Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer. Make  the most of this opportunity............. The employment market is changing all the time and so have resumes, evolving from a one-size-fits-all standard. Here are our tips to convert your resume into a catching one.

Follow These Basic Standards....

• Don't overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.

• Keep your resume to one page whenever possible. 

• Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.

• Use a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works well. 

• Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to "rag." 

• Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features. 

• Make sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page. 

• Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer. 

• Second- and third-generation photocopies must be avoided 

• Print on one side of the paper only.  

Avoid Mistakes:

SPELLING MISTAKES:

To avoid spelling mistakes:  

• Don't use words with which you aren't familiar.

• Use a dictionary as you write.

• Perform a spell check on your finished resume.

• Carefully read every word in your resume.

• Have a friend or two proof read your resume for you.

PUNCTUATION MISTAKES:

Things to look for:

• Periods at the end of all full sentences.

• Be consistent in your use of punctuation.

• Always put periods and commas within quotation marks.

• Avoid using exclamation points.

GRAMMATICAL MISTAKES:

Grammar hang-ups to watch for:

• Do not switch tenses within your resume.

• The duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e., write reports)

• Duties you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense (i.e., wrote reports).

• Capitalize all proper nouns.

• When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine (i.e., one, five, seven), but

• use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).

• If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (e.g. Eleven service awards won while employed.).

• Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22, 2001, or 11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.).

• Choose Your Words Carefully:

• Phrase yourself well:

• Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words:

• accept (to receive), except (to exclude)

• all right (correct), alright (this is not a word)

• affect (to bring about change), effect (result)

• personal (private), personnel (staff members)

• role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).

• Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff).

REFERENCES:

In most instances it is not necessary to include names and address of references on the resume. If you include a reference, make it sure that the referenced person knows very well about you. It is also advisable to add the persons as references, whom the employer can contact easily. If possible add the phone number and e-mail ID of the reference. Never add a person as a reference, about whom you know nothing

STICK TO THE POINT

Employers have a busy schedule, so don't expect them to read through a long resume. Ideally, resumes should be of one page, or of two pages only if absolutely necessary, to describe relevant work experience.

WORDS COUNT

Use of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to an employer quickly and efficiently. Address your potential employer's needs with a clearly written, compelling resume. Avoid large paragraphs (five or six lines). If you provide small, digestible pieces of information, your resume will be read. Use action verbs. Verbs such as "developed", "managed", and "designed" emphasise your accomplishments. Don't use declarative sentences like "I developed the ..." or "I assisted in ...", leave out the "I". Avoid passive constructions, such as "was responsible for managing". Just say, "managed": that sounds stronger and more active.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE

Employers need to know what you have accomplished to have an idea of what you can do for them. Don't be vague. Telling someone that you "improved the company's efficiency" doesn't say much. But if you say that you "cut overhead costs by 20 per cent and saved the company Rs 20 lakh during the last fiscal year", you are more specific.

HONESTY IS A GOOD POLICY

Employers will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your accomplishments. There is a difference between making the most of your experience and exaggerating or falsifying it. A falsified resume can cost you the job later.

DOUBLE-CHECK FOR MISTAKES

Check your resume for correct grammar and spelling - evidence of good communication skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your chances of getting a job faster than submitting a resume filled with preventable mistakes. Make your resume easy on the eye. Use normal margins (1" on the top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't cram your text on the page. Allow for some space between the different sections. Avoid unusual or exotic fonts. Preferred fonts: Arial and Times Roman & Verdana

The thought of writing a resume intimidates almost anyone. It's  difficult to know where to start or what to include. It can seem like  an insurmountable task. Here are 15 tips to help you not only tackle the task, but also write a winning resume.

1. Determine your job search objective prior to writing the resume. Once you have determined your objective, you can structure  the content of your resume around that objective. Think of your objective as the bull's-eye to focus your resume on hitting. If you  write your resume without having a clear objective in mind, it will likely come across as unfocused to those that read it. Take the time  before you start your resume to form a clear objective.
   
   

2. Think of your resume as a marketing tool. Think of yourself as a product, potential employers as your customers, and your resume as  a brochure about you. Market yourself through your resume. What are your features and benefits? What makes you unique? Make sure to convey this information in your resume. 
   
   

3. Use your resume to obtain an interview, not a job. You don't  need to go into detail about every accomplishment. Strive to be clear and concise. The purpose of your resume is to generate enough interest in you to have an employer contact you for an interview. Use the interview to provide a more detailed explanation of your  accomplishments and to land a job offer. 
   
   

4. Use bulleted sentences. In the body of your resume, use bullets  with short sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs. Resumes are read  quickly. This bulleted sentence format makes it easier for someone to  quickly scan your resume and still absorb it.  
   
   

5. Use action words. Action words cause your resume to pop. To add  life to your resume, use bulleted sentences that begin with action words like prepared, developed, monitored, and presented.  
   
   

6. Use #'s, Rs. and %'s. Numbers, dollars, and percentages stand  out in the body of a resume. Use them. Here are two examples: 
             * Managed a department of 10 with a budget of Rs.1,000,000. 
             * Increased sales by 25% in a 15-state territory.  
   
   

7. Lead with your strengths. Since resumes are typically reviewed  in 30 seconds, take the time to determine which bullets most strongly support your job search objective. Put those strong points first where they are more apt to be read.  
   
   

8. Play Match Game. Review want ads for positions that interest you. Use the key words listed in these ads to match them to bullets in your resume. If you have missed any key words, add them to your resume.  
   
   

9. Use buzzwords. If there are terms that show your competence in a particular field, use them in your resume. For marketing people, use "competitive analysis." For accounting types, use "reconciled accounts."  
   
   

10. Accent the positive. Leave off negatives and irrelevant points. If you feel your date of graduation will subject you to age discrimination, leave the date off your resume. If you do some duties in your current job that don't support your job search objective, leave them off your resume. Focus on the duties that do support your objective. Leave off irrelevant personal information like your height and weight.  
    
    

11. Show what you know. Rather than going into depth in one area, use your resume to highlight your breadth of knowledge. Use an interview to provide more detail.  
    
    

12. Show who you know. If you have reported to someone important such as a vice president or department manager, say so in your resume. Having reported to someone important causes the reader to infer that you are important.
    
     

13. Construct your resume to read easily. Leave white space. Use a font size no smaller than 10 point. Limit the length of your resume to 1-2 pages. Remember, resumes are reviewed quickly. Help the reader to scan your resume efficiently and effectively.  
    
    

14. Have someone else review your resume. Since you are so close to your situation, it can be difficult for you to hit all your high points and clearly convey all your accomplishments. Have someone review your job search objective, your resume, and listings of positions that interest you. Encourage them to ask questions. Their questions can help you to discover items you inadvertently left off your resume. Revise your resume to include these items. Their questions can also point to items on your resume that are confusing to the reader. Clarify your resume based on this input.  
    
    

15. Submit your resume to potential employers. Have the courage to submit your resume. Think of it as a game where your odds of winning increase with every resume you submit. You really do increase your odds with every resume you submit. Use a three-tiered approach. Apply for some jobs that appear to be beneath you. Perhaps they will turn out to be more than they appeared to be once you interview for them. Or perhaps once you have your foot in the door you can learn of other opportunities. Apply for jobs that seem to be just at your level. You will get interviews for some of those jobs. See how each job stacks up. Try for some jobs that seem like a stretch. That's how you grow -- by taking risks. Don't rule yourself out. Trust the process. Good luck in your job search!