Step 1: Shoot for the Bull’s Eye

The first thing you should do before typing up your resume is to get acquainted with your potential employer.  As a resume maker, every section you include should be tailor fit to the employer and position you are targeting.

In a connected world, it’s easy to do the recon you need to do before writing a single word in your resume. Start with the corporate website.  Next, try using a tool like Google news to see what’s happening around the company.  After that, shoot over to Manta.com for some more statistic heavy research.

Every piece of information you can gather, the better.  It’s the background information that will play the biggest part in determining whether your resume is a winner or a flop.

Step 2:Get to the point

Trust me, most hiring managers don’t have the time to read your life story.  There is no point in writing up a resume that rambles for 20 pages.  In fact, more times than not the “bulky bombshell” type resumes find their way directly into the garbage can.

Don’t be that guy (or gal).  Instead just stick to the facts and keep your resume focused only on what matters to the job you’re after.  If the employer gets a sudden urge to know what job you held as a sophomore in High School, rest assured that they will ask.

Step 3: Grab attention with your design
You only get one chance with hiring managers.  Don’t waste it with a resume design that doesn’t grab them by the eyes.  If your resume can be ignored, then it will be.

Structure your resume so that the most important things are close to the top.  Use bullet points and subheads gratuitously.  And, just as important, use high quality paper that feels good to the touch.  All of these things will set you apart from the rambling, office max photocopying crowd that you’re competing against.

Step 4: Use the job description to your advantage

The fastest way to make a sale is to offer what the buyer wants to buy.  Since getting a job is the same exact process, you would be well served to do the same.

Combing through the job description and any advertisements the company ran will tell you exactly what the employer is looking for.  The smart resume maker will use this information as the key points in their resume.

For instance, let’s say that the ad states they are looking for somebody to coordinate company wide projects, with an eye for details.  Very close to the opening of your resume, you want to wrap in details about your attention to detail and experience with multi-division projects.

If you don’t have specific “ammo”, use closely related information to bridge the gap.  So your experience in C-level selling can be parlayed to alleviate a deficit in joint partner communication experience.

In conclusion

As a resume maker, landing your dream job is simply a matter of paying attention to the details.  Keep your employer in mind, grab their attention and get to the point already!  Stick to this guideline and your resume will virtually write itself.