The Wackerle Corner: Writing a fantastic resume

By: Andrea Emery
News Editor

Imagine this...

You apply for a job that seems absolutely perfect for you and your personal and professional needs. You send your well-written resume and cover letter to the prospective employer. Plenty of other people think the job sounds great, too, and apply for the job. A few days later, the employer is staring at a pile of several hundred resumes.

Several hundred? Isn’t that an inflated number? Not really. A job offer attracts between 100 and 1000 resumes these days, so you are facing a great deal of competition.

You want the prospective employer to be intrigued by your resume. You want your resume to outshine the rest of them. But how?

Think of your resume as a marketing piece. According to The Rockport Institute, the number one purpose of a resume is to win an interview. Imagine yourself as the product. If a person buys the product, he or she will get the specific, direct benefits that the product offers.

Your resume should bring out your best qualities and should convince the employer you have the qualifications for the position or career for which you are applying.

Even if you are not quite ready for a career position, an up to date resume is something you should have on hand. Many times, a resume will be necessary to apply for internships, part-time positions or even graduate school.

It is important to recognize that a resume serves many purposes other than just winning an interview. A well-written resume also:

Establishes you as a professional person with high standards and excellent writing skills.

Helps to clarify your direction, qualifications and strengths.

Enhances job applications.

Try not to think of your resume as only a history of your past. Resumes should not just be a list of your previous work experience, but should be composed to create interest and persuade an employer that you are a well-qualified candidate.

Here are a few helpful hints when constructing your resume:

Tailor the content of your resume to address the position and employer.

If you list an objective, be specific.

Tie in key skills and competencies.

Run a spell check.

Get a second opinion.

Not sure if your resume makes the grade? The Wackerle Center and Leadership Center will host a Resume First Aid Clinic on Nov. 8 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Tartan Room in lower level Stockdale. Stop by with your resume and get immediate feedback.

For resume samples, tips and guidelines, log on to your WackerleTrack account at www.monm.edu/wackerletrack and check the Document Library.