| As you develop your resume, keep in mind that | | | | employer? |
| its purpose is not to get you hired. Its purpose is | | | | - Determine which bullets most strongly support |
| to get you face-to-face with the person who's | | | | your job search objective. |
| doing the hiring. The most important thing your | | | | - Put the strong and most relevant points first |
| resume can do is make the prospective employer | | | | where they are more apt to be read. |
| want to meet you. | | | | - Focus on your achievements and contributions |
| Keep in mind the following 12 steps when creating | | | | to the business development and success of your |
| your technical writing resume: | | | | past employer. |
| 1. Determine Your Objective | | | | 7. Match the Needs of the Hiring Company |
| - Prior to writing the resume: clearly state what | | | | - Review job postings for positions that interest |
| sort of a job you want know what kinds of skills | | | | you. |
| and experiences are needed structure the | | | | - Listings almost always have a brief blurb about |
| content of your resume around that objective | | | | the company and the position available. |
| Example of a good objective: Contribute my | | | | - Read the job description closely, use the key |
| technical writing skills to create user focused | | | | words listed in the ads, and match them to the |
| instruction manuals detailing software processes. | | | | bullet points in your resume. |
| 2. Be Clear and Concise | | | | 8. Be Positive |
| - The sole purpose of a resume is to have a | | | | - Don't include negative and irrelevant information. |
| potential employer contact you for an interview. | | | | - Leave out anything that might cause an |
| - It's a marketing tool to get you in front of your | | | | unfavorable reaction. |
| potential boss where you can do the sales pitch | | | | - Leave off your graduation date if it could |
| and close the deal. | | | | subject you to age discrimination. |
| - Put yourself in the shoes of the resume reader | | | | - Leave off duties in your current job that don't |
| when considering the job qualifications needed for | | | | support your job search objective. |
| the position. | | | | - Leave off irrelevant personal information like |
| 3. Use Bullet Points | | | | your race, weight, height, religion, hobbies, music |
| - In the body, use bullet points with short | | | | and food preferences, and political leanings unless |
| sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs. | | | | they are vital to securing the position. |
| - Key phrases that stand alone and bulleted will | | | | 9. Make It Look Good |
| help the reader see the important information at | | | | - Print the resume on good quality, white paper |
| a glance. | | | | using black ink. |
| - You can go into the details during the interview. | | | | - Leave wide margins. The font size should be no |
| Example: | | | | smaller than 10 points. |
| Weak: Developed a communications process guide | | | | - Don't pack the page with print. |
| which consisted of 255 pages, eight case studies, | | | | - If necessary, use a second page. |
| 25 best practices, 36 charts and diagrams, 14 | | | | - If you have a hard time filling the page with |
| interviews, 20 communication mistakes to avoid | | | | text, increase your line spacing to compensate |
| and this manual was used by the hospital doctors | | | | and increase the white space. |
| and nurses to communicate with their patients. | | | | 10. Limit the Length |
| Strong: Developed a communications process | | | | - The length of your resume should be no more |
| guide which was used by the hospital doctors and | | | | than 2 pages. |
| nurses to communicate with their patients. This | | | | - Two plus pages is usually more appropriate if |
| 255 page guide included: | | | | you're after an upper management position. |
| - 8 case studies | | | | - Generally, employers prefer a one page job |
| - 25 best practices | | | | resume, but they will read two if the resume is |
| - 36 charts and diagrams | | | | organized and focused and conveys a unique and |
| - 14 interviews | | | | interesting message of capability. |
| - 20 communication mistakes to avoid | | | | - Anything after the second page should be an |
| 4. Use the Right Words | | | | addendum that supports the content of the first |
| - Computers are often used to pick the resumes | | | | two pages. |
| to be looked at by looking for keywords that | | | | 11. Get Outside Opinions |
| have been picked by the hiring manager. | | | | - Always have two or more people review your |
| - These are key words that relate to the position. | | | | resume. Get feedback that relates to: how others |
| - If your resume is scanned, the computer will | | | | view your marketing materials are they |
| pick up on these words. | | | | impressed by the resume: content and format |
| - Use action verbs to describe what you've done. | | | | content that isn't clear content that isn't |
| - Words like prepared, managed, developed, | | | | necessary missing content |
| monitored, and presented make your statements | | | | 12. Pay a Professional to Proofread |
| stronger. | | | | - No one can read her own writing and find all the |
| 5. Include Specific Figures | | | | spelling, grammar, or typing errors. |
| - Percentages, dollar totals, and numbers stand | | | | - It isn't worth any amount of money to lose the |
| out in the body of a resume. | | | | chance at a job due to a misspelled word. |
| - Example: Weak: Created a technical manual for | | | | - If you can't afford to get your resume |
| the VH5 Valve. Strong: Created an 87 page | | | | proofread, have at least two (preferably three) |
| technical manual for the VH5 Valve. | | | | other people whom you trust read it. It only |
| 6. Highlight Your Strengths | | | | takes one typo to turn a reader off. |
| - What is most relevant to the potential | | | | |