Learning how to write a resume is something nearly everyone learns how to do at one point or another. Whether it be in class, reading a book, or by mimicking someone else’s efforts, it’s something that everyone has done at least once in their lives; that is, if they’ve ever applied for a job. Writing an effective resume is as much a creative art as it is a logical puzzle. How do you take 500-600 words and make them jump out and scream “hire me” to an employer? It’s a skill that needs constant refining.

The first thing is to get a professional-sounding email address if you don’t have one already. Many employers today like to take care of as much as they can over the phone and through email before actually bringing someone in for an interview. By that point, the list of candidates is already very short and they’re looking very hard at the people who are left. Your resume is the key that gets you to that final round, so knowing how to write a resume is the bulk of the battle.

The hardest part of learning how to write a resume is getting it noticed. Boilerplate corporate phrases like “results-oriented professional” or “hardworking team player” are outdated and generally ridiculed. Companies don’t want to hear that you’re results oriented, they want to see it. So, in the “Accomplishments” section of your resume, make sure to fill it with all the ways you have saved or made your previous employers money over the years. You may be a results-oriented professional, but businesses both large and small are bottom-line driven establishments. If you show them tangible results, then they’ll show you a healthy salary and a nice corner office.

If you don’t know how to write a resume, you’re putting yourself at an extreme disadvantage. Those who can express their background and accomplishments in words will be ahead of someone who cannot. It is the resume that leads to the interview, and it also serves as a thumbnail sketch of who you are.

It is important to be factual on your resume and try not to make yourself out to be something you’re not. If you’re caught – even after you’ve landed the job–you could be fired on the spot. Save the talk about shortcomings and weaknesses for the actual interview, because there you can try your best to minimize, downplay, and explain them away. By that point, the company might be willing to hire you anyway if you present yourself to be a compelling candidate, so work on developing the best possible resume you can.

— Rebecca Hawkes brings her years of Human Resource experience to https://www.TheResumeBuilder.com/ She has worked with top companies and agencies such as Home Depot, CA Department of Corrections, and Bank of America. Rebecca uses her experience as an HR Recruiter to assist our customers with how to write a resume. We are fortunate to work with such an experienced and caring associate.