9 answers
Nancy
Student
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
1
Question
Asked
788 views
How to build an outstanding resume that fits my experience
Am Nancy chinwe Nwokedi, a B.sc holder in economics, am 33 years from Nigeria but lives in UAE. Am still looking for job in UAE, before now I work as a customer service Representative with an insurance company from 2016 - 2020/02/25. #resume #job-search
Login to comment
9 answers
Kelly Mayer
Human Resources
1
Answer
Hoboken, New Jersey
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
Hi Nancy,
A few comments in addition to John's helpful advice:
1. Use action verbs when describing what you did in each job
2. Adjust the wording on your resume to match what's described in the job description (don't lie about what you've done, but sometimes companies use software that looks for keywords)
3. Try to keep your resume to one page
4. Make sure you use spell check!
5. When you apply for a job, keep track in an Excel spreadsheet of the job details. Sometimes the posting may be taken down before they reach out to you about the role, and you want to have that info to reference (especially if you're applying to a lot of jobs at the same time)
I hope this helps as well and best of luck in your job search!
A few comments in addition to John's helpful advice:
1. Use action verbs when describing what you did in each job
2. Adjust the wording on your resume to match what's described in the job description (don't lie about what you've done, but sometimes companies use software that looks for keywords)
3. Try to keep your resume to one page
4. Make sure you use spell check!
5. When you apply for a job, keep track in an Excel spreadsheet of the job details. Sometimes the posting may be taken down before they reach out to you about the role, and you want to have that info to reference (especially if you're applying to a lot of jobs at the same time)
I hope this helps as well and best of luck in your job search!
Really appreciate Kelly. Thanks
Nancy
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1349
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Hi Nancy, first lets identify Do's and Don'ts of a resume.
Here a list of the Don'ts
√ It isn’t a log of your job history.
√ It isn’t a summary of skills.
√ It isn’t going to automatically get you a job.
Think of your resume this way: It’s an advertisement, and you are the product. Your goal is to get hiring managers to buy into your skills.
An Insurance company is really a Financial Institution, so – tailor your resume highlighting your financial Institutional skills. Remember simply having a resume isn’t enough to get you an interview, you need market your skills.
Here a list of Do's to create a winning resume
√ Contact Information – Contact details must be outlined near the top.
√ Resume Objective – Use this a introduction of your job-seekers goals (tailor this section of your resume to each employer).
√ Work Experience – For this format, you must have a consistent work history (or one that isn’t too patchy).
√ Additional Skills – Your skills section can still be used to highlight personal attributes you’re proud of (again tailor this for each employer).
√ Education – Your degree(s) and certifications (if relevant) should be prominent.
√ Accomplishments – Be sure to mention your most impressive awards and honors.
Hope this Helps Nancy
Here a list of the Don'ts
√ It isn’t a log of your job history.
√ It isn’t a summary of skills.
√ It isn’t going to automatically get you a job.
Think of your resume this way: It’s an advertisement, and you are the product. Your goal is to get hiring managers to buy into your skills.
An Insurance company is really a Financial Institution, so – tailor your resume highlighting your financial Institutional skills. Remember simply having a resume isn’t enough to get you an interview, you need market your skills.
Here a list of Do's to create a winning resume
√ Contact Information – Contact details must be outlined near the top.
√ Resume Objective – Use this a introduction of your job-seekers goals (tailor this section of your resume to each employer).
√ Work Experience – For this format, you must have a consistent work history (or one that isn’t too patchy).
√ Additional Skills – Your skills section can still be used to highlight personal attributes you’re proud of (again tailor this for each employer).
√ Education – Your degree(s) and certifications (if relevant) should be prominent.
√ Accomplishments – Be sure to mention your most impressive awards and honors.
Hope this Helps Nancy
Richard Edelman
Business Analyst - Requirements
1
Answer
New Jersey, New Jersey
Updated
Richard’s Answer
Hi Nancy,
Weather you’d like to build a resume that fits your experience, or fits the career that you’re interested in, perhaps related to your degree, I recommend your resume include a Summary or Objective section at the top, just below your contact information. Clearly state the career you’re interested pursuing and include supporting information about how your education and/or experience makes you a fit for your chosen career.
List any group affiliations or activities like professional associations that are related to your desired profession? If you lack these, look into getting involved in non-work activities, associations or volunteer work that shows your interest in that field.
Have you been published? If there is something you feel strongly about and can research further, then write about it, get it reviewed by a peer or industry expert and then get it published. That will go a long way in letting perspective employers know you’re serious about, and can contribute in your area of interest.
And incidentally, while doing these things, you’ll gain more knowledge, expertise and will build your professional network.
So, it’s not just about what you can write on your resume, but what you can do to create a powerful resume that clearly shows your dedication to your career.
Good luck!
Get involved in groups or activities that relate to your chosen profession
Get published
Build you network
Weather you’d like to build a resume that fits your experience, or fits the career that you’re interested in, perhaps related to your degree, I recommend your resume include a Summary or Objective section at the top, just below your contact information. Clearly state the career you’re interested pursuing and include supporting information about how your education and/or experience makes you a fit for your chosen career.
List any group affiliations or activities like professional associations that are related to your desired profession? If you lack these, look into getting involved in non-work activities, associations or volunteer work that shows your interest in that field.
Have you been published? If there is something you feel strongly about and can research further, then write about it, get it reviewed by a peer or industry expert and then get it published. That will go a long way in letting perspective employers know you’re serious about, and can contribute in your area of interest.
And incidentally, while doing these things, you’ll gain more knowledge, expertise and will build your professional network.
So, it’s not just about what you can write on your resume, but what you can do to create a powerful resume that clearly shows your dedication to your career.
Good luck!
Richard recommends the following next steps:
Fiona Meow
Legal Counsel
123
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Fiona’s Answer
As John said, it is a promotion document for yourself.
Things to also note:
- consistency in the presentation is important
- it must be pleasant to read - not too cluttered, not too many words
- make sure to do a grammar check
- write short, succinct but useful descriptions
- what makes you stand out? work experience? volunteering experience? any language skills, other different skills that other people are unlikely to have?
Things to also note:
- consistency in the presentation is important
- it must be pleasant to read - not too cluttered, not too many words
- make sure to do a grammar check
- write short, succinct but useful descriptions
- what makes you stand out? work experience? volunteering experience? any language skills, other different skills that other people are unlikely to have?
Yolonda Bueford
Academic Advisor
58
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Yolonda’s Answer
Hi Nancy, I’m Ghanaian, nice to meet you. Here is my helpful video on how to write a resume in less than 15 mins:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=JuVYWUo2meE
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=JuVYWUo2meE
Kara Bradley
MBA Candidate
22
Answers
Berkeley, California
Updated
Kara’s Answer
Great question! To add to what others have shared, I'll dig in a bit to the content of the professional experiences portion of the resume:
Rather than using the bullets to describe your role or your day-to-day functions, each bullet should be describing an accomplishment or a way in which you added value to your team/company. If possible, quantify your accomplishments! If you made a process more efficient, can you quantify how much time was saved or how you were able to reduce errors? If you have an outstanding record with customers, can you describe that? Remember, the recruiter doesn't know if 93% satisfaction rating, for example, is good or bad for your particular role with your company-- the number just helps ground them in your success. Finally, bullets can/should be tailored to accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to succeed at the job you're applying for, using language from the job description as a gauge for what types of successes matter to them.
When reviewing a resume's bullets, I also find it helpful to give the resume to someone with no context of my prior roles and see if they can understand what I accomplished in those positions. If context or specific details are missing, they'll let you know. Remember, the recruiter reading your resume doesn't have the context and understanding of the company or how your role was important in the way that you do.
Rather than using the bullets to describe your role or your day-to-day functions, each bullet should be describing an accomplishment or a way in which you added value to your team/company. If possible, quantify your accomplishments! If you made a process more efficient, can you quantify how much time was saved or how you were able to reduce errors? If you have an outstanding record with customers, can you describe that? Remember, the recruiter doesn't know if 93% satisfaction rating, for example, is good or bad for your particular role with your company-- the number just helps ground them in your success. Finally, bullets can/should be tailored to accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to succeed at the job you're applying for, using language from the job description as a gauge for what types of successes matter to them.
When reviewing a resume's bullets, I also find it helpful to give the resume to someone with no context of my prior roles and see if they can understand what I accomplished in those positions. If context or specific details are missing, they'll let you know. Remember, the recruiter reading your resume doesn't have the context and understanding of the company or how your role was important in the way that you do.
Cath Absalon
Associate Manager
2
Answers
Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Updated
Cath’s Answer
Great responses from the group but I'm happy to share some tips that works well for me.
+ Research on the job you're aspiring for. Focus on the key strengths and responsibilities and do a side by side on your current resume. This should help you identify which skillset is something you need to add / remove
+ Indicate a high level (Bulleted format) of your current Skillset
+ Keep your resume precise and 2 pages max: This will keep the interviewers focus on what exactly they're looking for
The rest is talking points during the actual interview. This approach will make the interviewers / hiring managers to want to see / hear more
Create a LinkedIn account and update your profile as often as needed
+ Research on the job you're aspiring for. Focus on the key strengths and responsibilities and do a side by side on your current resume. This should help you identify which skillset is something you need to add / remove
+ Indicate a high level (Bulleted format) of your current Skillset
+ Keep your resume precise and 2 pages max: This will keep the interviewers focus on what exactly they're looking for
The rest is talking points during the actual interview. This approach will make the interviewers / hiring managers to want to see / hear more
Cath recommends the following next steps:
Simeon Snow
Risk Assurance
1792
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Simeon’s Answer
The most important thing is to make sure that your resume is clean and legible. Make sure that the most relevant experience is near the top of the resume and try to add a few bullet points underneath the most important experience/education explaining what you learned or what skills you exercised. You can add groups and hobbies to the end of the resume, but if there aren't much to mention about skills, I wouldn't devote too much space to those items. Remember that most recruiters usually spend eight or ten seconds per resume in a given stack.
laura provenzano
Human Resources
2
Answers
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Updated
laura’s Answer
Hi Nancy!
There are plenty of resume styles you can choose from on internet. You can pic one that is neat and easy to read/understand.
A few tips:
Personal information: detail your name , last name and contact information for the recruiter to reach out to you.
Education: start from the present to the past. you can even add ongoing studies (if you have good grades you can add your average)
Work experience: start from present experience to past ones. you can add non formal experience and volunteer jobs as well
additional information: such as languages, computer programs, etc.
Accomplishments: any of relevance
Lay out is important, pay attention to overall image. Avoid misspelling errors. Make sure you use the same style, type of font and number.
Once you finish you can ask someone else to read it. sometimes another person can point a detail that your eye didn't catch!
When you are ready, create your LinkedIn profile, is usually a good point to start making contacts and widen your circles. you can follow companies, groups of interest and create job alerts.
good luck!
There are plenty of resume styles you can choose from on internet. You can pic one that is neat and easy to read/understand.
A few tips:
Personal information: detail your name , last name and contact information for the recruiter to reach out to you.
Education: start from the present to the past. you can even add ongoing studies (if you have good grades you can add your average)
Work experience: start from present experience to past ones. you can add non formal experience and volunteer jobs as well
additional information: such as languages, computer programs, etc.
Accomplishments: any of relevance
Lay out is important, pay attention to overall image. Avoid misspelling errors. Make sure you use the same style, type of font and number.
Once you finish you can ask someone else to read it. sometimes another person can point a detail that your eye didn't catch!
When you are ready, create your LinkedIn profile, is usually a good point to start making contacts and widen your circles. you can follow companies, groups of interest and create job alerts.
good luck!