Resume writing is a niche that is often overlooked by the freelancer. Once considered an easy project, today’s resumes must be sleek, informative and attention grabbers aimed at attracting interest for the job-seeking client. Gone are the days of just listing work experience and personal attributes. Today’s resume is a highly effective marketing tool used to reinforce a job seeker’s credibility to the employment marketplace. It has one objective: to showcase the client’s unique talents and skill sets, and show a prospective employer exactly what the resume holder can bring to their firm.

The right resume gets the client in the door, after that, it’s up to them. As a resume writer, it’s your job to market your client in a way that him/her put their best foot forward and land an interview. Get him in the door with a great resume, and you’ve succeeded!

The Basics of a Great Resume:

Accuracy and quality writing are essential for the resume writer. First impressions really do count. Hiring executives use resumes to weed out potential candidates, and any grammatical or spelling slip will land your client’s resume in the trash. Never exaggerate a client’s experience or abilities on his/her resume, even if they want you to.

Brevity too, is important. Screeners often only give each resume a cursory glance for essential keywords such as “project management, team leadership, marketing, staff training”, and so on. Find the keywords that fit your client’s job search and be sure to include as many as possible in as little space as you can. Use adjectives sparingly. Many resume scanners will assume that you are trying too hard to make the applicant sound perfect when overusing adjectives to make up for a lack of ability. Keep it brief. Most employers prefer documents under two pages, of course relevance to the job being applied for is most important. Give the employer enough information to pique their curiosity about your client and call them in for an interview.

Presentation is another key resume quality. Stick to the facts, but try and present them in an interesting, yet professional manner. Make it as easy as possible for the resume scanner to locate all pertinent information (education, experience, job history), while finding a way to make your clients skills and experience stand out among hundreds of other applicants. Help your client distinguish themselves from the pack by demonstrating within the resume text that he or she has at least some of the key requirements needed for the position, identifying the client’s relevant and transferable skills; and clearly show how your client can develop the necessary skills and abilities to excel at the job requested.

Keeping these basic guidelines in mind when writing a winning resume for your client, remember, too, its content that matters most. Write a resume like you would a pro-active advertisement for your client, and you’re bound to find success as a resume writer.

Image taken on 2009-02-11 12:28:28. Image Source. (Used with permission)