Page 46 - Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Resume

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Part 1 ➤ Plan to Succeed

The Resume Commandments
I. Thou shalt not write about your past; thou shalt write about
your future!
II. Thou shalt not confess.
III. Thou shalt not write job descriptions; thou shalt write
Job-Hunt Hint achievement statements.
IV. Thou shalt not write about stuff you don’t want to do again.
Of all the Resume Command-
ments, the first is so powerful V. Thou shalt say less rather than more.
that it can answer every question VI. Thou shalt not write in paragraphs; thou shalt use bullet points.
you have about resume writing.
VII. Thou shalt not lie.
So memorize it, repeat it like a
mantra, and watch its magic
Now let’s look at each of these commandments to understand why
unfold as you go through each
they are so important.
step of creating your resume in
Part 2, “Six Steps to a Perfect
Resume.” Thou Shalt Not Write About Your Past

Because your resume is a marketing piece for your next job, it concerns
your future, not your past. If you’re writing a chronological resume
(explained in Chapter 4, “Chronologically Speaking”), don’t write your resume as if it were
a historical document. Even though the body of your chronological format is structured
around your work history (your past), the achievement statements should support your job
objective statement (your future).

Bonus Check

Create a resume that’s about your future by imagining that you’re an artist with an empty
canvas (such as your computer screen) in front of you. Your assignment is to paint a pic-
ture of yourself at your next job, using any of the following four tools:
➤ Your experience (such as previous job titles, volunteer work, or school
projects)
➤ Your skill areas (such as management, computer knowledge, or sales)
➤ Your concerns (such as the environment, homelessness, or human rights)
➤ Your personality (such as dependability, sense of humor, or ability to communicate)
When you’re finished, you should have a word-picture of you working for your next
employer.

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