Okay, you are looking for a resume writing service because you want a resume that will really stand out, be professional and flawless, and help you get a new or better job, right? Well, there are certainly many resume writing services lined up and eager to help you. They will cost you, the fees vary, but if that doesn’t bother you then you should enter your search for “resume writing service” into Google right now and start weeding through your prospects.

However, if you do not feel like paying someone to write your resume for you, or if you cannot afford it, there are many other options available to you. You can get assistance in writing your resume simply by procuring a career book that shows many different samples of resumes. Thumb through this guide and choose a couple of formats that you like, then base your resume on that format.

You can also choose to use a resume template. This will make things a bit easier for you because part of the work is already done, and you just fill in the blanks. Again, you can utilize a book from the library or bookstore, or your school, to find such a template, or you can turn to the Internet.

Even searching for a resume writing service on the Internet will probably yield some results directing you towards a resume template. If you choose, you can even download a template to your computer and create your resume right then and there.

However, let’s say you are determined to use a resume writing service, what are some of the first steps you should take in this process? Well, obviously, choosing the service you wish to use would be a helpful first step! The next thing you will need to do is pick out a resume package that meets your needs. There are many different resume formats and prices and you will need to look through what the resume writing service has to offer to determine exactly what it is you need.

The resume writing service is going to want to know if you have a current resume or not. If you do not, you will probably have to fill out some sort of questionnaire that will help them determine how they can best serve you.

If you do have a resume, you will be asked to fax or email a copy to the resume writing service, and also to provide them with any additional information they request. This way, they can begin to go about customizing a resume that is going to highlight your accomplishments, skills and interests and format them in a way that will be most appealing to the prospective employers in the field you wish to find employment in.

Using a resume writing service can be a very beneficial option, as not only will they craft a custom resume built around your unique abilities and accomplishments, but they offer additional services as well that might be very attractive to you.

Some of these services might include free interview and job search coaching, free storage of your custom resume for any future revising that may be needed, and perhaps most valuable, free detailed analysis of your previous and current resume. Having this done by professionals can really help shape your resume into a “job magnet!”

By: Mario J. Churchill

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Kansieo.com

The Senior Executive Service (SES) is a group of federal employees who serve at the top levels of the U.S. government. These individuals fill federal managerial, supervisory, and policy positions above GS-15 that are not filled by presidential appointment. In order to be considered for these positions, an individual must submit an SES resume to be reviewed by an independent Qualifications Review Board who evaluates it utilizing criteria established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

The majority of SES positions are filled by those already in government service often for 5 or more continuous years. Further, previous leadership often at a specified series and grade is required. Therefore, most applicants requiring an SES resume have a basic federal resume to build from. However, for SES positions, it is crucial to ensure that leadership and supervisory skill is demonstrated. Therefore, it is important to revise and adjust a federal resume to reflect these attributes and skills from previous positions. The most effective manner in which to demonstrate this information is to provide a situation or example, describe the problem you faced in the situation, and then how you resolved it. Utilize key words from the job announcement to ensure that the examples in your resume meet the qualifications for the position. Anticipate your resume to be long – on average 3 to 5 pages.

Once your federal resume is updated, an addendum that addresses the “Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ’s)” must be attached. Successful candidates must demonstrate their competency in each of these five executive skill areas. The five basic ECQ’s are:

1.      Leading Change
2.      Leading People
3.      Results Driven
4.      Business Acumen
5.      Building Coalitions

These ECQ’s are further broken down into 22 competencies that have been identified as needed to successfully perform in these federal positions. Additionally, there are 6 additional overall competencies that are designated as important to all five ECQs. These competencies are interpersonal skills, oral communication, integrity/honesty, written communication, continual learning, and public service motivation.

While each ECQ statement covers a separate ECQ, the competencies that are applicable to all can be addressed in general terms as warranted in the statements. The overall main focus of these ECQs is leadership and these statements should reflect this fact.

Similarly to creating content for your resume, ECQs should follow a format in which an applicant describes the situation and its context, explains the action taken to address it, and then provides the result of the action taken. Each ECQ statement should contain at least one specific job related example from the last 10 years that integrates the competencies that are linked to it. As applicable, highlight awards and recognition, volunteer experience, and training that are related to the ECQ. Finally, each ECQ statement is typically a page to a page and a half.

Together an applicant’s resume and ECQs should demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in federal leadership role. Ultimately those tasked with filling SES roles are seeking applicants who can foster a culture that is results driven, customer oriented, and capable of creating successful teams inside and outside an organization.

By: Jason Kay

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Kansieo.com

Do these things

Include your full name – don’t use nicknames or abbreviations

Use a telephone number that you can always answer – use a cell phone if possible or make sure there is an answering machine at the listed phone number

Use bullet points to highlight information – it is much easier for an employer to absorb relevant information while scanning your résumé

Print your résumé and cover letter on high quality paper – when printing your résumé you should use paper with at least 50% cotton content

Be concise and get to the point – say what you need to say and nothing more

Use action words and descriptive phrases – be creative when trying to get your point across using as few words as possible

Target your résumé – address your résumé to the position you are applying for to show that you are really interested in working for that company

Focus on relevant facts only – list skills, accomplishments and personality traits you know the employer is looking for

List quantitative support for statements made – back up your skills and experiences with real scenarios, facts and figures

Begin statements with action verbs – action verbs demonstrate your importance to the achievement or experience being described

Don’t do these things

Have any grammatical errors – always have someone else proofread your résumé for errors and flow

Have any spelling mistakes – always spell check your résumé, your contact’s name, and the company’s name

Misrepresent your background or experience – employers oftentimes verify this information and can fire you if it is discovered that you were dishonest

Fill in employment gaps with unrelated information – wait to discuss this information in person to put a positive spin on it

Use lengthy paragraphs – employers notoriously skip over paragraphs in résumés

Use long sentences – just like paragraphs, the reader easily skips over long sentences

Use personal pronouns – keep your résumé impersonal for a more professional image

Forget to list basic skills – all employers want to see that you are a team player, take charge of situations and are reliable

By: John D Williamson

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The first step of getting noticed by a potential employer is a well written professional resume. Although most job seekers know this, it is absolutely incredible how many resumes we have seen over the years that contain misspelled words, poor grammar, terrible formatting and a lack of information in regards to knowledge, skills and experience. We have observed these mistakes in resumes from University graduates through CEO. Which leads us to consider, if a resume is considered to be “putting your best foot forward,” then why are so many job seekers not taking the time to write a good resume or seeking professional help? Our first impression is that the job seeker is not detail oriented, lazy or not technologically savvy and passive. But maybe, it goes beyond that?

Here are a 10 common resume writing mistakes we has noticed by job seekers:

Hidden information – Looking for specific information within the resume becomes time consuming for an employer. You want to make sure you catch the employer’s attention by describing your knowledge, skills and abilities up front in a Skills and Experience Summary.

Poor grammar and spelling – Along with spell check on your computer, it’s a good idea to have a few different people read your resume to check for spelling and grammar errors. This extra effort will keep your resume from representing you poorly to the employer.

Formatting – Did you bold one header and forget another? Do all your bullets line up? Is font size and style the same throughout? Employers look at your resume as a writing sample that you’ve had time to polish and proofread before submitting. The resume should be without flaw.

Too busy - If your resume reads like a book with page to page text it will most likely give the employer a headache. Show your resume to several other people before sending it out. Keep the resume simple and effective with relevant information that is not too wordy.

Date gaps and False information – You need to be able to back up and explain what you have on your resume. Make sure that all information is true and ethical. If there are gaps (e.g. taking time off on maternity leave), list it in your resume or cover letter.

Lack of information and key words – One or two job descriptions under each position will not get you far. Don’t sell yourself short or your experience. Describe all important information you were responsible for under each positions. Key words or competencies are important to use as they optimize your resume for filtering software and target key descriptions in the job posting.

Irrelevant or out dated information - Don’t list irrelevant work experience just to fill in space. If you are applying for a project manager position, your previous server experience at a restaurant does not apply. Keep information relevant to field and industry. Also, if the work you did 10+ years ago is not related to a job you are applying for today, leave it off. This information is out dated.

Fail to provide key accomplishments – The resume is your chance to shine, so don’t be afraid to show off your previous accomplishment. Focus on accomplishments that set you apart from other job seekers. For each position, what special things did you do to set yourself apart? How did you do the job better than anyone else? How did the company or group benefit from your performance? etc.

Personal information or picture – Personal information does not belong on a resume. Do not include your age, race, gender, marital status or picture.

Contact information – Ensure that all contact information is current and all methods of contact is listed on resume (home, cell, email)

The resume is the single most important document you will need in your job search so don’t sell yourself short. A professional resume in hand will greatly increase your odds of earning a closer look.

By: Moshin Manji

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Resume Writing

If you find yourself struggling to condense your background skills and work history into a two-page Word document, there are plenty of tips to follow to perfect your resume. Resume writing isn’t a black and white process and at times, the best format to follow is one fine-tuned to fit your personality. Remember, on top of highlighting your greatest accomplishments, there are a few commonalities all resumes should have.
Include your email address in your contact information: Many employers don’t have time to give you a ring and prefer jotting you a quick note via email. If you do give out an email address, make sure it’s a professional one. Nothing kills your chances of receiving a potential callback more than an email address like ‘SassyPrincess@so&so.com’ Always customize your ‘Objective’ or ‘Jobs Applying For,’ especially if this is the only field you change in the document for each position you apply for. Try only to include relevant employment skills. For instance, if you’re applying for a position in sales, it’s probably unnecessary to mention your summer camp counseling job you’ve held for the past three summers. If you want to include your experience as a camp counselor, try to weed out the skills you acquired, such as ‘Managed kids’ awards ceremony’ or something to that effect. Have a few people proofread your resume and do run a spell check. Before you go ahead and include references, be sure to check with those individuals, to be sure they even remember you and your work ethic. Always include a cover letter with your resume. Even if your future employer doesn’t read it, it shows you made the extra effort. Bullet important information and bold each resume header. When we read, we tend to skim, and so does your dream job’s HR recruiter. Make it easy for them to glance over your important information!

Last but not least, it’s vital to keep your resume to a readable length. No one wants to peruse a novel when they’re wading through a thousand-some resumes. StarReviews cites resume writing services such as Resume Edge pair you with a professional resume writer, who edits your resume to better your chances of snagging an interview. Presenting your experience and skills professionally is key in making your job hunt a success.

By: Kelly Liyakasa

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This is an exciting time for nurses! The U.S. Department of Labor reports that employment of nurses is expected to grow 23% over 10 years. The fastest employment growth is projected in physicians’ offices, home health care facilities, and outpatient care centers. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expects that 800,000 nursing positions will go unfilled by 2020!

With such encouraging projections, nurses face both benefits and challenges in the job search marketplace. Certainly, job openings are not scarce, but competition remains high for promotions and the best positions with top employers.

Your résumé is the key component of your job search arsenal. A focused, keyword-rich résumé can open doors, but a general, poorly written résumé can close them. Creating a nursing résumé is difficult, notably because there are no rules. There are expectations and guidelines, but the information included and the format chosen to emphasize your top qualifications will depend entirely on your individual background.

Many nurses choose to enlist the services of a professional resume writer. Professional resume writers who specialize in working with nurses and other healthcare professionals offer skills that would take the average job seeker years to master. This expertise can give you an edge over the competition.

Creating a nursing résumé is difficult, but if you decide to take on this challenge without the support of a professional résumé writer, follow these tips to make your nursing résumé stand out:

1. Understand the differences between nursing résumés and general business résumés.

Nursing is a highly specialized career field and an appropriate résumé may not follow conventional guidelines. When applying for most jobs, you would include all of your past work experience, regardless of whether it is relevant to your current career goals. However, a nursing résumé should have a strong focus on nursing-related qualifications and experiences only. It may be appropriate to include other experiences, but this will depend entirely on your background.

Further, it can be appropriate to include more information on volunteer and educational achievements on a nursing résumé, while this is often not recommended for general business résumés. Educational achievements, rotations during college, nursing honor societies, and scholarships may also contribute to the effectiveness of your résumé.

2. Do your homework.

In addition to researching employers and job opportunities, it is important to keep up with hiring trends and current resume techniques. The preferences of nurse recruiters and hiring managers change as the job search landscape changes. For example, for many years, an objective statement appeared at the top of every nursing résumé. This is no longer recommended. Furthermore, the one-page résumé myth continues to circulate, despite repeated findings that many nurse recruiters prefer a more detailed two-page résumé. Whether your résumé should be one or two pages depends entirely on your individual background and career goals.

3. Do not use a résumé template.

Microsoft Word and other word processing applications offer free résumé templates. Do not use them! Résumé templates are designed to fit the “average” job seeker. This “one size fits all” approach does not work with nursing résumés. Not only are these templates designed for general business job seekers, but your résumé should be tailored to showcase your greatest skills and qualifications.

4. Start out with a strong profile or summary of qualifications.

An effective nursing résumé begins with a strong Profile or Summary of Qualifications that incorporates nursing-specific keywords, key credentials, and achievements. An objective is not recommended. Depending on your background and goals, it may be appropriate to include a title immediately preceding your Profile or Summary of Qualifications. This serves to “frame” your résumé by immediately telling the employer who you are.

When developing your Profile or Summary of Qualifications, keep these tips in mind: (1) begin with accurate, appropriate, and interesting modifiers, (2) provide a glimpse into the scope of your experience and qualifications, (3) use employer-centric language, and (4) stay concise.

5. Detail your nursing experience.

While it may be tempting to simply copy and paste your job description into your résumé, potential employers know what nurses do on a day-to-day basis. Rather than provide a general description of what nurses are responsible for in your organization, focus on what sets you apart and the value you offer your next employer. Potential employers are not interested in what you were “responsible for” in your past positions; they want to know what you accomplished!

6. Use keywords

Keywords are a critical, but often overlooked, component of writing an effective résumé. With employers receiving hundreds of résumés in response to a single job opening, most large and medium-sized organizations now use résumé databases where they can search for specific keywords to find the right candidate. Keywords are standardized, descriptive words associated with specific disciplines or industries. Keywords can make or break your job search, but it is difficult to know what keywords should be used. Ultimately, if you apply for a job with an organization that searches résumé databases for keywords, and your résumé does not have the right keywords, your job search with that organization is over.

7. Proofread, proofread, proofread!

Grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors can turn an effective résumé into a liability. The importance of proofreading can not be understated. If you approach the résumé casually, hiring managers and recruiters may make assumptions about your job performance. A sloppy document with errors will not project the right image.

Copyright 2008 CareerBuildingResumes.com

By: Jim Manierre

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The purpose of a resume is to generate results. Its objective is to emphasize a job seeker’s “value” to employers. Nothing less! It is either a one-page, a two-page, or a three-page document. The trend nowadays is to produce a one-page document.

But what is a resume?

Your resume is the soul, the centerpiece of your job search. Your success or failure in landing a job is judged by the resume you created.

Gone are the days when resumes are written in chronological or functional fashion. This is the technological and electronic age, and your resume must reflect the mode of the times.

Your resume, therefore, should be achievement-focused and keyword-oriented. It must communicate your value to employers. Your resume is your marketing medium. Some resume writers call this value-based resume.

A value-based resume communicates your value. It should answer employers’ questions:” Why should I hire you?” and “What value can you offer my company?”

Your resume must play up your talents, experiences, qualifications, and abilities. CNN.com in its November 13, 2008 edition listed ten jobs that pay 80 to 90 thousand dollars a year. These job categories earn twice as much as the US median income.

If you are right now looking for a job in one of these job groups, it is important that you support your application with a professional looking resume that highlights your value to employers. Below is the list of the ten highly paid jobs:

-Attorney
-Economist
-Marketing Manager
-Petroleum Engineer
-Pharmacist
-Associate Actuary
-Compensation and benefits manager
-Floor Broker
-Risk Management Supervisor
-Veterinarian

It is imperative that your resume play up your core competencies, qualifications, experiences, and education.

By: Rick Tanzo

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Create a video blog…instantly.

According to most experts on resume writing, confidence is of utmost importance while writing a resume. The process of resume writing comprises two steps. Coincidentally, there are also only two tips to write an effective resume–be confident and prepare well.

1. Prepare with Confidence

Job seekers should have ample confidence in themselves and their abilities while writing their resumes. Do not allow any doubts about yourself to creep into your mind as you go about gathering the required information for your resume.

Resume-writing experts say that people working on their resumes are usually of the false opinion that the experience, qualification, capabilities, and work history they are listing is just not impressive enough to get them the job of their dreams.

Experts on resume writing say that a person’s experience, qualification, and abilities usually speak for themselves. The resume should reflect the confidence of the applicant in his or her expertise and ability to handle the job.

It should not be prepared in a way that reflects the applicant’s self-doubts; moreover, the applicant should not leave out aspects of experience or qualification that he or she feels are irrelevant or don’t count.

2. Write Effectively

While job seekers should prepare well, they should also write their resume effectively. A good resume not only looks neat but is also well-organized, with its objectives and statements of experience, qualification, and skills written boldly.

If you do not possess the skills to write an effective resume, take the help of professional writers. This could be the most important tip for writing an effective resume–take the help of professional writers before starting on your job hunt.

3. Customize Your Resume

Customize your resume according to the needs of prospective employers, job profiles, and companies. According to resume-writing experts, majority of the resumes are not customised according to the job applied for. In other words, they place too much emphasis on the requirements of the applicant and too less on the requirements of the prospective employer. So, keep this tip at the top of your list of tips for effective resume writing.

A resume should mention the key strengths of the applicant; however, this should match the requirements of the company. This is the biggest tips for effective resume writing that successful job seekers have discovered: Match your strengths, skills, and capabilities to the requirements of the company. If you follow the above-mentioned tips, you will have created the number one resume that will get that dream job for you.

By: Abhishek Agarwal

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Gone are the days when you printed your resume on good 24lb stationary and hoped for the best. Today, if the resume is complete and tightly written does it really matter whether it’s sent through the mail or transmitted in some electronic form?

First, you’ll find some significant differences between the electronic resume and the traditional paper resume. You might find success by just putting your traditional resume in electronic form and sending it in but your chances for success will be better if you pay attention to some possible small issues.

More and more employers are accepting electronic resumes so you have to be prepared to submit your resume in this format. And just like sending a resume and cover letter in the regular mail you want it to introduce you in the best manner possible.

Sending the electronic resume allows you to send the resume to the right person using email. You also are able to send the resume to numerous employers by using the information on a job or career web site. This method is growing in popularity and almost all larger employer use this method in one form or another.

This requires that you make some changes in how the resume is written and how it is presented. It doesn’t matter if you send in the documents using simple text or a document image (such as PDF) but you must pay attention to the “keywords” used in the resume. The resume will be scanned and scored according to the use of particular keywords. The employer will use the keywords to find your resume when he uses an online search. Find the keywords in the job announcement, perhaps in the job description if available and other phrases commonly used in your field of work or in the particular industry. List the keywords and make sure they are appropriately used in your resume.

This method will assure when the employer searches databases and employment and job web sites for candidates, your resume will be flagged for an additional look. This gives you a competitive edge through the rewriting of your resume and including industry and job specific keywords.

Formatting and layout must also be treated differently when putting together an electronic resume. Do not italicize any words, use a neutral font (times new roman, arial) and no fancy bullet points. Some minor editing and careful proofreading will bring your resume up to a more than acceptable appearance. As a final check you might send the resume as an email attachment to a friend to be assured that the format comes through properly. Since you’re sending the resume electronically don’t neglect including your email address along with your other contact information.

With attention to detail and properly adding appropriate keywords, your electronic resume will scan well with the desired keywords and you’ll be one step closer to a desirable job and career.

By: John Groth

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