Frustrated with a low response rate on your resume? Starting from scratch and feeling a little overwhelmed? These simple strategies can boost any resume, sending you from the bottom of the stack to the first on the list.
1. Start thinking long-term.
The first step to a great resume is a long-term scope. Quit thinking about the job you're hoping for now, and start thinking about the job you want five or ten years from now. You'd like a part-time job at a pharmacy now, but with a two-year pharmacy associate degree, you hope to work your way up to a technician position.
Work that ambition into your resume's objective, and potential employers will appreciate your forward thinking. Of course, this tip works best when your long-term ambitions are related to your short-term goals.
2. Diversify your ability.
You've always been good with numbers, but working as an accounting clerk requires more than a casual interest. Earn a two-year associate degree and broaden your expertise in the field, and you could work as an accounting clerk. These trained clerks earned mean annual wages of $33,800 in 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports. When you use an education to deepen your knowledge, your resume reaps the rewards.
3. Get skill-specific.
Depending on the career you have your eye on, the skills you list can make or break a resume. If you've completed some coursework or informal technical training in MS Office or another software package, note the programs that would be the most useful to a prospective employer. Always be sure to tailor your resume to the specific job that interests you.
4. Upgrade with certification.
Offer: Search for Schools
Looking for an easy way to stand out from the crowd? A simple certification course can give you the upper hand in a matter of weeks. Certification programs can be found in everything from business to health care to information technology.
IT certification courses have a special importance, allowing you to keep your skills current without a full degree program. Look for branded courses attached to corporations like Cisco or Microsoft, or go for a vendor neutral A+ certification or similar. Keep your eyes on the prize: Database administrators, who benefit from a bachelor's degree in computer science plus certification programs like the ones listed above, earned mean annual wages of $72,900 in 2008, the BLS reports.
5. Improve your service record.
Serving in a volunteer organization related to your ideal line of work helps your informal training, boosts your experience, and allows you to give back to the community. Talk about a win-win situation.
6. Earn a practical degree.
When you imagine going back to school, it's easy to be overwhelmed by thoughts of choosing a major and completing years of coursework. The two-year associate degree exists for students who want a focused level of training in as short a time as possible. Consider registered nurses, who must earn an associate degree before enjoying mean annual wages of $65,130, according to the BLS. A practical vocational degree can go a long way on any resume.
7. Avoid negative language.
No resume is perfect, but negative language can highlight the imperfections you might rather hide. If you're just starting a degree or certificate program, point to your anticipated graduation date rather than the fact that your degree is still pending. Note the specific coursework you've already completed and skills you've earned, even if you're working only from informal training.
8. Take the next step.
Achieve greatness one step at a time. Once you've earned an associate degree, use your existing credit hours to upgrade to a bachelor's degree. Listing your intended degree on a resume can only serve to strengthen it, as you prove your willingness to move forward with your education. For example, accounting clerks can make the leap to fully-licensed accountants with a bachelor's degree plus CPA certification. Accountants earned mean annual wages of $65,840 in 2008, making this career one worth studying for.
9. Consider your competition.
The key in any good resume is to present the most accurate positive picture of your interests and skills. In doing that, it helps to imagine the strengths others might bring to the interview room. Play up your management or computer literacy skills in order to compete against someone who may have a broader work experience. If you're the one with experience, prove it with a list of specific points.
10. Bring in a proofreader.
Any otherwise great resume can suffer from mistakes in spelling and grammar. Bring in a third party to check your resume and offer suggestions. Seek out community writing courses; libraries sometimes have specific resume-writing courses. If you're enrolled in a degree program, look to English teachers, librarians or writing centers.
Use education to boost any resume
While no career training program can guarantee success in the job search, the skills and training you get with a degree can boost your resume in ways you might not immediately expect. Degree and certificates give you the tools and confidence you need to succeed. In the job search, that's a priceless skill that complements any resume.
