A résumé, no matter how good, will not get you a job by itself.

However, a good résumé will attract the attention of the hiring manager and secure a job interview.

The purpose of the résumé is to disclose your accomplishments and qualifications to a potential employer.  If the employer likes what he or she sees, he or she will contact you for a face-to-face meeting.

Think of your résumé as a promotional brochure about you.  You need to show a potential employer what you have accomplished and where your experience lies.  Your strategy should be to emphasize the experience and skills that a particular employer is looking for.

Your résumé is also an example of your communication and organizational skills.  A well-done résumé is itself another reminder of what kind of valuable employee you would be.  Likewise, a sloppily produced résumé is a terrific way to get yourself taken out of the running before it even starts.

 

Test Your Résumé: Grammar and Punctuation I.Q.

How do you stack up in presenting yourself to prospective employers in writing? We examine résumés on a daily basis, and 90 percent of them have typos or grammatical errors. Here are some examples:

"I am an extremely fast leaner."

"As indicted, I have over five years of analyzing investments."

"Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store."