Page 54 - Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Resume

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Part 1 ➤ Plan to Succeed

Don’t be shy—answer “Yes” to all of these questions before the employer asks by writing
about achievements instead of job duties on your resume. Achievement statements are the
most powerful way to say “I’m good at what I do!”
Make sure your achievements are stated appropriately for the type of work you’re interested
in. For example, a salesperson’s achievement statements will probably be much more dra-
matic (for example: Exceeded sales quotas by 300%) than the ones that appear on an
accountant or technician’s resume (for example: Used spreadsheet applications to analyze
reports for upper management).
Examine the next two resumes for Diane Short. The first is a job-description resume (blah!);
the second is an achievement-oriented resume (yes!). See how much more enticing the sec-
ond one is? Diane’s achievement statements provide the following information:

➤ She has particular experiences.
➤ She’s good at what she does.
➤ She believes in and likes her work.

She’s given the employer three good reasons to call her for an interview.
I’ll expand on this commandment in Part 2 when you write your achievement statements.
At this point, I want you to understand the concept of using your resume to brag a little (or
a lot) about your successes.

Thou Shalt Not Write About Stuff You Don’t Want
to Do

Writing your resume is like writing your next job description, because everything you put
in your resume suggests what you’re eager to do in your new job. Never write about duties
that you don’t want to do again, no matter how good you are at them!

Bonus Check

If your resume generates job interviews for work you’re not interested in, something is
wrong with your resume! Before sending your resume to another employer, revise it
according to the following points to ensure that it markets you for the type of work you
want to pursue.
➤ Use a resume format that highlights the appropriate skills and experience.
➤ Don’t mention responsibilities you don’t want to hold on your next job.

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