RESULTS-ORIENTED RESUMES: New Year, New Job

To expand on our New Year, New Job series from last week, we’d like to dig a little deeper into resume formats specifically, resume review, resume format and the best/words to use on your resume…

1. REVIEW YOUR RESUME

Have you changed companies? Taken-on new responsibilities? Got a new title? Make sure your resume information is both current AND easily read. Make sure to UPDATE YOUR RESUME wherever it may be; hardcopy, job boards, company websites and recruitment agencies.

2. RESUME FORMAT

People have a tendency to write resumes the way they were taught; typically, in college or by a parent. The result? Most job seekers have old-fashioned, chronological resumes with generic objective statements.

As job seekers gain experience, the trend is to move from a resume that is in a chronological format to one that is more accomplishment based.

When evaluating your own resume, it is important to remember that LABOR IS A MARKET; employers are the buyers and job seekers are the sellers. Like any consumer, employers are looking to get the most for their money. That does not mean that they are looking for the cheapest labor rather, it is more likely that they are looking for the BEST VALUE.

Your job as a job seeker is to promote your VALUE to a company. The best way to do that is with a results (or achievement or value)-based resume. To help out, we are providing a few links that will help you create your own results-based resume…

RESUMES THAT JUMP: How to Write an Achievements-Based Resume

http://www.resumesthatjump.com/tips/achievements.php

FORBES: Is a Skills-Based Resume Right for You?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/01/29/is-a-skills-based-resume-right-for-you/

WIKIHOW: How to Make Your Resume ROAR (Results Oriented and Relevant)

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Resume-ROAR-(Results-Oriented-and-Relevant)

FORBES: Five Top Resume Turnoffs

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2013/02/19/five-top-resume-turnoffs/

ABOUT/HUMAN RESOURCES: Why This Sample Resume Rocks

http://humanresources.about.com/od/selectemployees/a/resume_best.htm

3. BEST/WORST WORDS TO USE ON RESUMES

Here are the top 5 words in their respective classifications. A link to the FULL results is provided below.
BEST RESUME WORDS

The top 5 words/phrases that fashion industry recruiters LIKE to see on resumes?

1. Achieved 73.60%
2. Managed 60.40%
3. Created 60.40%
4. Trained/Mentored 58.10%
5. Improved 55.80%
WORST RESUME WORDS

The top 5 words/phrases that ANNOY fashion industry recruiters when they see them on resumes?

1. Passion for Fashion 76.90%
2. Go-getter 54.70%
3. Think outside of the box 42.00%
4. Synergy 29.30%
5. Go-to person 29.30%

Visit http://www.stylecareers.com/words.htm to see the full results.