Let’s quickly recap the elements of the “5 Musts” we’ve covered so far.
#1: Organization. Be sure your resume is well organized. The two most common formats are chronological and functional.
#2: Suitable for Level of Experience. Your resume should spotlight your most recent accomplishments and those activities relevant to your target position. Keep in mind whether you are new to the job market or have many years of experience.
#3: Keywords. Be sure your resume contains the keywords your potential employer is looking for and those keywords that are prevalent in your job category or industry.
#4: Power Words. Make sure your resume makes the strongest positive impression by using power words that clearly describe your actions and accomplishments. Examples include: Developed, Managed, Trained, Negotiated.
And now, for Must #5: Use Numbers.
Numbers
Using numbers in your resume shows the level of your accomplishments and makes a stronger case for you being considered for a position. Take a look at these before and after statements.
Before:
“Responsible for the training of personnel on computer applications.”
After:
“Trained 250 office and manufacturing personnel on a newly deployed inventory management system. The successful use of the system led to a 15% reduction in inventory in the first 6 months.”
How can you measure the work you do? Look for items that show a prospective employer how you increased company income or saved money.
Here are some questions to get you started.
Requests
How many requests for a certain task or service do you receive in a day, month, or year?
How quickly do you respond to requests?
What dollar amounts are associated with these requests?
Projects
What projects have you worked on for your employer?
What was the dollar amount associated with the project?
What was your role?
Clients, Customers, Direct Reports
How many clients or customers do you serve (internal customers count, too!)?
How many people report to you?
Always remember you have a lot to offer. Be sure they know it!
To Your Success,
Karen
www.KarenLCox.com
