One of my advantages as a professional resume writer and mentor for other writers is that I keep up with the latest in recruiting information and approaches. I share that information with my clients, so that they know what they need to do to make their resume stand out. What are recruiters and hiring managers talking about now? First, they are taking note of the surge in state laws prohibiting companies from asking ab...

Q. I’m applying for my first senior level (director) position. I want my resume to show that I’m ready for the challenge. How do I do that? A. Good for you for recognizing that your resume must match expectations for a senior level position. When you are listing your skills, make sure that you feature leadership, financial (profit and loss), strategy, and talent development skills. At this level, no one is in...

One of the most important things your resume can say about you—before anyone reads a word—is that you are a professional. How does the resume say that? It is formatted cleanly, with your name and content information clearly visible on top and with consistent alignment, font size, and bolding or italics. On closer inspection, it uses standard English spelling and grammar. Once hiring managers or recruiters beg...

A couple of years ago, I wrote The 10 Worst Resume Suggestions You Ever Received. It is time to update that list with a few more examples of the world’s worst resume advice for job hunters. Do not say anything that sounds like bragging. Then hope that companies will be awed by your lack of success, progress, and confidence. Fill your resume with acronyms so that hiring managers and recruiters are struck dumb wit...

Q. During my career as an executive secretary, I have worked in four companies in different industries but my job duties have remained pretty much the same, as has my title. I love what I do, but how can I show progress in my career as I look for my next position? A. When you are applying for an executive secretary position, the other candidates probably have skills, education, and responsibilities that are very similar...

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement or claim. When you claim that you are a “world-champion” sales person or an “extraordinary” team player, you are engaged in hyperbole if you do not back those claims up with real statistics and results. Resumes that are heavy on adjectives, like “world-champion,” “state-of-the-art,” “exceptional” or “extraordinary,&rdq...

Employers, hiring managers, and recruiters expect to find more than one candidate with the skills and education they are looking for. How can you stand out from a crowd of applicants with similar qualifications? Through your value proposition. Your value proposition embraces the unique details of your career and your individual approach to challenges and opportunities. Are you the strategist in an organization or the imp...

Q. I am going to be graduating soon with a degree in economics but I really want to work in the fashion industry. How can I apply for jobs when all my education is pointing in the wrong direction? A. Many of us find that our careers take off in directions that have little if anything to do with our degree. I’m a professional resume writer but my degree from MIT is in Chemical Engineering. That does not mean my degr...

The companies you are applying to know what position they are trying to fill. They search for someone with a job title and history that matches their expectations for the position. However, your own company might have a different approach to job titles. You should never change your job title on your resume: you should use the title your company uses. However, you may need to bridge the gap between your current title and...

Have you recently finished a major project at work (as a leader or team member, received recognition or a promotion, or finished a career-related course or certification? Then it is time to make an entry into your “brag file.” All too often, after some time has passed, we tend to forget past achievements and milestones. We downplay them in our minds as we move onto the next challenge. Yet, those achievements are...