Great Resume Examples

A great resume is one that impresses with the first glance and gets an edge over all the others. What is it that makes a resume tick? What are the ingredients that go into drafting a successful resume? The answers to these questions are quite simple and if you follow a few golden rules, you too would be able to carve a great resume.

Some golden rules to help frame a great resume

Emphasizing on your skills: This is one of the most important sections of your resume and it is also among the first to be glanced at. If you mange to score in this initial glance, your resume will earn a second deeper look. There are some skills that are universally sought after by most recruiters which include communication and team work skills, organization and resourcefulness. Proficiency in computers is another plus point for almost all positions today. If you have applied for a technical post, it would be absolutely essential to project your technical expertise. Leadership skills are also a favorite with the employers and prove to be a winner all the way.
Design a result oriented resume: The core of the matter for most recruiters is how productive and profitable would you be for the company. Therefore it is important to focus on quantifiable achievements that immediately give the impression that you have been a success so far and hold the same potential for the future. Quoting figures which clearly demonstrate your success lend more credibility to your achievements and add value to your resume.
Ethics and honesty count: Your resume should mirror your qualities but only the real ones. Including attributes and virtues that you don't possess eventually always backfires and would be totally counterproductive to your goals. While it is acceptable to underplay your shortcomings, it would be dishonest to try and project what you are not. All employers hold honesty and ethics among the most valued qualities and these qualities should clearly shine through in your resume.
Support your skills with achievements to match: Merely listing your skills and responsibilities looks mundane and lackluster. It is important to back your attributes with sufficient evidence to prove that you are not just bluffing. You need to advertise your talents and skills by elaborating on your professional achievements in a crisp and smart manner.
Visually appealing: A neat, well laid out resume that is easy to read scores brownie points on first impression. The presentation counts as much as the content so ensure that the sub headings are in bold print and use bullets to catch attention. It has to be error free and there is no room for compromise on this so the importance of proof reading it several times cannot be over emphasized. In addition make sure that your resume is concise and does not extend beyond two pages, the golden rule is - the shorter the better.
Action words: A generous but not over done sprinkling of action words helps to form a positive impression and portray the candidate as a dynamic and self motivated individual. A few of such words include, 'implemented', 'enforced', 'accomplished', 'led', 'developed', 'succeeded'. These words have a powerful impact on the reader and easily attract and retain attention.
Keywords: With many resumes being sent online today, most companies use special software to filter the resumes and choose the relevant ones. These digital databases zero in on certain keywords that are relevant to the post applied for. It is therefore essential to include these keywords in your resume so that they are accessed by the automated software.

A great resume also aims at being unique and has that individual touch that gives a glimpse into the personality of the candidate. If you are using a resume template, it would be a good idea to personalize it completely by adding points that can only be relevant and specific to you. It is also important to tailor your resume differently for every application and refrain from sending the same one to all the companies. Reflecting the values and goals of the company you have applied to in your resume will create a lasting and favorable impression and you will be looked upon as candidate with potential and promise.