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STATE EMPLOYMENT EXPERTS OFFER RESUME WRITING TIPS 

            As fall approaches, job seekers think about entering or re-entering the workforce.  Today’s competitive labor market requires job seekers to write a winning resume that actually gets read by employers. 

             Jane C. Edmonds, Director of Workforce Development, encourages job seekers to utilize Massachusetts 32 One-Stop Career centers as a resource in crafting one that gets looked at and not overlooked.

             “A resume is the first thing a prospective employer notices about you,” said Edmonds.  “But employers often spend only seconds skimming through it.  Resumes may also be pre-screened by a third-hand party.   With this in mind, careful thought and attention must be given in developing one.”

             Employment experts at Massachusetts 32 One-Stop Career Centers, which are collaborations of the Department of Workforce Development in partnership with local workforce investment boards and various community-based organizations, tell job seekers that clarity and conciseness count. 

             They also offer the following ten tips:

 §         Customize.  Tailor your resume accordingly for each position you are applying for. 

       Have more than one version of your resume at any one given time.  Those who have done         considerable temporary or contract work or who have changed careers should focus on transferable skills and de-emphasize unrelated career accomplishments.

§         Start with a summary.  Resumes are quickly skimmed during the initial review, making it crucial that it can effectively “sell” your credentials.  A summary should include education, experience, training or certifications, a professional accomplishment or recognition, or special knowledge related to the target job.

§         Think like a recruiter.  Focus on words most likely to be used by either an HR administrator or  hiring manager.  Resumes are often searched by keywords.  The greater number of relevant keywords, the higher relevancy score a resume is given.  If you have been out of the labor force for some time, talk to those in the industry you are interested in working in to get a handle as to latest business buzz words. 

 §         Technology etiquette counts.  Janice Harris, a workshop coordinator at the Greater New Bedford Career Center, says that job seekers need to think about the message conveyed to an employer if they use a personal e-mail address that is risqué or leaves much to the imagination.  Consider opening a separate e-mail account for your job search that doesn’t refer to items such as certain body parts or hobbies. 

§         Think bullets as the primary format.  Paragraphs are fine, but “bulleted statements that are one liners give your resume ‘eye appeal,’ creating a visual impact,” says Ken Elliott, Plymouth One-Stop Career Center operations manager.

 §         Remove “References Available Upon Request.”  Many job seekers waste the valuable last line of the resume of an obvious statement such as this one.  No need to also include hobbies or birthdates.

 §         Out with the old, in with the new.   Employers are most interested in recent accomplishments.  If you have a long career history, focus only on the last 10 years.

§         Honesty is the best policy.  Be up front about your education and credentials.  An employer check of these items could disqualify you. 

§         Experienced and mature job seekers need not include the year of their high school or college graduation.  Your goal is to have employers judge a resume by qualifications and not be influenced by the applicant’s age.

 §         Size it up at the end.  While resume length can be a personal choice, Kathleen Joy, operations manager for Workforce Central Career Center in Southbridge, says that generally, one page is best, but should be no more than two pages at most.  Resumes should provide a snapshot, not a “tell all” biography.

            One-Stop Career Centers offer resume writing workshops and an array of employment services to job seekers as well as recruitment and screening services for employers.   For a location of Career Centers in Massachusetts, visit  www.mass.gov/dwd/careercenters.