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Think of yourself as an individual with unique qualifications. Portray yourself as a
candidate who has a strong sense of self and stands above the competition.
Resumes should be brief and to the point, no more than
one
to
two
pages
. Unless you have a specific long-term history, probably one page
will
suffice. Remember that you will never get the
second
chance to make a
good impression unless the interviewer takes an interest in your resume. So, stand
out! If you take advantage of the hidden job market and develop a career
contact network, one effective strategy is to have a friend of the interviewer or
influential person write a personal note on your resume praising your abilities. The
core of your resume is a list of facts, activities, and experiences that summarize
your accomplishments to this point in your life.
The very first step in putting together your resume involves making a complete
list of all your achievements. After you have developed a list—and don’t exclude
anything from your academic, job experience, or personal life—edit those items
that do not pertain to the targeted position. If it does not help your cause,
leave it
out!
A Hiring Authority is
Looking for Two Things:
1.
Actual facts that indicate your
qualifications
: your educational
background, your employment
history, and your social activities
2.
Patterns reflecting different
aspects of your character
or skills
: leadership ability,
initiative, determination, and
actions of that nature
Section 12 – Professional Branding: Resume & Cover Letter
272