One of the most important parts of your job hunt will be creating a good resume. Think of this document as an introduction to a potential employer. It has to highlight the best parts about you, and without a face to face meeting with the person who might be interviewing you. In fact, with today's technology you might post your resume to the Internet and it may be found by someone looking through search engine optimization in Ontario or some other way that means you get no person to person contact.
Because of the lack of face to face communication, you have to make sure your resume offers an accurate picture of you as a worker. That means detailing your work history and related experience in two pages or less than that! How do you go about creating a document like that? Well, here are a few ideas.
First, make sure to put your work experience first. School's great, but it is the skills learned on the job that most people are interested in. If you want to drive a septic truck, for example, the employer will be more interested in your experience than your high school. That said, make sure to include any special training you needed for related jobs under the heading you put down for that job.
A lot of people design resumes specifically for certain jobs, and that means leaving out some details they don't see as relevant. However, the job marketplace is rapidly changing and expanding. You might not think your work with food media has any bearing on your application for a job at a major bank, but that is just the kind of detail that could grab the attention of the hiring manager. So don't leave anything out, but you might want to keep unrelated sections short.
A major mistake that many people make when they create their resume is leaving out major accomplishments on the job. Trust me, anything you did that got your old boss' attention will grab that of a potential new one. If you were employee of the month for your collision repair Vancouver shop, say so on your resume.
Whether applying with a Toronto caterer or a high tech firm, your resume will be what gets your foot in the door. Make sure yours is the kind that will really grab the attention of the person in charge of hiring, and portray you in a very positive light.
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