A Strong Resume Makes All The DifferenceEven if you love your current job and have no intention of leaving, having a current and polished resume at the ready can be a valuable advantage. For example, you can use a strong resume to establish credibility as a quotable authority or spokesperson in your specific area of responsibility. This can be helpful in securing byline opportunities with trade publications and association newsletters; it can serve as an introduction to event organizers looking for speakers and panel participants; and it can even help in gaining validation for volunteer organizations and philanthropic groups. In short, resumes are not just for job hunting but are also a valuable career-building tool. Current Contact Details - Name, home address, home or cel phone number, personal email address (if appropriate) Objective - Incorporate short and long term goals for your career into a summary of your qualifications or include a section headed Objective, either way, you can target a specific job search or reinforce your expertise by being concise and targeted in your objectives. Including current or desired job title is also effective. Career Summary - In addition to listing your career path, from most current backwards, in reverse chronological order, include a synopsis of your career achievements to demonstrate your dedication to results. Counter any perceived weakness with greater strengths in other areas and refrain from just listing a job title, dates and responsibilities. Explain in narrative form what you brought to the table, what you have accomplished and why you were an asset to the team. You may even want to bullet point these items. Education - If you’re entering the job market, the emphasis will be on your education. If you’re a professional, educational accomplishments that are relevant to or enhance your status can be emphasized, while unrelated degrees and education should be included at the end of your resume. If you’re lacking a formal education, list participation in industry events, like NATPE’s annual Conference & Exhibition, as a way of supporting your continuing development. Additional Information - Be sure to include any awards, honors, recognitions, public speaking, published articles or other noteworthy accomplishments in your resume. Think of this section as the ultimate sales pitch in marketing you. This is also an area to include association memberships, unique skills and other accomplishments that may not be career-related but attest to your character, including volunteer programs, community service support, et cetera. An Added Plus - With today’s simplified software programs and graphics, its easy and affordable to add a color headshot or other graphic feature to your resume. This also helps you stand out from other resumes being considered. Keep it simple and appropriate for your field of work, but let some of your own personal style shine through in a unique touch of individualism. Stay focus and in the now when writing or updating your resume and stick to what’s relevant. Sure, you may be proud of winning the intramural athlete competition junior year, but is it relevant to what you’re doing now? Once you’ve completed your resume, be sure to check for spelling, grammar and typos. Nothing kills a great resume faster than a misspelled word or typo. |
2008 Conference & Exhibition:
What Happened at NATPE 2008?  |
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