Should your resume start off with a summary paragraph?Thinking

In a single word: No.

Studies show that you have about six seconds to make an initial impression with your resume. It’s like flipping through a magazine and deciding which articles to read. You’re much more likely to grab and hold a recruiter’s attention with strong words and a simple, powerful format versus a long narrative at the top of the page.

Your resume will be scanned in a Z pattern: across the top, down across the page and then over. So don’t waste the valuable space at the top with a long, “padded” summary statement.

Keep it Simple
Simple and powerful are not mutually exclusive, especially when it comes to your resume. The key is to know the purpose of your resume and tailor it specifically to the job on the table.

Your objective is to pique the interest of a potential employer by using power words – think quality over quantity – to demonstrate how hiring you would add immediate value and impact to their organization. Your resume is a sales tool to promote yourself, with a focus on how you stand out above the competition.

Power It Up
Imagine the person who sees your resume for the first time. They’ve been tasked to review possibly hundreds of others along with yours. So unless your resume stands out, chances are it will end up being shredded or deleted. Ouch!

Contact the career coaches at PrideStaff Fresno for more tips on perfecting your resume – and optimizing the results of your job search.

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