TAO Self-help

Title:Tips for Completing Your Resume

Author:Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, CMRC, CFRW

Date:July 2011

Source:www.militaryresumewriters.com and www.careerproplus.com

When you apply for job openings you "MUST" differentiate yourself from the crowd. As competitive as the job market is today you "MUST" pull out all the stops. Throughout the development of your professional resume always keep in mind that your resume should be targeted to each position in which you apply. This one tip alone will dramatically increase your chances for an interview.

Carefully and thoroughly read the entire vacancy announcement. Provide ALL the information requested including documentation required for the position. Some agencies use automated systems and others accept resumes. Regardless of how they want you to apply, you must ensure your submission includes information in the following areas:

  1. Write a list of your main accomplishments for each job you held.
  2. Weave these accomplishments into challenge, context, action and result (CCAR) sentences.
  3. Keep all sentences in an active voice (not passive.)
  4. Answer ALL job-related questions to the best of your ability. Include accurate details of your experience, education, or training in the narrative input or supporting information fields provided.
  5. Use ALL portions of the application to provide unique and exemplary information that sets you apart from other candidates.
  6. Present your most important job-related competencies and accomplishments.
  7. Present information in a polished (and accurate!) manner.
  8. Double check for typos and grammatical errors.
  9. Stress actions and achievements, and include a result.
  10. Sell yourself!

For both paper and on-line resumes, you should use action verbs to show the degree to which you were actively engaged in performing work. Some suggested verbs to consider are:

Advised Delivered Investigated
Analyzed Demonstrated Negotiated
Arranged Developed Organized
Budgeted Directed Performed
Built Drafted Planned
Computed Evaluated Presented
Conducted Filed Repaired
Coordinated Gathered Researched
Counseled Improved Supervised
Crafted Installed Typed
Delegated Instructed Wrote

Barbara Adams, President and CEO of CareerPro Global (CPG), the parent company of http://www.careerproplus.com/ and www.militaryresumewriters.com, has been a member of the careers community for the past 20 years. Ms. Adams holds four prestigious industry certifications. CareerPro Global is the only ISO 9001-2008 Certified Career Service in the industry, as well as one of the fastest-growing Military, Federal, and Civilian Resume-Writing and Careers-Coaching companies. The team of Certified Professional Federal and Military Resume Writers at CPG assist thousands of clients in applying for and gaining employment each year. We can help you land your military to civilian job.

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