Below you'll find resume tips and samples based on several years of experience of knowing what really works.

WRITING A
RESUME THAT IS MARKETABLE
...short tips

Begin by trying to think like the potential employer. If the resume landed on their desk, what would they look for?

Keep in mind that they are mostly interested in what you have done for the last five (5) to eight (8) years. Anything past that, most employers would like to just know the company name, title, and dates.

A resume should not exceed more than two pages. If less than five (5) years, you should consider a one-page resume (possibly with another very detailed resume when asked for more information).

Here are seven areas to focus on when building an effective resume::

1. the headline
2. career objective
3. education
4. skills
5. experience
6. interests
7. references

TheHeadline

• Use your familiar name instead of your formal name, i.e. Bob vs. Robert, unless you use your formal name.
• If you have a specific certification i.e. P.E. or CPA, you will want to put a comma after your name then the certification.
• If the company is not paying for your relocation, and you have friends, relatives, or a post office box in that area, use that address.
• Contact numbers are very important. Recently, one of our clients threw out a candidate's file because they were unable to reach him for a week via the provided contact information. This candidate lost the opportunity for a $85K job as an engineer. Remember to include cell phone, fax and e-mail.

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CareerObjective

• Most companies will want some type of Career Objective listed that tells them why they should consider you for the position. If you know the job title they are advertising for, use that title in your Objective.
• If you do not have a specific job title to use in the Objective, then try to find the most commonly used title for what you do or want to do. Remember that many titles have very different job descriptions depending on the industry, i.e. Applications Engineer can mean a Software Engineer or a Technical Trainer/Installer. Make sure you know your industry titles and use them even if your former company used a different title.
• When you fill out an application form, you must always use the title your current/previous company used. It will need to be accurate for reference checks.
• Here is an example of a Career Objective: A challenging position as a (desired job title) with a progressive company, where my experience can be fully utilized.

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Education

• Education is normally the next item on the resume, unless your degree or degrees are not related to the position. For example, a Planning Engineer with a B.A. in Music would be better-served placing education information at the end of the resume.
• Remember to list the most recent degree first. It is acceptable to list a degree in progress if you include the expected completion date.
• Do not include the year you graduated if you are an older candidate. It could work against you.
• If you have attended job-related classes or seminars, here is the ideal location to add that information.

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Skills

• Skills will often be listed next or at the end of the resume. Include up to six skills related to the position in bullet format.
• For engineers, this is normally where you list your technical skills, i.e. Hardware, Software, etc.

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Experience

• If you are currently employed by a company outside the region you are job hunting, indicate your current company type and gross revenue.
• Remember to list dates for each employer. If you are presently employed, the date might read: January 5, 1997 to Present.
• Your title is next along with four to six bullet points which have been prioritized according to the job requirements. If you're an engineer, include projects you have worked on and type of equipment you interfaced with.
• Move on to your next employment and use two to four bullet points.

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Interests

• If there is room, this category gives the interviewer more to talk to you about.
• Do not mention family, politics or religion. If you are willing to pay for your own relocation or want the employer to know you are able to relocate, it goes here. Also state whether you are available to travel.

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References

For smaller cities, continue to write "References upon request."

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