Power Resume

For most job seekers it is wise to at least make an attempt at writing your resume. The reasoning is that no one knows your experience quite like you and your “voice”/writing style is also unique.  It is also true that most resume writers will ask that you compose an outline of your prior experience and education. Another benefit is that the composition of your own resume provides you with the time to think through your past experiences to highlight those skills and accomplishments which you most want to highlight. This is especially so if you are embarking on a career transition when you want to highlight those skills and accomplishments which can be readily transferred to a new position.

However, with the above in mind, there are certain resume writing strategies which will greatly improve your chances of being selected for an interview. For example, most recruiters only skim the résumé for relevant experience; it is rare that your résumé will be read in its entirety. For this reason one strategy is to place the most relevant skills and accomplishments within the first three lines of every position description. Other techniques include use of summary statements; bold headings, italics, as well as choosing the appropriate style aligned to your career objective. For those seeking to make a career change into an entirely new field, a functional format is very often employed since it highlights those skills and accomplishments which can be directly applied to the new career.

For most mid ot senior level professionals, a chronological format is probably sufficient since much of the work is the same even among different practice areas.  The one situation where a functional style may be more appropriate is if one is transitioning between industires; e.g. you are an accountant in the nnonprofit sector seeking to move into the finanical industry.

Perhaps the best source for creating a high-impact resume is through a professional resume writer who is strongly familiar with all of the effective strategies to best showcase your past experience. In selecting a resume writer be sure to ask such questions as their past experience in your particular field, any certifications they hold (such as. Certified Professional Resume Writer- CPRW), what services the fee covers; e.g. how many revisions will you be entitled to. Also be sure to ask about their process; many resume writers utilize a formal questionnaire while others ask that you compose a draft or outline of your resume from which they will work.  

Most resume writers will also want to know such things as what you liked best/least about your past employment, type of work culture with which you are most comfortable, what you perceive your strengths and weaknesses to be, and, with regard to nurses specifically, your practice area and type of facility in which you seek to work.

A job search is really a marketing campaign and what you are selling is – you! Therefore, it is generally a good idea to invest both the time and money in having your resume professionally done. Your résumé is most often your first introduction to a potential employer and the creation of a highly polished and focused document will ensure that you make a great first impression!