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DERAILING IDENTITY THIEVES WHILE JOB-SEARCHING, PART I OF III
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Finding The Best Jobs
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Job Interviews: Prepare Questions In Advance
An interview almost invariably closes with the potential
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Six Tips For A Better Engineering Resume
One of the most key elements of success in a job search is the
resume and the engineering resume can often be one of the more
difficult documents to develop. The engineering resume is the
engineering job seeker's primary marketing document that sells
the product - the skills and experience of the engineer. To be
effective, an engineering resume must grab the attention of the
reader in 35-45 seconds. A good engineering resume will extend
that attention span to over a minute. A successful resume will
prompt the reader to contact the job seeker. In effect, the
success of the job search revolves around the effectiveness of
the first step - the resume.
No one knows your background and experience better than you.
Most engineers can get the basics of their projects and
experience down on paper in a sensible fashion. What most
engineers who write their own resumes have difficulty with is
making that sell to the reader. Here are six tips to help you
make your engineering resume sell.
1. Select the best organizational format. Most resumes are
written in chronological (reverse time order) format, but that
does not mean that the chronological choice is best for you. A
combination format may be best. The combination format is evenly
balanced between skill set description, achievements, and
employment history, with the advantage being that projects can
be highlighted for greater impact.
2. Assume that your resume will be viewed on a computer screen
rather than on a piece of paper. Most resumes are sent,
received, and managed via PC. That does not mean that the
document has to be drab and ugly, visually. Many engineers who
have images or pictures of project work have good success with
creating a CD ROM portfolio of these images.
3. Make absolutely sure your document is error free. An error in
a resume can often be the killer between two closely
matched
candidates. Engineers are expected to be detail-oriented so an
error in the engineering resume reflects badly on possible
future performance.
4. Find a balance between wordiness and lack of detail.
Employers need to see details about your work history and
engineering experience, but they don't need to know everything.
The fact that you were Den Leader in your Cub Scout troop is
irrelevant. Keep information germane to the goal of attaining an
interview.
5. Think "accomplishments" rather than "job duties". What made
you stand out from the crowd? How did you come up with a way to
do things better, more efficiently, or for less cost? What won
honors for you? Information such as this will be what makes you
grab attention and put your engineering resume on the top of the
stack.
6. Keep it positive. Reason for leaving a job, setbacks, failed
initiatives, etc. do not have a place on an engineering resume.
Employers are seeking people who can contribute, have a positive
attitude, are enthusiastic, and have successfully performed
similar job skills in the past. Concentrate on communicating
these issues and avoid any detracting information.
Remember, resumes do not get jobs - people get jobs. Resumes get
interviews. Most first time job interviews are conducted via
telephone rather than in person as they used to be. Make sure
you are prepared for that telephone call when it arrives. And
make sure you have an engineering resume that will make the
phone ring!
About the author:
Published in 25 career books, Alesia has been cited by Jist
Publications as one of the "best resume writers in North
America" and quoted as a Career Expert in the Wall Street
Journal. Serving as the Resume Expert for over 50+
organizations, she has numerous media appearances to her credit
and is a frequent keynote speaker. http://www.rezamaze.com
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