Resume Tips

       You successfully got your applications and filled out the all the information asked of you completely. The next thing I recommend is to prepare or brush up on your resume. The great thing about turning in a resume with your application is that this gesture gives your potential employer an impression that you are serious and ready for employment. You do not simply do what is  required, but also go beyond what is asked. Another reason to turn in your resume is because you look better compared to those that do not have a resume.

Make sure your Contact Information is current and convey professionalism.
       A common mistake I've noticed when trying to reach an applicant for my hiring manager is that the phone number is disconnected or no longer in use. Sure you have other contact information that may be current, but some managers do not have the time to go through all your contact possibilities to reach you when there are plenty of other applicants to reach for an interview. This will also link to profread your information on your application as well. Depending on the company, managers will base the contact information on the application instead, but let's just be safe and have the insurance of either possibilities.
     Make a new e-mail if your e-mail is inappropriate. My best friend's nickname in high school was CrazyGurl so she created an email that conatined those words in high school. She used that e-mail address on her resume. She came to me asking why she hasn't received any calls for interviews. I asked to see her resume and there it was! She created a more professional e-mail that contained her first initial and last name. She immediately got more interviews after resubmitting her applications and resumes. If you are debating whether you should use your current email that does not include your name or initials, you should brainstorm some possible negative connatations implied in your e-mail. If there are any negatives at all, save yourself the time and create a new one. I was reminded of this tip when I came across this webpage.

Change your voicemail greeting to short, simple and straight to the point.
       Yes, I am advising to ditch the song recording that you recorded by holding your cell phone up to the radio. We all want everyone to know what our favorite song at the moment is; however, the hiring manager does not have the time to listen through the whole segment of the song to wait for the "beep" at the end of it to leave you message. Yes, I know that if you press the "7" on the number pad that will skip the whole message but not every one will know that. Another reason is that you do not want to accidentally give the wrong impression of who you are because of your song choice.
        When recording your new voicemail  message, make sure there isn't any background noise so that the person that is trying to reach you can hear your message clearly. State your name and repeat your phone number in case of wrong number dialings. Try to also include a short phrase along the lines that you will call the caller back once you're available. If you do this part, make sure you keep your word.

Customize your Objective to the position and job you are applying for.
       The obvious response to this section is to get a job, but employers want to know why would you be interested in the job you are applying for. This part of the resume should be just a couple of sentences. The more specific the objective is tailoring to the company and position, the better chance that you will get the interview. There are some great examples and variety of objectives in the link provided.
       Although, there are reasons to eliminate the Objective section in your resume. The three main reasons the website addresses are due to using your resume at a job fair, more than one position open at the company you are applying for and wouldn't mind keeping your options open, and can not be specific about your targeted job.

Be brief but specific about your Work History, Education, & Qualifications.
       Look at examples of resumes online if you've never composed of one. The link provided is a great resource I found that is tailored to different industries on Monster. When I first created my resume, I was lost. I just graduated from high school and needed to earn more money so I could buy what I wanted and save for junior college supplies. I was lost: Is it a written paper of myself? How long should it be? What are the guidelines?
      After looking at some examples, I found out that it should be short and right to the point where the employer does not have to struggle to find the information he or she wants to know about you. Be honest about your information. Do not falsify anything on your resume. If the employer hires you based on a non-existent work history, he or she will expect you to utilize the experience with little training in that area. If you get interviewed with details and have no idea what you are talking about, the hiring manager could tell.

After you're done composing your resume, PROOFREAD it!
        Make sure to correct the spelling of most commonly misspelled words. You could skip this step if you are lucky enough to run into a hiring manager where they can not spell either. Trust me, you wouldn't want a manager like that anyways. I had a manager that replaced another manager and she could not spell. All the employees didn't give her the respect because of her carelessness in writing. This was a manager of an engraving company where spelling could either satisfy or irrate a customer. She wrote the following instructions: Put away these items over their. This is a classic case of homonyms. Here's a list I found online where if you can master these, I believe you are on your way to be one less victim to the Homonym Moster.
      You do not want to present yourself as irresponsible or you just don't care. Your resume and application most likely would end up in the trash can or maybe recycle bin to be more environmentally friendly.