You have finished your resume master piece, before your prepare that email and press that send button to apply to your dream job, we have prepared a resume writing checklist to help you. Our checklist is by no means exhaustive, but if you follow these points, you will have a resume that is worth reading and maximizes your career opportunities. Each point is important and it is equally important to make sure that your resume incorporates all of them.
When writing a technical resume it is easy to lose sight of the overarching strategy that encompasses not only the client’s technical competencies, but also their leadership, initiative, creativity and personality attributes – the human aptitudes that will distinguish my client’s resume from the stack of other applications on an HR manager’s desk. Learning to navigate that fine line, between positioning an IT professional as an acutely technical candidate, yet one with the collaborative, energetic and sociable personality that would appeal to diverse stakeholders, team-members and clients, I feel is a true accomplishment. Over the years, I have developed a passion for writing technical resumes, as well as several winning techniques to ensure that these career documents effectively demonstrate a 360° perspective of the breadth and depth of my client’s skill. read more
Matthew Domville of Surcorp Group, Resume Solutions, has been awarded international certification as a Certified Advanced Resume Writer (CARW) by Career Directors International (CDI). Matthew has demonstrated his superior knowledge and experience in resume writing and career development through an intensive examination, professional writing and professional development process to assess and demonstrate his industry knowledge and resume writing skill.
“At Resume Solutions, we keen on developing our employees’ expertise and I am extremely proud of Matthew’s accomplishment” says, Surranna Sandy, President of Surcorp Group, Resume Solutions. Recognition as a CARW sets Surcorp Resume Solutions and Matthew apart from the competition and distinguishes the high calibre of both his and the organization’s credentials in assisting clientele with professional resume and career coaching services. Resume Solutions, a division of Surcorp Group offers expert resume writing, personal branding and career coaching services to entry-level through executive clientele in the global marketplace. Their expertise is in empowering clients who wish to transition either within their existing career fields or to another industry.
The Surcorp team of certified resume writers, career coaches and counselors offer industry leading résumé writing, interview, career coaching and counseling services for clients with diverse employment backgrounds across 60+ industries. Visit www.resumesolutions.ca to view a full roster of Surcorp’s coaching and writing services.
Career Directors International is an international association that provides proactive resources and assistance to empower its Members in contemporary career development, resume writing and employment
With Canada’s record 8% unemployment rate, our highest level in 7 years, Canadian job seekers face greater competition for limited jobs. A recent survey showed that 27% of 360 human resources managers stated that they received over 100 resumes for a single open job vacancy. The pressure is on for job seekers to stand out from the crowd. Your primary tool to remain competitive and distinctive while looking for a job, is a first-class, high impact resume.
As a Certified Professional Resume Writers, I have encountered a lot of resumes from clients all over the world with information that is not acceptable in the Canadian labour market. For internationally educated professionals, new Canadians and for those who just don’t know, I have decided to provide you with a list of things you should never include in your resume.
BEFORE: SALES MANAGER
Problem – underperforming team due to lack of product knowledge
Action – coordinated research and development team to deliver bi-weekly Lunch & Learn presentations to educate sales representatives on product features.
Result – increased quarterly sales by 250 units. Gained 2% market share by end of the year.
AFTER: SALES MANAGER: Southern Ontario
Over the next few weeks i will be writing a series of posts on resume writing formats – evaluating the traditional formats and emerging trends and providing you with strategies to select the most appropriate for your unique situation.
When drafting your résumé, one of the first things to consider, is the type of résumé format to use. Select a format that is acceptable to HR professionals, hiring managers, as well as a format that effectively portrays your information.
Résumé Format Options:
Considerations to Format Selection:
Over the next several weeks, i will be providing an online resume writing tutorial, providing insider secrets of a professional resume writer.
Prior to beginning the document, it is a good idea to prepare your page. We do not recommend using a Template because they are very inflexible and are often created to maximize white-space to an exaggerated degree.
As a Certified Professional Resume Writers, I have encountered a lot of resumes from clients all over the world with information that is not acceptable in the Canadian labour market. For internationally educated professionals, new Canadians and for those who just don’t know, I have decided to provide you with a list of things you should never include in your resume
These include:
1. Photographs
The only people who need to include photos in their resumes are models and performers. In some cultures, a photo is expected on a resume. As such, many new immigrants incorporate their photos on their resume upon relocating to Canada. However, they should remove as Canadian labour law prohibits employers from discriminating based on race etc ,however it would be naive to assume they adhere to the law at all times.
2. Personal or Work Failures
This includes being fired, failures in exams, marriages, businesses, etc.
3. Every part-time job you have ever had
Part time jobs may be relevant to entry-level candidate with limited experience when you are looking for your first job, but after that, they are meaningless. Keep the most relevant work history when writing your resume.
4. The words ‘I’, ‘he’ or ‘she’
Your resume should normally be written in the first person (‘I’), but you never actually need to write ‘I’ in a resume. Some people write their resume in the third person (‘he’ or ‘she’). Again, you do not need to include the ‘he’ or ‘she’.
5. References
Your references should not be included on your resume – whether they are names, addresses, emails and phone numbers. The phrase “References are available upon request” should also be left out.
6. Reasons for leaving each job
Never include the reason you left an organization on your resume, especially if they are negative points. This may leave you open to being misunderstood.
7. Listing of high school diploma
Once you have attained post-secondary education, whether a college certificate or a bachelor’s degree, you no longer need to include your high school diploma on your resume.
8. Salary history information
This could potentially be used to reject your application. If a job advertisement specifically requests this information, you can always include it in your cover letter.
As a Certified Professional Resume Writer and President of Resume Solutions, I provide workshops and seminars on what makes a successful resume: what it entails, and how to create a great document that immediately generates interest from a potential employer. Always considering what a good resume should be, it suddenly occurred to me that most job seekers also need to know what a good resume IS NOT! Consider the following list of common resume writing errors.
For many job seekers, the thought of writing a resume fills them with dread. What to keep in, what to take out, the length, the design etc. The whole process can be very stressful. You have to remember, the purpose of your resume is to support you before, during and after a job interview and help you to secure a job. Therefore, you should remember the goal of a strongly written resume: it is to generate interest from a potential employer and to persuade them to call you for a personal interview.
Per CMA Newsletter
On January 1, 2011, the oldest Baby Boomers will turn 65. By 2030, when all Baby Boomers will have turned 65, fully 18% of the nation’s population will be at least that age, according to Pew Research Center population projections. Today, just 13% of Americans are ages 65 and older.
In today’s job market, the resume – a document that provides an overview of your experience, education and skill set – is the number one item requested by potential employers.
Research has shown that job seekers without a top-quality resume face long and difficult job searches, while those with polished, professionally written resumes multiply their chances of obtaining desired positions. In today’s highly competitive job market, human resources managers and recruiting professionals are inundated with hundreds of resumes for a single position. Resume Solutions research has determined that on average, an employer spends 10-30 seconds reviewing a resume before determining whether it warrants further consideration. In such a competitive landscape, it is critical that job seekers make an immediate positive impression as a viable candidate by submitting a high impact resume that cuts through the noise and shows your value to each employer.
As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, I greatly enjoy helping international professionals effectively transition their global experience, education and training to speak to Canadian employment requirement. I encounter a lot of resumes from clients from all over the world with information that is simply not acceptable for the Canadian labour market. The following is a succinct guide for new comers to Canada and those looking to immigrate to Canada, which clearly explains the details you should never include in your Canadian Resume!
