Resume Critiquing
Most employers still request candidates to submit a resume as part of their application package. Resumes allow you to describe your experiences and skills in your own words. It is helpful to review your career information and learn what to include in your resume to make it as effective as possible.
Resumes are often the first impression a potential employer has of you. Resumes can be among the most crucial steps in the application process because they are used as screening documents. Many employers require applicants to submit a resume just to be considered for a job opportunity. So, if you want to be interviewed by actual decision makers, you’ll need a high-quality resume.
If a company does not require a resume, it’s likely you’ll need to fill out an application, so they’ll get an idea of your career background. Even in those cases, it’s still a good practice to provide a formally typed resume because it shows added professionalism.
Types of Resumes
Reverse-chronological Resume
This is a classic format that most recruiters and hiring managers prefer. This resume type lists your most current work experience first along with your most celebrated achievements and then continues back in time until it reaches the end of your resume.
Chronological Resume
A Chronological resume is the science of arranging events in the order that they happened, or will happen, if you are giving instructions. Consider for example, the use of a timeline or sequence of events. It is also the determination of the actual progression of your work experience, past events, and achievements. The goal of a chronological resume is to show career progression targeting a very specific job descriptive, job requestion or ongoing projects, dealing with technology projects, medical, biosciences, life sciences and clinical pharmaceuticals trials. For this exact reason, the chronological resume is the perfect choice for jobseekers who have plenty of experience and achievements to list on their resume.
Functional Resume
A functional resume places emphasis on your skills rather than your work history. This resume is ideal for those with transferable skills who are changing careers, or for those who have gaps in employment.
Hybrid Combination Resume
This format combines both the reverse-chronological resume and the functional resume, creating a hybrid resume. A hybrid combination resume starts with a skill summary and then the most relevant job experience. This format offers flexibility while maintaining the resume’s effectiveness.
Key Words are Keys to Success
There are several key elements to a successful resume as well as an effective cover letter. Key among them are key words, and there’s a key reason:
Many organizations use robotic screening processes to disqualify rather than advance job seekers. These programs function based on key words and other factors. If you are not using key words effectively, chances are your resume will never get you through the pre-screening process.
