The Resume.Com Guide to Writing Unbeatable Resumes (9 page)

Example:

John Doe

248 W. 35
^th
Street, 12A · New York, NY 10001 · (800) 737-8637 · [email protected]

5.
Now create a line (or border) underneath your name or your name and contact information.

The top section of your resume is the most important real estate you have to impress the reader. That’s why all Resume.com resumes start out with a strong headline, incorporating a professional objective with key talents or achievements that you can offer an employer by emphasizing both what you’re looking for and what you have to offer, thus creating a strong hook that catches a potential employer’s attention.

All hiring situations represent an attempt by the company to solve a problem or fill a need within the organization. A headline announces what you will do to solve that problem.

You’ll be much more successful if your headline is specifically tailored to the position you are applying for; this information is in essence the appetizer that entices the hirer to keep reading. Making a hirer feel that you’re applying only for this job, not simply applying for
any
job, is a great way to make a positive first impression.

The headline should always be in bold, centered, and italicized with an 8- to 12-point blank space directly below your contact information:

Many times it’s easier to write the headline after completing the resume, as you’ll have a stronger understanding of your key accomplishments. Here are some tips for creating a great headline:

■
Never use a period at the end of a headline. Remember, you want the hirer to keep reading.

■
If you’ve ever won an award that relates to the position you’re applying for, always start off your headline with the term “Award-Winning.”

■
Limit the headline to two lines. Three lines are okay for professionals with extensive experience but should be avoided if possible.

■
For executive resumes, incorporate the headline into the summary or profile section that begins the resume. For examples, jump ahead to
Chapter 14
.

1.
Start your headline with a powerful adjective that modifies your title. “Talented,” “successful,” “experienced,” “efficient,” and “dedicated” are great adjectives for starting a headline.

2.
After you’ve picked out your adjective, add the function that defines your position. For example, “marketing,” “journalism,” “finance,” “sales,” or “public relations” would go next.

3.
Then add a word that indicates level of experience, such as “manager,” “associate,” or “assistant.” A great word that can apply to practically any applicant is “professional.”

A strong way to start off your headline, building on our initial 1-2-3 approach would be:

You also can add additional functions to bolster your background:

□
Accomplished sales and marketing professional

Or scale it back to keep the introduction simple:

□
Experienced journalist

After you’ve completed this part of your headline, you should list the defining skills, responsibilities, or accomplishments that apply to your desired position or industry.

A great way to present these skills or accomplishments after your title is by using the words “with,” “possessing,” “adept at,” “skilled in,” or “proficient at”:

□
Accomplished sales and marketing professional
with
the power and drive to penetrate new markets, lead a sales force, and deliver quota-shattering results

□
Top-performing financial associate
adept at
overseeing all facets of business development and financial management

□
Top-producing sales and marketing professional
with
strong background shattering quotas and opening new markets

□
Talented journalist
with
18 years of experience covering city politics

In the last example, the resume incorporates a simple and powerful tool that hirers love to see: experience. If you list years of experience, a host of attributes—including knowledge, skills, and abilities—are conveyed immediately to the employer. However, avoid listing more than 25 years of experience in the headline to preclude age discrimination.

□
Award-winning art director
with
proven track record working in multimedia production and publishing

□
Efficient manager
proficient at
directing employees and overseeing sales transactions

□
Experienced financial professional skilled in numerous business processes, including forecasting, accounting, and budgeting