful interview performance gets the job. Writing a resume that can improve your chances of getting an interview is simple, provided you have the job posting handy and previous versions of your resume and information about your career highlights.


Obtain previous versions of your resume. Highlight the sections you believe best describe your skills, qualifications and work experience. These are sections you'll either tweak for improvements or simply transfer over to your new resume. If it's been a lengthy period since you last updated your resume, ensure you have a copy of your current job description to distill information from for your newest version.


Select the paper you intend to use for hard-copy versions of your new resume. A heavier-weight paper, especially designed for resumes and cover letters, in an eggshell or ecru shade is ideal for a resume that's made to look like it was professionally printed. Southworth paper manufacturer recommends 32-pound bond paper instead of the typical 20-pound bond used for photocopying.


Choose an easy-to-read font, such as 12-point Times New Roman or Arial. Use a larger font -- 14- or 16-point -- for the header. Your header consists of your name and contact information. Format your page using 1-inch margins. The key to writing a resume that captures the reader's attention begins with its readability. Readability includes spacing, font size and white space on your resume. Resumes that are too cluttered with information generally are a turn-off because they appear too difficult to read.


Draft an introduction that contains two to three sentences about your career, beginning with two adjectives that describe your professional attributes. Your introduction is like an elevator speech, which is a 30- to 60-second summary of who you are and what you can bring to the organization. For example, you could write, "Enthusiastic, accomplished CPA with 10-plus years' experience in corporate accounting. Extensive background in managing financial activities and tax preparation for non-profit and charitable foundations, monthly reconciliation for $25 million budgets and presentations to chief executives and board members." Don't use a heading for your introduction; simply place it directly below your name and contact information. Make it stand out by using italics.


Start a new section, titled "Work History." List your previous employers in reverse chronological order by the company name, location and employment dates. Under the company name, put your position or title. If you have several jobs with the same employer, highlight your promotions by listing each position separately and the dates you worked in each position, followed by "promotion" in parentheses after the name of the position to which you were promoted.


Write a brief description of your job duties below each position. Don't use the same phrasing from your employer's job description, such as "Responsible for reconciling monthly accounts." Recruiters and hiring managers can detect when a candidate uses a company job description to construct a resume because of the typically stilted language. Use action verbs to begin each of your responsibilities and limit the descriptions to three or four lines for each position.


Draw the reader's attention to one or two notable achievements in your work history by using underlined, red font for the sub-heading label "Notable Achievements" after your descriptions for each job. Follow the sub-heading with a one-line description of an accomplishment in that job of which you're most proud. If you have more than one for each job, select the one that's easiest to quantify, such as "Reduced bank fees for organization's accounts by 18 percent, within first 12 months of head accountant role."


Set out your education or academic credentials in a separate section titled, "Education & Training." List colleges and universities, starting with the most recent degree or enrollment. If you are currently enrolled in a degree or certificate program, put "currently enrolled" or "degree anticipated Spring 2013" next to the name of the program or coursework. Insert a line and list informal training, such as professional development workshops, seminars and continuing education courses. Use only the most relevant for the job posting to which you're applying.


Create a section for your volunteer work or membership in professional associations. Employers like to see well-rounded candidates. Therefore, enhance your resume with two to three activities where you donate your time to charitable organization or causes. Refrain from listing organizations that indicate religion or political preference. For example, don't list your volunteer activities for your state's Libertarian Party or Green Party committee, or activities with the National Rifle Association. Title this section appropriately, as either "Volunteer Activities & Professional Memberships" or "Volunteer Affiliations."

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