summary | Journey

Do you feel like your résumé is missing something? Don’t feel like it has that “Ka-Pow” that it needs to grab an employer’s attention? Well, get ready to whip your résumé into shape with our new Movin’ On Up series, Résumé Boot Camp. Each week for the next month we’re going to focus on a few key ways you can add some pizzazz to your résumé to help it get the attention it deserves!

So, to kick this training off, let’s talk about your résumé summary. If you don’t have one, add one. If you already have one, read back over it and get prepared to kick it up a notch. Here are some more specifics on how to create a standout résumé summary.

Summary
Besides your contact information at the very top of your paper, the summary should be one of the first items that a prospective employer sees on your résumé. Sometimes, people think that a summary is a brief outline of what you’re looking for. Here’s an example: Seeking a position as a marketing assistant at XYZ Company. Although that might be what you’re looking for, a prospective employer already knows that you’re looking for a job because otherwise they wouldn’t be looking at your résumé.

Instead, a summary should highlight your skills as they relate to the job you’re applying for and what you can add to the company. An example of how a summary should look is: Construction supervisor with five years experience managing construction crew of 30 people, oversee production and development; establish safety codes; supervisor of the year; increased production and revenue by 40% during 2009 over 2008.

When creating your résumé summary, here are a few key tips to keep in mind.

Be brief, but specific. Don’t give all your information away in the summary. Let this be an opening to your résumé that encourages an employer to continue reading and learning more about you. Be sure to outline what you can offer the employer.

List relevant skills. In your summary, list your most relevant skills as they relate to the specific job opening. Which of those skills do you excel at the most? Write those down.
Also, describe your accomplishments. What are a few of your greatest accomplishments that would relate to the job? Is there an award you won? It’s OK to brag a little because you want the employer to know why you’re great and why they should hire you!

Use action words. Although sometimes you have to list something in past tense, try to use as many action words as possible to communicate greater intensity. And, using action verbs will more likely to grab the reader’s attention than using past tense verbs.

Format correctly. Keep the summary statement at the top of your résumé and make it short and sweet – about four sentences or less. Again, you want to grab someone’s attention with your summary, but not give away all of your information. Encourage them to keep reading. Also, be careful not to use the words “I”, “me” and “my” in your summary. Employers know you’re talking about yourself, so saying “I” or “me” in a résumé might sound amateur and unprofessional.

So, now it’s time for you to check out your summary statement or start writing it today. This is a great way to set yourself apart from the competition and stand out in an employer’s mind. Have questions about writing a summary? Let us know. Also, tune in next week to learn how to write and format your work history on your résumé.

When it comes to building a résumé, it’s important to know what to include and how to get an employer to notice yours. Typically, a hiring manager will form an opinion about you and your résumé within about 10 minutes, so your résumé needs to grab someone’s attention … and fast.

So, what does a great résumé include? Make sure you include these items to maximize your job search results.

The Basics. The basics for any résumé include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. And when it comes to listing an address, be sure to include a permanent address to ensure that if an employer sends you something, you will receive it. Also, for e-mail addresses, think professional. A great way to get overlooked for a job opportunity is to include a non-professional e-mail address, such as love2party@gmail.com. Instead, have a more professional e-mail address to include, such as jane.doe@gmail.com. Employers look at every detail on your résumé when deciding if you’re the right employee for them.

Educational Background and Experience. Include what your major is or what certifications and training you have received. The more you include the better. Also, list which school or votech you graduated from or that you’re attending. However, when it comes to your grade point average, only list it if it’s 3.5 or higher.

Objective and Summary of Skills. It’s never a bad idea to include a clear, direct objective and summary of what you’re looking for and what you can offer an employer. Remember, when it comes to a résumé, your ultimate goal is to tell them what you can do for them, not what they can do for you.

For example, if you’re applying for an ad copy writer position, list your top skills that would showcase to the employer why you are the best choice for the job. Keep this object short – only a few sentences at most – and communicate your passion for the job. Grab their attention early on in the résumé.

List of Achievements. Once you’ve told an employer in your objective and summary why they should hire you, you have to show them why. This is the section where you can go more in depth about your skills and abilities. It’s also OK to brag on yourself a little here. Tell them about honors, awards, and recognition you’ve received regarding your area of study. List internships or major projects you worked on that got rave reviews? Did you showcase a major community project for your school?

If you received an award for being the best of the best, include that too. Let a potential employer know what you’re able to do! The more impressive you appear, the better. But remember, a cardinal rule of creating a résumé is to keep everything truthful. Don’t fudge the truth even a little to seem more impressive. If an employer ever finds out you did, your career with them would be over before it ever gets started.

Community and Extracurricular Activities. Be sure to list all the organizations you have been involved in at school and outside of school. Since you don’t have a lot of on-the-job experience yet, this is a great way to show how you’re putting your skills to use.

These are some basic must-haves that every résumé should include. One other thing to keep in mind is the format you use. Usually for recent college grads, a combination of a chronological and functional format is a good choice. The chronological format lists your experience in a timely order, while the functional format focuses more on just your skills and abilities overall. Also, check out additional tips for getting past resume gaps.

Finally keep the overall design basic and try to keep your résumé to one page in length. The busier your résumé appears, the more distracting it will be. When it comes to the design, less is more. Also, create your résumé in Microsoft Word, but save your final copy as a PDF version.

Follow these tips to make sure you start your job search off on the right foot. Tune in next week for information on creating a list of references.

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