Hey guys, I need to update my current resume and make it look more professional. Looking back on it, it looks very simple and childish. Is there any good resume software out there that could help me out? I have office XP and the resume builder in there is very basic and doesn't help out much. I would really appreciate your help....thanks
Personally, I think people put too much time and effort into resumes. When it comes to resumes, simple is often the best option. You can have all the snazzy fonts and watermarks you want, but if there is no decent content, it won't matter. The resume's only purpose is to get you an interview. Remember, the person doing the hiring is only going to look at it for a minute and a half, tops. The only tips are basic ones. Bullets: Bullets are a good way to get your point across. When the employer sees bullets, it gives him/her something immediately to focus on. People like to read lists rather than paragraphs. Action words: After each bullet, make sure you start your statements with good action words like "created", "supervised", and "managed". Accomplishments: Instead of just listing your duties, try and list your accomplishments. Anything that has to do with numbers is usually good. Something like, "Increased overall regional sales by 25%" or something like that Length: Two pages at the most. Since job hopping is fairly common these days, don't list too many of your former employers. References: The section "references available upon request" is pretty much pointless. If the employer wants references, he'll ask for them. Paper color: A different color paper can help get your resume noticed if it's in a big stack or something. If you use a different color paper, make sure it's not anything wild. Just use some kind of off white color or a very light tan. Mailing in resumes is becoming less and less common, though. Also be weary of an "interests/hobbies" section. You'd be suprised at how many employers use this section to weed out potential candidates. As for resume software and the resume templates in word processors, they're a bunch of crap. The thing with the templates is that if you try to customize it at all, you usually screw up the format because there are all kinds of weird tab stops and boxes and crap. I created mine using plain ole' MS Word. The only really snazzy thing I have is a couple of lines to separate the sections.
dot your I's with hearts use a cute stationary, and maybe put some perfume on it. trust mke yo will get noticed oh yeah. lie like hell, and if you have to, find a resume online and just change the name on it. good luck
Be careful. You don't want anything too fancy or hard to read. Simple and straighforward is usually the way to go...although it should look professional.
