If you’re confident your resume will win you job interviews? If so, how did you gain that confidence?

As a professional resume writer I have seen resumes that are poorly written. What I notice what was missing are complete sentences. A resume needs to showcase what you did to achieve those accomplishments. Every word counts on a resume and they must be used wisely. Also in today’s competitive job market you want to be sure your resume has an attractive visual appeal. This will help your resume stand out from others.

Networking is good when you are looking for a job. Attend networking event or networking internet sites. You never know what someone else knows.

 

Giselle Brown

A Customized Resume

Member: Career Directors International

www.acustomizedresume.com

 

What’s worse? Jobless, or dead end job?

Jobless is worse…

 

Hiring managers like to see their candidates working rather than unemployed. Also, when updating your resume you will not have a gap in your employment history. 

 

You can also use your “dead-end job” to gain new accomplishments and skills that can be added to your resume.

 

Giselle Brown

Professional Resume Writer

Member: Career Directors International

www.acustomizedresume.com

Résumé writing “house” vs. an individual designer; which would you choose?

Hello, I run a resume writing company from my home. I really like your question. Being that I am a smaller company I felt I needed to share my view. What I like best about my services is I really take the time to get to know my clients as well as their desired position. I subcontracted for a bigger company before, and I was given a project with very little information about the client and the client’s objective. I was also told not to contact the client. I felt as if my hands were tied behind my back. I like to contact each of my clients. I take the time to hear their voice and really get to who they are. I may not be able to handle as many projects as most big resume companies, but I can say that each project I do is customized to around you and your objective.

 

Giselle Brown, CDI

A Customized Resume

Member: Career Directors International

www.acustomizedresume.com

What tips do you have for a resume for a new college graduate?

College students/grads with little or no work experience would benefit from a functional style resume.

 The benefits of a functional format:

Camouflages unstable history.
Helpful for recent grads with limited experience.
Reentering the workforce (different career)
Changing careers
Lots of volunteer experience – related to chosen position
Overqualified and looking for less responsibility

Elements of a student/recent grad resume:

 1.       Heading (contact information)

What to include for your contact information.

• Name (first name, middle initial, last name) NO NICKNAMES
• Street Address ( 234 Hallgate Ave)
• City, State, Zip Code ( St. Louis, MO 63123)
• Residence Telephone Number ( 314-345-6789)
• Cellular Telephone Number ( 314-776-2345)
• E-Mail Address (use appropriate e-mail address, acceptable format for e-mail address lastname.firstname@…)

 2. Your Job Objective or Title Statement

Objective Statement
Your job objective is a brief statement that describes the kind of job you want. Many resume writers are against the use of an objective statement. Why, it is now seen by hiring managers as generic and self-focused.

Example:

Objective: To obtain a challenging position where I can utilize my skills and experience in the field of finance. 

Objective: To obtain a position in which I could apply my variety of Financial, Customer Service and Sales skills.

The two examples above are telling the hiring manager what you want instead of what you can offer company.

Good Example:

Sales Representative to grow your customer base through telemarketing and networking.

Shipping Manager to support program development, team leadership and customer care.

Title Statement

Or you can use a Title Statement. Best to use if you know the needs of the company matches your experience. The title statement is clean, focused and can save space. This technique eliminates the use of an objective statement.

Ex: Networking Recruiter
Program Coordinator

3. Education / Academics

For recent graduates it is best to list education closer to the top to of resume. Why, your work experience will be minimal. You want to highlight your accomplishments in school as much as you would do for accomplishments at work.

You can include

• Schools you have attended (include GPA if is 3.0 or higher)
• Academic honors
• Awards
• Recognitions
• Honor Roll
• Essay writing awards
• Science competitions

 4. Work History

 The work history section of your resume can also be title as:

Career Experience
Professional Experience
Professional Background
Experience
Career Highlights
Relevant Experience

What to include:

• Title of position
• Name of organization
• Location of work (town and state)
• Dates of employment
• To highlight your accomplishments, it is much easier to think of any challenges your experienced during your first 30/60/90 days of employment. Ask yourself how you reacted to those challenges and what were the results of your actions. This will give you a good list of accomplishments, instead of a list to duties and tasks.

 5. Additional Information / Extracurricular Activities (Demonstrate your uniqueness)

Key elements of your background that don’t fit in any other section such as:

• Special skills
• Leadership skills
• Leadership roles
• Volunteer experiences
• Sports
• Band
• Yearbook
• Clubs you belong to
• Volunteer
• Special interest

 6. References

Be sure to ask people if they would serve as your reference before you give their names out.
Don’t include your references with your resume

 Giselle Brown
A Customized Resume 

Career Directors international
resumes@acustomizedresume.com
Visit us at www.acustomizedresume.com

On resume, if you use bullet points – must you use them throughout all sections?

The best suggestion I would say is to be consistent. Not sure if you are presenting your coursework as a recent grad or as something you have already done. You could present it something like this …

Master of Science, Marketing & Product Management, 1995-1997
Cranfield University, United Kingdom
Relevant course work: Marketing, Management, Economics, Finance, Research, Communications

This saves space as well.

Giselle Brown, NRWA, CDI

What are the most important 3 things that you need to cover in a cover letter?

A cover letter should serve two purposes…
1. A soft introduction of you
2. To get employers to read your resume

It should demonstrate that you meet and exceeded the job requirements and it should demonstrate that you are interested in the position.

The three elements a cover letter should have…
1. Why you want to work for that specific company
2. Why are you fit for the company.
3. It should communicate your interest in scheduling a one-on-one meeting.

Giselle Brown, NRWA, CDI

An Investment in Your Future

 

An Investment in Your Future

 

A professionally prepared resume is an investment in your future earning power and career happiness. A Customized Resume has the experience and skills necessary to present applicants from diverse industries, career fields, and experience levels at their very best. We know how to set you apart from the competition, ensure that your resume gets read, and prompt the reader to take action by calling you for an interview.

 

Giselle Brown
A Customized Resume 

Career Directors international
resumes@acustomizedresume.com
Visit us at www.acustomizedresume.com 

Common Resume Pitfalls

Common Resume Pitfalls

Most people who write their own resumes are unsure of how to best present their strengths, downplay their weaknesses, and appeal to employer needs. Common mistakes include the omission of important information and/or strategic sections, the inclusion of irrelevant (and/or ill-advised) details, a shortage of keywords, a failure to emphasize transferable skills, a lack of a specific career focus, and an uninviting page design. And, perhaps most critically, the majority of applicants write “task-oriented” resumes vs.  “achievement-based” resumes.

Giselle Brown
A Customized Resume
Career Directors international
resumes@acustomizedresume.com
Visit us at www.acustomizedresume.com

Spice it up!

Resume Expert Giselle Brown has helpful tips on how to add spice to your resume.

Trying to moving up that ladder into a comfort of receiving more pay. Job promotions usually mean greater opportunities, more responsibly and a sign of appreciation. In today’s competitive world, you will have competition. The question to ask yourself is “are you ready to compete?”

 

Studies have proven that an effective resume takes time and effort. One of the most important elements of your resume is “you.” Importing “you” on paper can be a challenge, however; it can be beneficial if you do some digging to appraise your achievements and uncover quantifiable results.

 

The first preparation for a job promotion starts the day you get the job, says Giselle Brown, Professional Resume Writer at A Customized Resume. “In most cases when promotions are being offered, companies are seeking someone who is accountable and dependable,” she says. “You must also show evidence of achievements and quantifiable results.”  

 

Appraise your achievements

It is also important to conduct a self-assessment of your achievements prior to writing your resume. Many people jump right into a word.doc resume template and begin filling in the blanks. You must evaluate and analyze your achievements. Sell what you bring instead of telling what you bring. You can accomplish this by listing any prior promotions, awards, leadership skills, special projects, training courses, productivity numbers, charity or volunteer programs, etc. Be specific and focus on how you have contributed to the benefit of the company.

 

Quantify your results

When using quantifiable examples, your resume conveys a far more powerful statement.

Hiring managers want statements that tell how much or what effect you had on the organization. For example, Ms. Brown says, “instead of stating you improved productivity, state how much and what you did to improve productivity.” Be specific.

When your resume shows appraised achievement and quantified results, it becomes an effective marketing document that conveys results.

 

Giselle Brown, CDI
A Customized Resume

resumes@acustomizedresume.com
www.acustomizedresume.com 

Resumes: what, who, when, and why

What is a resume? 

A resume is a document containing a summary of skills, experiences, and education. It should communicate to employers what you have to offer. This document is your first impression that a potential employer has of you and it should contain information about you that employers want to know. Your resume needs to be focused on the employers needs and it should include important details without being chatty or overblown.

Who needs a resume?

It is highly recommended that everyone have “a current, updated resume” at all times for promotional and employment opportunities. Studies have showed that a majority of professionals and entry-level positions are requiring a resume prior to filling out a job application.

When do you need a resume?

A resume can be prepared as early as the 9^th grade. However, I highly recommend high school seniors and college students to begin their resume at the beginning of the school year, and then update it at the mid-year break. A resume should be finalized no later then February of each year. Remember, as you grow and change your resume will grow and change as well. 

Why is a resume important? 

It is impossible for you to demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job without a resume? I would say, “No”. An application limits your abilities and accomplishments because they have limited space. It is important to include a resume with every application.

 

Giselle Brown, CDI

Executive Director, Professional Resume Writer
resumes@acustomizedresume.com
www.acustomizedresume.com