Seven Steps to Resume Success
You already know how to use the five-step RIGHT process to write an excellent cover letter. A similar process also exists for writing resumes. This one has seven easy steps:
Review samples. This includes your old resumes, examples in this chapter, and those in The Everything® Resume Book, 2nd Edition. Pay attention to those that might relate to your goals and those with appealing formats. Don't hesitate to circle or highlight sections you think effectively project qualifications, capabilities, and achievements.
Determine format, content, and order of information. When it comes to choosing a format, imitation is a good approach. Consider using the Everything Resume format, described in this chapter. Also determine your categories, like “Experience” and “Education,” and their order on the page.
Identify objectives and target your audience.
Inventory your qualifications and achievements.
Analyze competencies and capabilities.
Draft and critique your resume.
Duplicate and distribute your resumes. (More than one targeted version is okay.)
Many of the sample cover letters that appear in this book correspond to resumes in its companion publication, The Everything® Resume Book, 2nd Edition. The review of resume writing in this chapter is a condensed version of what you'll find in that book.
Each step of the resume-writing process is dependent upon your ability to figure out and communicate your goals. For many job-seekers, that is the missing link to resume writing, cover-letter writing, interview skills, and job-search success. When you focus on your goals, you can create targeted letters that demonstrate your confidence in knowing what you want and what you're capable of doing.
