- Make it custom. Create a special resume for each different position to improve your resume. List characteristics the employer is looking for. Be creative, but don’t lie. A detailed description of how to customize a resume will be soon.
Ex: For a childcare position: Watched neighbors kids = performed private childcare
- Read the past. Look at past reviews from previous employers and use the positive remarks on your improved resume. A second place to find the right words is to look at the responsibilities paper from prior job titles.
- List everything. Write down all job duties including those that ‘technically’ were not your job to improve your resume. Include duties not done everyday.
Ex: Train the new employee = trained new employees
Ex: Looked at new employee progress = supervised employees
Ex: Looked at new employee progress = supervised employees
- Use action verbs. Switch out ordinary words with professional words to improve your resume. Pick up a Thesaurus (a book of synonyms and antonyms) at the Dollar Tree, Walmart or thrift store. Another option when using a computer is to select the word and right-click, then hover over synonyms.
Ex: answered phones = operated multi-line switchboard. Word List
- Check spelling. Try the SpellCheck feature when using a word processing program, but look for autocorrect mistakes. Autocorrect is when the computer corrects a word that you want spelled in a different way.
6. Keep it fresh and short. Always have an updated resume; it only takes a few minutes to add a new job. Most resumes should be only a page long.
- Write different type of skills. Use job specific words and general skills. J
ob specific examples: Knows web-based programs, experienced with computer machinery. General skill examples: multi-tasking skills, quick learner, works efficiently.
