Transforming Your Résumé From Military to Civilian

Beth Braccio Hering, CareerBuilder.com writer

Duncan Mathison, co-author of "Unlock the Hidden Job Market: Six Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times Are Tough," recalls working with an ex-Navy SEAL who was trying to land a civilian job.

"He realized that most people thought his skills consisted of landing on beaches and blowing things up. Impressive skills, but not really needed in the business world," Mathison says. "As a result, we reframed his experience to highlight his abilities to lead small teams as well as creative problem solving and planning in the face of uncertainty."

While civilian employers may respect military experience, they may struggle to see it as relevant to their workplace. The challenge for veterans is to present their background in ways that civilians can understand and appreciate.

Talk the talk

The first thing that must go is military jargon. Job titles and codes that are second nature to military personnel are like a foreign language to many hiring managers, so translation is essential.

Lisa Rosser, author of "The Value of a Veteran: The Guide for Human Resource Professionals to Regarding, Recruiting and Retaining Military Veterans," suggests converting military skills to civilian equivalents using a tool such as O*Net Online. "The service member can type in his or her Military Occupational Code and see what a civilian equivalent would be and some alternate civilian job titles. The civilian job description will also list skills, knowledge and attributes commonly held by someone in that position. So, for example, a 90A (army logistics officer) would be a logistician or, alternately, an integrated logistics support manager or a production planner."

Armed with this information, Rosser then recommends job seekers "get busy on a site like CareerBuilder and search on the very general and the very specific job titles." Reading through ads will give the applicant a better idea of qualifications needed for various civilian jobs and will provide insight about key words to use on a résumé.

Putting your best self forward

"Military professionals are groomed to lead others and excel in a team-oriented environment," says Abby Locke, master résumé writer and personal brand strategist for Premier Writing Solutions in Washington, D.C. "Consequently, they find it hard to really market and promote themselves as effectively as they should in the job search process."

Experts offer these tips to help veterans sort through their experiences when creating application materials:

• Focus the cover letter on skills most pertinent to the given position; don't give a generic summary of everything you're qualified to do.


• Tailor the résumé to the specific job, and keep it to a maximum of two pages.


• Scour military performance reviews for relevant achievements (and to jog your memory).


• Use numbers, percentages, statistics and other concrete examples when possible to demonstrate competencies.

Education and training

Locke notes that military professionals often have completed hundreds of courses, training assignments and certifications. Instead of turning the education section of the résumé into a laundry list, however, she recommends "cherry picking" to make sure the training that is most relevant to the given position is apparent.

Mathison suggests listing any training that is applicable to the job whether or not you have a degree or a certificate. "For example, you may have had one class in wireless communications and another in management out of 355 hours of training on a wide range of topics. In the résumé under a training or education heading, write 'More than 350 hours of professional development training including wireless communications and management.'"

Remember you're a civilian now

While a veteran's military background will always be a part of his identification, it is important to keep in mind that hiring managers encountered for civilian jobs may not have the same thoughts or experiences.

"Everyone has an opinion about the war," says Michael Coritsidis, a career coach from Lido Beach, N.Y. "Keep emotion out of the equation, and stay neutral."

Experts generally recommend avoiding potentially charged words such as "war," "warfare" or "weapons" (unless applicable to the specific industry). Likewise, it is better to concentrate on your skills and why you are the best candidate for the position rather than focusing on the military conflict or combat.

Remember, though, that military experience has helped you become who you are today, so bring confidence to the civilian job hunt.

"Most, if not all, learned skills can be transferred to any company or industry, whether it is around the block or around the world," Coritsidis says. "The armed forces also instill the highly regarded qualities of being all that you can be as well as being a team player. What company wouldn't want to hire a person who can communicate how their military skills and qualifications can save time, save money or make money for their business?"Get the latest job search news and advice on CareerBuilder.com's job blog, "The Work Buzz," and follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/CareerBuilder

How to write a cover letter for a sales position

Susan Ricker, CareerBuilder Writer 

A cover letter is your first opportunity to impress a potential employer, and when you work in sales, you know how important a first impression can be.

While the goal of a cover letter is to introduce yourself, explain why you're a good fit for the position and express your interest in the company, a cover letter for a sales position will be more targeted. Are you unsure if your cover letter can close the deal? Read on for tips on what to include.

Strut your sales statistics
If you've already held a sales position, this is your opportunity to show off your winning numbers. Sandra Lamb, a career, lifestyle and etiquette expert, says to include your most important achievements:

• Sales success rate, expressed in numbers.
• Customers or clients retained and converted to new product areas.
• New customers or clients gained.
• Increase in profits and sales levels.

Being specific has more impact than simply saying you were one of the best sales team members at your company.

"Stats have to be included," says Marcia LaReau, president of Forward Motion LLC, a career strategy firm. "If they are going from small-number tickets to much higher tickets, they should use percentages rather than the numbers, or at least give context, such as, 'In year two, brought in $800K in contracts, which represented 30 percent of market share in the region, up from 18 percent in year one.'" The company's size doesn't have to determine how well-qualified you are for your next position. By assigning numbers to your past successes, you're giving the hiring manager an idea of how you would perform if on his team.

Share stories of your success
Sometimes, stories can better express success than numbers can. While you should include your sales stats, incorporating a story of how you overcame a challenge or closed an important deal can be just as informative.

"Be specific and provide examples," says Keith Wolf, vice president of marketing at Murray Resources, a Houston recruiting firm. "Include clear and measurable proof, like the number of new accounts opened. Also, consider including a brief story about a particularly difficult sale you made. Perhaps it was a cold call that you turned into a large account. Hiring managers love to hear stories of perseverance turning into results."

Prove you have a plan
While it's important to include your sales records and stats, it's also crucial to show that you understood what you were doing in your role. "A key element in the cover letter for a sales position would not only be the metrics -- increase in sales percentage, overall sales, etc. -- but the how; how did you achieve this success?" says Beth Carter, executive recruiter and certified executive, business and career coach at Carter Consultants Ltd. "Write about your sales tactics; for example, 'I increased sales in two years by 20 percent by identifying an untapped market in this industry.' Companies want to understand how you can replicate your past success for their company." By showing that you understand the market, can spot an opportunity for a sale and can reproduce your sales accomplishments at a different company, you're marketing yourself as a flexible and experienced sales representative.

Reiterate your interest in the company
After you've proved your sales skills, discuss why you want to join the team. A cover letter should strike a balance between introducing yourself and expressing your interest in the company. Prove that you've done your research, and give examples of why you admire the company, what made you interested in working for it and how you could contribute to its goals.

Susan Ricker is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Lie on your résumé?

One job-seeker's moment of truth

Steve Blank, author of "The Startup Owner's Manual" and "The Four Steps to the Epiphany" 

Getting asked by a recruiter about where I went to school made me remember the day I had to choose whether to lie on my résumé.

When I got my first job in Silicon Valley, it was through serendipity on my part and desperation on the part of my first employer. I really didn't have much of a résumé: four years in the Air Forcebuilding a scram system for a nuclear reactor and a startup in Ann Arbor, Mich., but not much else.

It was at my second startup in Silicon Valley that my life and career took an interesting turn. A recruiter found me while I was working in product marketing and wanted to introduce me to a hot startup making something called a workstation. "This is a technology-driven company, and your background sounds great. Why don't you send me a résumé and I'll pass it on." A few days later, I got a call back from the recruiter. "Steve, you left off your education. Where did you go to school?"

"I never finished college," I said.

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. "Steve, the VP of sales and marketing previously ran their engineering department. He was a professor of computer science at Harvard, and his last job was running the Advanced Systems Division at Xerox PARC. Most of the sales force were previously design engineers. I can't present a candidate without a college degree. Why don't you make something up?"

I still remember that exact instant of the conversation. In that moment, I realized I had a choice. But I had no idea how profound, important and lasting it would be. It would have been really easy to lie, and the recruiter was telling me to do so. "No one checks education anyway," he said. This was long before the days of the Internet.

Making the choice about my résumé
I told him I'd think about it. And I did for a long time. After a few days, I sent him my updated résumé, and he passed it on to Convergent Technologies. Soon after, I was asked to interview with the company. I can barely recall the other people I met, but I'll never forget the interview with Ben Wegbreit, the vice president of sales and marketing.

Wegbreit held up my résumé and said, "You know you're here interviewing because I've never seen a résumé like this. You don't have any college listed and there's no education section. You put 'Mensa' here," he said, pointing to the section where education normally goes. "Why?" I looked back at him and said, "I thought Mensa might get your attention."

Wegbreit just stared at me for an uncomfortable amount of time. Then he abruptly said, "Tell me what you did in your previous companies." I thought this was going to be a storytelling interview like the others. But instead, the minute I said, "My first startup used CATV coax to implement a local-area network for process control systems." (35 years ago, pre-Ethernet and TCP/IP, that was pretty cutting-edge.) Wegbreit said, "Why don't you go to the whiteboard and draw the system diagram for me?"   

Do what? Draw it? I dug deep and spent 30 minutes diagramming, trying to remember everything. With Wegbreit peppering me with questions, I could barely keep up. And there were a bunch of empty spaces where I couldn't remember some of the detail.

When I was done explaining it I headed for the chair, but Wegbreit stopped me. "As long as you're at the whiteboard, why don't we go through the other two companies you were at." I couldn't believe it. I was already mentally exhausted, but we spent another half-hour with me drawing diagrams and Wegbreit asking questions.

Finally I sat down. Wegbreit looked at me for a long while, not saying a word. Then he stood up and opened the door, signaling me to leave. He shook my hand and said, "Thanks for coming in." What? That's it? Did I get the job or not?

That evening, I got a call from the recruiter. "Ben loved you. ... Congratulations."

Epilogue
Three and a half years later, Convergent became a public company and I was a VP of marketing working for Wegbreit. Wegbreit ended up as my mentor at Convergent -- and for the rest of my career -- my peer at Ardent and my partner and co-founder at Epiphany. I would never use Mensa on my résumé again, and my education section would always be empty.

But every time I read about an executive who got caught in a résumé scandal, I remember the moment I had to choose.

Lessons learned

• You will be faced with ethical dilemmas your entire career.
• Taking the wrong path is most often the easiest choice.
• These choices will seem like trivial and inconsequential shortcuts -- at the time.
• Some of them will have lasting consequences.
• It's not the lie that will catch up with you, it's the cover-up.
• Choose wisely.

Steve Blank is a retired serial entrepreneur and author of "The Startup Owner's Manual" and "The Four Steps to the Epiphany." He lectures at Stanford University, the University of California Berkeley's Haas School of Business and Columbia University, and is the author and architect of the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps curriculum. He blogs about entrepreneurship atwww.steveblank.com.

How to get that computer to send your résumé to a real person

Interview with a résumé expert

Debra Auerbach, CareerBuilder Writer

When you submit a résumé online, do you ever wonder where it goes, who reads it and -- if you're lucky -- how it gets picked? In today's electronic world, many companies use keyword-search software or applicant-tracking systems in their hiring process. These systems scan résumés for keywords related to the open position to find the most relevant ones for the next round. This helps companies, especially large ones, sort through a high volume of résumés quickly and efficiently.

Knowing that your résumé may meet a computer system before it meets a human, how do you get it noticed? The following Q&A with Ramsey Penegar, executive-résumé consultant, career strategist and certified résumé writer for cbResume.com, provides helpful tips on how to make your résumé stand out to a computer -- and a company.

Q: Now that most résumés are submitted/reviewed online, what implications does that have for how a résumé is written?
Penegar: Now that the majority of résumés are submitted and reviewed online rather than in print, there are new things to consider in writing a résumé. Will your résumé be viewable online? Will it look the same as it did on your computer when prospective hiring managers read it? Job seekers need to keep in mind that format, keywords, search optimization and file type are all just as important as content, good grammar and correct spelling.

I ensure that clients have two versions of their résumé. [One is] the utilitarian text version for easily posting to Internet job boards or online applications. Since the majority of businesses use Microsoft Word over other word-processing programs, send your résumé in a file format their system will open. The Microsoft Word version is formatted using universal fonts to ensure that the recipient can read the résumé.

Q: Why is it important to include keywords from the job description in a résumé?
RP: An effective résumé has a tight focus and is targeted to the job or job types the client wishes to seek. This targeting includes keywords from the job description to improve search rates. Keywords are usually the hard skills, industry-specific qualifications and job-specific terms or phrases that employers look for in a job candidate. If your résumé doesn't have the keywords that match their job requirements, your résumé may hit the "no" pile early in the process.

Some companies search Internet job boards and résumé databases using keywords to find job candidates, while other companies use this technology to streamline their hiring process. If your résumé doesn't contain the right keywords, your résumé may be rejected even if you have all the experience and other qualifications. As a job seeker, using the right keywords in your résumé is crucial if you want to land the interview.

Q: How can you integrate keywords so they sound natural and not forced?
RP: The best way to incorporate keywords into your résumé is by writing concise action statements regarding your achievements, skills and experience and implementing the keywords naturally within those bulleted statements. An effective résumé is achievement-focused, not task-based. Start each statement about your career achievements with an action verb, followed by a keyword and ending with specific facts and figures resulting from your actions.

Simply creating a list or block of keywords may work to snag hits on the software seeking those words. However, if your résumé lacks a professional, aesthetically appealing look, doesn't explain why you are the ideal candidate or how you benefited your previous employers, you still won't get the interview.

Q: What types of keywords should job seekers include in their résumé?
RP: The best keywords can be found right in the job descriptions and ads of the jobs you want to land. Evaluate 10 job postings with similar titles and make a list of the five to 10 most frequently used words throughout all of them. These are the words you should use in your cover letter and résumé.

Here is a list of general skills and qualifications to consider as keywords:

• Degrees or certifications
• University or college names
• Job titles
• Product names
• Technical terms
• Industry jargon
• Job-specific buzzwords
• Company names
• Professional organizations
• Technology

Q: What are some pitfalls of relying too much on keywords?
RP: Integrating keywords is only one important aspect of developing an effective résumé. Too many buzzwords can be overkill, and a long list of keywords on a Word document will not land you any interviews. Remember that keywords are primarily for the computer software scanning your résumé; the written content is for your human readers. Quality is of utmost importance in your résumé.

Q: What other ways can a job seeker get his résumé noticed by an employer?
RP: Make certain [that] your résumé is visually appealing by using appropriate formatting and white spacing as well as correct spelling and grammar. Your résumé is more likely to be read if it's appealing to read. Don't clutter your résumé with irrelevant or outdated information and, ideally, keep it to two pages or less. College students or those with fewer than five years of experience may use a one-page résumé.

A job search should be directed in the same manner as a sales or marketing campaign. Use all [of] your resources, connections and networks. Get your résumé into the hands of people who can help you in this quest, including friends, family, colleagues, alumni or professional association members, acquaintances at Chamber of Commerce and other business community events and job fairs. Promote your résumé online using LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and even your own professional blog. Rather than sending your résumé to a company or job posting cold, conduct research to find out the name of the person who would be most interested in your résumé, and get the résumé into her hands. Taking the time to develop and work your job-search plan will help you to achieve better results faster.

Debra Auerbach is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Quiz: Do you know when to rephrase your résumé?

Susan Ricker, CareerBuilder Writer

Sometimes a résumé was once good, but now it's stale. Sometimes it was never that good to begin with. Either way, how do you know if it's time to rephrase your résumé?

Below you'll find five sentences commonly found on a résumé. Each sentence could be rewritten to better reflect the job seeker's skills. Choose the option you think best describes why and how the sentence should be reworded. Once you've finished, review the results to see if you know how to write a winning résumé or if it's time for some rephrasing.

1. "Objective: To obtain a challenging position in leadership that will allow me to apply creative problem solving to achieve optimum results."
A. The objective is pretty vague; it should also include the company or position title, as well as a desired salary.
B. The space for objective statements could be better used if replaced with a summary of your job-seeker brand, or a one-sentence statement that summarizes your expertise and skills.
C. Simplify the objective statement and use language from the job description.

2. "Summary of qualifications: Maintained strong business relationships with new and old clients, and cultivated strong connections with team members to create strong communication at our company."
A. This could be separated into three bullet points to make a stronger statement.
B. The repetitive language should be removed, and there should be individual bullet points with clear descriptions of each qualification.
C. Leave this as is.

3. "Professional experience: Independent business consultant at ABC Co., 2006-present; account executive at JRR Sales Co., September 2000-April 2006; cashier at Jerry's Ice Cream Shop, June 2003-April 2006."
A. Bullet points should follow each title, as well as daily tasks performed.
B. The only work experience listed should be relevant to the job you're interested in and should include three to four bullet points of major accomplishments that relate to the position for which you're applying.
C. This is fine, as long as the location of each business is also included.

4. "Education: College University, Class of 1998."
A. Include the school's location.
B. Include the school's location, your degree information and any training or certificates received. Revise the title to say, "Education and training."
C. Leave this as is.

5. "References: John Baker, supervisor at ABC Co., phone and email included; Linda Cook, manager at JRR Sales Co., phone and email included."
A. Leave this as is.
B. Leave references off of the résumé, and use the space for something else.
C. Use the line, "References available upon request."

Results

Mostly A's: You're on the right path, but most of your answers would make the résumé too wordy or unorganized. You may want to edit your résumé so it's more concise. In each section, ask yourself if the hiring manager would find that information helpful, relevant and easy to understand. Résumé space is too valuable to be wasted on unnecessary information.

Mostly B's: Your résumé rephrasing skills are top-notch. You clearly took the time to research the position you're applying for, and you're able to communicate your personality and experience in your résumé. You've likely included only relevant information on your résumé and everything included supports why you're the best candidate for the job.

Mostly C's: Although minimalism can be an attractive quality in business, your answers indicate that you're holding back on your résumé. Hiring managers can go through thousands of job applications when searching for the right candidate, and it's important that you stand out from your competition by showcasing your individuality, experience and personality. If you don't have much work experience, include information that's relevant to the position of interest, and communicate why you're right for the role.

Susan Ricker is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

10 Ways to Write a Stronger Résumé

Nearly one-in-four human resources managers said they receive, on average, more than 75 résumés for each open position, according to a nationwide survey by Careerbuilder.com.

When a job posting's response is that overwhelming, human resource managers often struggle to distinguish one candidate from another -- particularly since most of them spend only a minute or two assessing each candidate's résumé. That's why job seekers have to be savvy about their résumé's content and presentation.

Unfortunately, even the most talented, qualified candidates sometimes write weak résumés. Whether they're in a hurry, lack writing skills or are unsure how to market themselves to employers, they fail to score interviews because their résumés don't immediately demonstrate what return on investment they offer employers.

To sidestep this dilemma, consider Susan Britton Whitcomb's 10 tips for writing great résumé copy, excerpted from her book, "Résumé Magic":

1. Know your audience before you begin to write. What skills and competencies are they looking for? What knowledge do they require? What trends are they capitalizing on? What opportunities are they interested in tapping? What problems do they need fixed? What projects can you help them move forward?

2. Pack your résumé with keywords -- those words that describe your title, knowledge base, skill set, impressive "name-brand" companies or Fortune 500 employers, prestigious universities attended, degrees, licensing, software experience, affiliations and so on.

3. Find keywords by reviewing relevant job postings online or detailed classified ads in newspapers, reading job descriptions or content at your target companies' Web sites, reading your association's newsletter or trade journals, conducting informational interviews with industry contacts and so on.

4. Position critical information at the "visual center" of the page. Weave keywords throughout your Qualifications Summary and Professional Experience sections, as well as in your cover letter. Create a Keyword Summary section for electronic versions of your résumé.

5. Resist the temptation to outsmart applicant-screening software by, for instance, planting the keyword "project manager" nine times throughout the résumé when you might have minimal experience as a project manager.

6. When writing job descriptions, try to keep your paragraph to around five lines. Summarize any redundant statements and present the material with an emphasis on transferable skills. Always highlight your accomplishments.

7. If you're writing a functional or skills-based résumé, focus on three to five skill areas and lean toward occupational skills (such as event planning, marketing or project coordination) instead of personal skills (such as analytical skills, problem-solving skills or organizational talents) for category subheadings. After you have selected your subheadings, develop two to five sentences, along with specific accomplishments that encapsulate your range of experience for each subheading.

8. New graduates with limited professional experience will normally place their Education section near the top of the résumé, after the Objective/Focus or Qualifications Summary.

9. For categories such as affiliations, publications, presentations or awards and honors, consider presenting information in a bulleted list or two-column format to save space and add visual appeal.

10. Think like an advertising copywriter: Be concise, but give enough data to create interest and a desire to meet you.

By Selena Dehne career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

10 Things to Leave Off Your Résumé

Everybody knows that in most situations, less is more -- your accessories, eating habits and especially your résumé.

Job seekers do themselves a disservice when they send out résumés with too much information. Employers don't have the time or the patience to sift through irrelevant information like your hobbies, interests or how many grandchildren you have. Just stick to the basics and you're good to go.

Here are 10 things to leave off your résumé and why:

1. Your picture
Why to leave it off: Unless a job posting specifically asks for your picture (and very few jobs will), don't include it just for fun. Not only are your looks irrelevant to your potential as an employee, but you're putting employers in a bad spot. If they have a picture of you and choose not to hire you, it's possible that you could come back with a discrimination lawsuit. In most cases, they'll throw your résumé away without looking at it, to avoid the issue altogether.

2. Interest and hobbies
Why to leave them off: Unless your interests and hobbies have something to do with the job you're applying for, there's no reason to include them. If you want to show how your passion for art would be an asset to a graphic design position, that's one thing. But telling employers that you love to skydive on an actuary application is another. In general, make any applicable connections between your hobbies and the job in your cover letter. Better yet, save them for the interview when you're asked what you like to do outside of work.

3. Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors
Why to leave them off: Most employers assume that if you're OK with sending out a résumé littered with typos and mistakes, you'll have the same lack of concern for the work you do as an employee at their company. While spell check picks up most errors, it can miss something major -- did you work the late night shift? Or did you forget to include the "f" between "i" and "t"? -- so have several eyes look over your résumé before sending it out to employers.

4. Personal attributes
Why to leave them off: Similar to sending a picture with your résumé, your height, weight, age, race or religion are all unimportant to an employer. Though it's illegal for employers to discriminate against applicants because of any of these factors, some will do so, regardless. Keep everything on your résumé pertinent to the job, and you'll be fine.

5. References
Why to leave them off: Many job seekers still include references on their résumé or they include a line that says, "References available upon request." This tactic is not as effective as it used to be. Jack Harsh, adjunct professor at the University of Richmond Robins School of Business, says that when he receives a résumé with references attached, he gives them virtually no weight. "They seldom are specific to the role my company seeks and are not meaningful in considering qualifications or traits of successful candidates," he says. Wait to broach the topic of references until you're asked for them.

6. Minute details
Why to leave them off: Hiring managers don't need to know the details of every task you've ever done in every job you've ever had. It's just too much information, and usually half of that information isn't relevant. Employers want to be able to see at first glance that you're a great candidate, so pick out those details that are most relevant to the job for which you're applying and omit the rest.

7. False information
Why to leave it off: Plain and simple, no one wants to hire a liar. Don't say that you have a master's degree if you've only earned your bachelor's; don't say you're presently employed at a company if you've recently been fired; don't list your salary history as 20 percent higher than it was. Everything you tell an employer can be verified, so play it safe and be honest.

8. Flair
Why to leave it off: No one wants to look at a résumé on fluorescent paper, covered in crazy fonts and symbols. Similarly, links to personal Web sites, your photo-sharing site, or strange e-mail addresses can also be left off. Employers are less likely to respond to likes2party@email.com than just DMiller@email.com.

9. Negativity
Why to leave it off: Never put anything negative on your résumé. Don't include your reasons for leaving. If you left the position due to a layoff or you were fired, for example, bring it up only if asked. Never write anything bad about a previous employer. Don't explain gaps on your résumé by stating that you were in prison for 10 years for killing your husband. Keep your résumé all positive, all the time.

10. A selfish objective
Why to leave it off: Employers are trying to determine whether you're a good fit for their organizations, so everything on your résumé should point to your experience. Employers would rather see a summary of qualifications that displays your accomplishments and background than a generic objective statement like "To gain experience in..."

By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

5 Ways You Could Be Ruining Your Résumé Without Realizing It

Signs are emerging that the job market is picking up, but landing a new position can still be a challenge. The last thing you want to do is sabotage your employment search, and, since your résumé is typically the first impression that hiring managers have of you, it's also the first place where you can potentially ruin your chances.

According to a survey conducted by Robert Half International, executives spend more than six minutes, on average, screening each résumé they receive -- which means every word counts in this critical document.

Of course, no job seeker is going to shoot himself or herself in the foot on purpose. But you might be harming yourself without realizing it. Here are five common mistakes that put you at risk of losing the job opportunity:

1. You don't proofread
Three out of four executives interviewed said just one or two typos in a résumé would remove applicants from consideration for a job. Since your word processing program has a spell-check function, you may think there's no need to review your résumé for typos and grammatical errors. Unfortunately, spell-checkers don't catch words that may be spelled correctly but used incorrectly: For example, if your most recent position was as a corporate blogger, your software may not raise the red flag if you mistakenly list yourself as a "logger." In addition to reading through the résumé yourself, you should also have someone else review it to catch any errors that you may have overlooked.

2. You ignore potential red flags
When reviewing your résumé, imagine that it belongs to someone else. After reading through it, would you have questions about the information provided or be concerned by a lack of details? If you have these thoughts, rest assured potential employers will, too. For instance, one of the biggest red flags is a gap in employment that goes unexplained. Rather than make a hiring manager wonder why you were away from the workplace for an extended period of time, use your cover letter to address why you weren't working and how you continued to advance your career through volunteer opportunities, professional development courses or other means.

3. You exaggerate your qualifications
Some people will do whatever they can to stand out, which includes fudging the details about a job title, the amount of time spent with an employer or a professional accomplishment. If you think that a hiring manager won't try to confirm your qualifications, think again. If you are caught making up information, you not only will lose out on the opportunity at that company but also may permanently harm your reputation. Even a small fib can prove harmful. For instance, if you're working toward a degree that you plan to complete by the summer, don't say you already have the credential.

4. You don't explain yourself
The best résumés use specific language so hiring managers can clearly understand your qualifications and accomplishments. If you say you are "knowledgeable" about HTML, an employer will not know if you use it every day to code Web pages or if you simply know that the acronym stands for Hyper Text Markup Language. Instead of using a vague term, you should explain how you've used your knowledge of HTML for certain projects or to aid your employer, how long you've been using it and if you possess any relevant certifications. Along the same lines, be specific when listing periods of employment, including the month and year for start and end dates instead of just the year.

5. You're too wordy
Sometimes it's difficult to determine what information belongs in your résumé and what can be safely left out. After all, the temptation is to describe any qualification that might remotely tip the scales in your favor. But you might not want to list every accomplishment, skill or project you've worked on. Hiring managers appreciate brevity, so cull the information you include, focusing on the aspects of your work history that are most relevant to the job for which you're applying. If you've had a long career, for instance, you may include fewer details about jobs you held early on that don't relate to your current career path. Omit hobbies, personal facts and other fluff, too.

Robert Half International Inc. is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.roberthalf.com. For additional career advice, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/roberthalf.

Target Your Résumé to Prospective Employers' Needs

Your résumé isn't about you, it's about them. That is the first guiding rule you should remember as you craft your employment history and achievements to match the needs of the companies you want most to hire you.

Consider your audience by researching the company and its industry, and tailoring your résumé to the challenges faced by both. Point out how your talents and training dovetail with the company's needs, so hiring managers can picture you in the job they have available or other opportunities that come up in the future.

Start out with a short professional profile that succinctly draws a picture of your job skills, work ethic and natural abilities that translate into the kind of worker you are. The rest of the résumé should follow suit as it lays out a clear story of your work experience, education and the skills you developed.

Understand that most hiring managers are viewing your job history in a quick sweep. They want to see something that is easily readable. Don't use industry jargon or long sentences that create dense, hard-to-read narratives. Tell your story in bulleted form to create punch. Don't resort to résumé formats that look like a thousand others.

Throughout the résumé, aim for action. Using words like "I was responsible for ..." don't get to the heart of your abilities. Be specific about accomplishments, punctuating them with hard numbers -- increased production, sales figures -- where applicable. Use details to explain your work story. A résumé isn't just about what you've done, but about what you have learned, achieved and produced.

Online portfolio and extracurricular activities can play a role in your résumé
Don't indulge an inclination to show how social media-savvy you are by providing links to personal pages on YouTube or Facebook, because they are just that -- personal. A more professional tool is to have a link to an online portfolio that has visual presence with well-written sections about your accomplishments, career highlights and leadership and work style. Or direct people to your professional biography on LinkedIn or BrightFuse.

At the same time, your extracurricular activities or community service may tell something about the skills you bring to the job. If they show qualities such as organizational ability, leadership potential and creative thinking, list them along with work and educational history to show how you use your talents outside the workplace.

There's never a good reason to lie on your résumé, and any overstatement of job history or academic achievements can easily tarnish your credibility. Routine background checks and online research can so easily expose an untruth that the risk simply isn't worth taking when your integrity is at stake.

The progress you've made in your career shows a prospective employer the kind of direction your work experience has taken. This may be especially necessary for those moving into a new industry, where transferable skills are particularly important. Showing how your job skills are relevant to the requirements of a company's industry, as well as the company itself, is one way to portray yourself as the solution seeker they are looking to hire.

4 Essential Functions of a Résumé

Sure it gets the interview, but what else does it do?

Everybody knows that résumés are useful for getting interviews, but not everybody realizes the résumé's other, equally important, functions: It structures the interview process, reminds the interviewer of you after you are gone, and justifies the hiring decision to others. So a good résumé can do four things, each distinctly separate and distinctly important:

1. First, you gotta get that interview
The biggest challenge your résumé will ever face is direct competition. It needs to win the interview in the shoulder-to-shoulder battle with other résumés, many of which are from candidates with better qualifications than yours. Some glamour industries, such as the hottest and most successful tech companies, receive in excess of 1,000 unsolicited résumés per day. Following some smart guidelines, you can get interviews and jobs at odds well in excess of 1,000 to one.

Writing résumés that win interviews requires an understanding of what happens to your résumé when it hits XYZ Corp. It is usually screened by résumé-sorting software and then a human being. These different constituencies for your magnum opus require different strategies.

Software is patient, and it will read to the bottom of a résumé. You can take keywords from a job posting and mix them in anywhere and the software will find them. A smart résumé writer will find creative, truthful ways to insert all the words that the software might be programmed to seek. These can include major competitors to the hiring company, certain degrees, technical skills and even certain cities, zip codes or area codes. This is a skill that you can learn if you start to think hard about it. Always tell the truth, but find a way to get the sought-after words into your document. The software will find them wherever you put in them in your résumé.

But humans read differently. They spend only a few seconds before deciding to reject a résumé. With humans, you win or lose in the first 10 lines. Never make a human read more than a few lines to know what you can do for them.

2. The résumé will structure the interview
Most interviewers will go right down your employment history, asking questions about each job. Your résumé should not tell the whole story; it should pique curiosity, begging for a clarifying question. (It should not, however, be confusing or obtuse.)

Incidentally, you should take plenty of extra copies of your résumé to any interview. Your interviewer will often ask for one, and some interviewers ask for several as a ploy to get all of yours away from you. Then they can test your memory. Have plenty of copies and pass this test.

3. The résumé reminds the interviewer of you after you are gone
Research has shown that after you are gone, the résumé can overwhelm the interviewer's memory of you in person. A candidate with a good written presentation will be remembered as articulate, well groomed and intelligent; one with a poor written presentation will be remembered as unkempt, inarticulate and ill prepared, regardless of how the candidates actually performed in the interview. Few candidates realize how important this résumé function is.

The one major exception to the above occurs when an interviewer decides you are lying or grossly exaggerating. In this case all credibility is lost and your written presentation is discounted entirely. Don't cross that line.

4. Finally, your résumé can justify the hiring decision to others.
The hiring cycle is getting longer and longer. More people are involved, and everyone is afraid to make a mistake. If you are the wrong hire, it can be very difficult to get rid of you. There are people higher up in the organization who rubber stamp your hire decision without ever meeting you. The better you look on paper, the more comfortable they are with making a decision. Here the wrong résumé can undo every right thing about you.

Candidates who are referred by friends, or who are interviewing with people they know, may not realize how critical it is to write a winning résumé anyway. Your friend may love you, but somebody upstairs has to be fully satisfied. The résumé better live up to the rest of your presentation, or you could get nixed by someone who never even meets you.

As you are writing your résumé, keep in mind what you want it to do for you. If you understand what your goals are, and what you want your résumé to accomplish each time you use it, you will do a better job of achieving those goals.

By Donald Asher author of 11 books on careers and higher education. His most recent titles include "The Overnight Résumé" from which this article is excerpted, "How to Get Any Job: Life Launch and Re-Launch for Everyone Under 30" and "Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn't, and Why." He speaks at more than 100 colleges and universities every year.

How Long Should Your Résumé Be?

Is one page too short? Are two pages too long?

Résumés are a subject of great debate in the career world. What to include, what not to include; serif or sans serif font; what color paper; which jobs to highlight? And, more commonly in today's job market, how long should the résumé be? Does it matter?

We asked résumé experts for their take on whether job seekers should use a one- or two-page résumé and why it matters. Here's what they had to say:

The argument: One page

"Many people feel that a longer résumé makes them look more accomplished or important -- not so. Recent college grads and those who have only had one to two jobs don't need more than one page. Avoid excessive spacing to fill up the page as well and instead flesh out your skill sets, even if you think you have none due to little experience." -- Kristen Fischer, author of "Ramen Noodles, Rent and Résumés: An After-College Guide to Life"

"Someone newer to the work force may have a one-page résumé, with a more seasoned employee having two or more. Most experienced employees cannot fit their work history onto one page, and that's fine. What is critical is that the important information stands out: a very brief summary of who you are, what you're looking for, your key accomplishments and strengths, which tells the employer why they should hire you. This should be captured at the beginning of your résumé in the top quarter of the page -- then the employer could quickly scan where you worked and when, along with more details listed under each position." -- Michelle D. Roccia, senior vice president of corporate organizational development from Winter, Wyman

"I personally believe that a one-page résumé, for the most part, is the way to go -- unless you are a very senior executive with a number of accomplishments through your long career. Otherwise, short and focused is better." -- Jim Joseph, author of "The Experience Effect" and president of Lippe Taylor

"Remember the length Golden Rule: You want your résumé to highlight your best attributes, and hiring authorities shouldn't have to search for them on your résumé. For this reason, stick to the one-page rule and carry over to a second page only if your experience warrants it. This will force you to choose only the most important information for your résumé." -- Alexis Lane, résumé writing specialist at Snelling Staffing - The Wyckoff Group

"While I understand that most candidates want a two-page résumé (or longer), I happen to know that employers put the most focus on a candidate's first page. Their attention starts to wane before they even flip the page. Therefore, appropriate and strategic editing is a smart move. Most job seekers find it difficult to be so objective about their lengthy and accomplishment-based history, so here's a good tip to keep in mind: Job seekers have to think of themselves as a product and their résumé their marketing campaign. Any good marketing director knows to focus on their target consumer while creating a marketing campaign, right? Same thing applies here. You aren't writing your résumé for yourself, but rather, for your potential employers." -- Lauren Milligan, résumé expert and job coach at ResuMayday

"A one-page résumé is needed to get you in the door. At the outset of the process, most companies are using software to scan for keywords and subsequently weeding out those who haven't included them. A two-page résumé is necessary once you've gotten in the door and are sitting in front of a human being. That said, it should not be dense. Bullet points are preferable to paragraphs." -- Frances Cole Jones, author of "The Wow Factor: The 33 Things You Must (and Must Not) Do to Guarantee Your Edge in Today's Business World"

"Less is always more when it comes to résumés today, with one page preferable, as overworked HR departments need to process information faster and are mostly using electronic solutions to identify candidates to start with anyway. On top of this, the more experience you put on there, the more dollar signs begin to flash in hiring managers' heads, and they worry about what it's going to cost to acquire such an experienced candidate." -- Scott Steinberg, CEO, lead analyst, TechSavvy Global

"It does matter, but primarily in relation to the quality of the content. Do not try to create a two-page résumé if you really only have related experiences that fill up one page. Using bigger font and wider space margins do not help your cause. Similarly, if you have a long, impressive career of related professional achievements, there is no need to try to shrink it all down onto one page. Having said all of that, do not go longer than three pages. You should be able to be able to present the best of the best in less than three pages, and if you must, you can add a note 'Additional work history provided upon request.'" -- Sara Sutton Fell, CEO of FlexJobs

The argument: Two pages

"A two-page résumé is important. Given the nature of today's job search, applicants are searching via the Internet and using job boards or a company's website as the first touch. HR professionals and recruiters are either sifting through the résumés or résumés are searched automatically via a computer program. The more information you provide, the better your chances for a call back." -- Allison Rapaport, founder of www.hospitaldreamjobs.com

"It is important to remember that whoever will be looking at your résumé will probably be looking at 50-100 others, so first impressions are critical. Like Goldilocks tasting the porridge, a two-page résumé is 'just about right.' A one-page résumé gives the impression that you do not have a lot of experience. Anything more than two pages gives the impression that you are 'all over the place' and simply don't have the ability to focus. Managers want to be reassured that you can zero in on what you need to do and get it done." -- Mario Almonte, managing partner, Herman and Almonte PR

The argument: It doesn't matter

"I am less concerned about a one-page résumé than assuring that a candidate for employment provides the necessary information in a concise, direct manner. It's the qualifications that need to get noticed. Tell the employer what you can do for them. Be concise but keep it to two pages. Grab their attention first and foremost. Design your résumé to bring out what the employer is seeking and align these requirements to your own personal strengths. Don't sell yourself –short -- quite literally." -- Wendy Powell, author of "Management Experience Acquired"

"It really comes down to relevant content. If you have the experience needed to back up the position you're seeking, then you need to share it. If it's more than two pages, then let it flow. If it's just fluff to fill blank paper, limit that fluff to the pertinent information. Experienced hiring managers are very good at identifying fabricated content"-- Joel Rudy, chief operating officer of Photographic Solutions Inc.

"Job seekers focus on the wrong thing when they obsess about whether hiring managers prefer a one- or two-page résumé. Job seekers with great experience, skills, industry connections and attitudes can stop worrying about the one- versus two-page résumé dilemma and be assured that hiring managers are not going to rule out a terrific candidate for sending a two-page résumé instead of a one-page résumé." -- Janet Civitelli, Ph.D., workplace psychologist and founder of career advice website VocationVillage.com

"Your résumé is your introduction to a new company. It says volumes about you before you ever get a chance to and may decide if you get to say anything yourself. One or two pages don't really matter, but two pages in most cases are all you need. Résumés should incorporate both responsibilities and accomplishments, conveyed in specific and measurable form -- how did you make or save your company money?" -- Ira Bershard, Kaye Bassman

"I've seen stacks and stacks of résumés and have strong opinions on how they should be organized and written. As far as number of pages required for a résumé, the idea that everything should fit on one page is dated. Don't leave key experience out just because you're trying to keep it to one page. But do make sure all of the key important experience is on the first page and highlighted appropriately. A good way to accomplish this is by creating a 'career highlights' section at the beginning of your résumé." -- Jenna (Gruhala) Oltersdorf, principal, Snackbox

"A two-page résumé full of fluff and padding kills interest. Yet a one-page résumé that
leaves out compelling selling points shortchanges both the applicant and the hiring company. The length of your résumé should be determined by how long you can keep the story you're telling compelling. You need to pique enough interest to generate an interview, not hide your strengths in a pile of unimpressive blather and puffery." -- Barry Maher is the author of "Filling the Glass"

"Although I do prefer to see a one-page résumé, it's a mild preference and I definitely think this issue gets overemphasized. I have hired applicants that submitted a two-page résumé and would do so again in the future. My best advice is to keep in mind that hiring managers often scan résumés for only 20-30 seconds each. Because of this, the wording of your bullet points is crucial; they must be succinct and attention-grabbing. Also, consider placing a bulleted list of work accomplishments (from all jobs) at the top of your résumé. This technique is gaining more and more popularity as it can really help to grab the attention of the manager that is scanning the résumés." -- Kris Alban, director of strategic partnerships, iGrad

The verdict: The length of your résumé will vary based on your experience. If you're a new graduate or you have less experience, keep your résumé to one page. If you're a seasoned employee in the work force, it's OK to have your résumé a little longer.

No matter how many pages you choose to include, make sure to include all of your pertinent career information on the first page -- and in the top portion -- of the document.

By Rachel Farrell, CareerBuilder.com writer

Solving the Keyword Conundrum - Résumés for Career Changers

Ready to launch a new career, but no one seems interested in interviewing you? Your résumé -- and its lack of keywords -- may be to blame.

Keywords are terms or phrases that are specific to a particular industry or profession, and they're an essential element in the résumé-scanning process. Today, employers and recruiters are increasingly searching résumés electronically for keywords to help them weed out candidates whose résumés do not reflect the skills, qualifications or credentials they're seeking.

This stage of the job search can be problematic if you're trying to break into a new industry or profession.

"For career changers, keywords are particularly relevant and require a great deal of thought because you don't necessarily want to include keywords that are descriptive of your past experiences. Instead, you want to include keywords that reflect your current career goals so that those words are the ones that will get your résumé noticed and not passed over," explain Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark in their book "Expert Résumés for Career Changers."

According to Enelow and Kursmark, the following keyword strategies are especially helpful for career changers:

In sections throughout your résumé, integrate keywords from your experiences that directly relate to your current career goals. Even though certain tasks or accomplishments may have been a minor part of your experience, they should be highlighted on your résumé if they relate to your current career goals.

Include an "objective" section on your résumé that states the type of position you are seeking and the associated responsibilities. For example, "Seeking a position in purchasing management where I can utilize my strong skills in research, analysis, negotiations and product management." This is the recommended strategy if you do not have the appropriate experience (keywords) in your background to include in the career summary and experience sections of your résumé.

Not sure which keywords you should be using? Enelow and Kursmark offer some guidance:

"Just by describing your work experience, achievements, educational credentials, qualifications, objective and the like, you might naturally include most of the terms that are important in your new career field. To cross-check what you've written, review online or newspaper job postings for positions that interest you. Look at the precise terms used in the ads and be sure you have included them in your résumé."

By Selena Dehne career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST's Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

Should You Ever Leave Your Education Off Your Résumé?

After years of job-hunting without success, Adrienne Rodney decided that perhaps her master's in journalism was to blame: Maybe employers were considering her overqualified or at risk of jumping ship the moment the market improved.
So, she removed it from her résumé.

"It felt dishonest, so I asked the hiring manager how he felt about people who do that. He says that it was the conversation that got his attention, not whether I have a degree or not," she says.

Brooke Allen, who hired Rodney as an assistant to work both in his trading group at Maple Securities, USA, Inc., as well as to help with his website http://www.noshortageofwork.com/, says he thinks she did the right thing by leaving it off.

"Soon after sending her résumé, she confessed she left off her master's. By this point I wanted to meet her, even though, frankly, I had not yet even glanced at her résumé," he says. "Honesty is very important if any relationship is going to work and it is critical in the workplace. While I do not consider leaving off qualifications to be dishonest, some [employers] might feel otherwise."
The discussion about whether or not job seekers should leave education off their résumés at the risk of seeming overqualified -- or not qualified enough -- is common. And as with most debates, there are two arguments to be made.

"I believe omitting the standard field of education on a résumé is a fatal mistake. I am looking for reasons to drop someone off the pile," says Amy Stoehr, founder, Changing Lanes Consulting. "I want honesty and creative ability. If your education isn't impressive, then showcase what is impressive about you -- and tell me the truth. Lead with your strengths. Use your cover letter to give me a specific, compelling example of why you're a good fit for the position I'm hiring."
While almost every employer feels that honesty is the best policy when applying for a job, some employers agree that excluding your education from your résumé is necessary at times -- like if it gives the impression that your career interests lie in another direction.

"Recruiters will make assumptions about what type of job will be a good long-term fit for you," says Lori Gale, CEO of FastLanesHire.com. "If you have a degree that is very specific, yet completely unrelated to the position to which you are applying, a recruiter will likely dismiss you as a serious candidate. Once again, you should never lie, but perhaps you are best off explaining your career change in person rather than via your résumé."

If your education is less than stellar, there are still ways you can play up the most impressive parts of your résumé to catch an employer's attention.

1. Play up your work experience

"If you have a lot of experience that's directly related, some companies may overlook the lack of a formal education," says Linda Duffy, president of The Leadership Habitude. "Point to your significant accomplishments and hopefully they'll focus on those and not your lack of education."
2. Apply for and obtain professional certifications in your field

"There are accredited professional organizations in almost every field that offer recognized certification programs. These certificates demonstrate that you not only are capable of passing exams in your field, but that you are peer recognized," says Tom Taormina, forensic business pathologist®, The Taormina Group, Inc.
3. Emphasize your other abilities

If you're lacking a good education, then you need to highlight your work experience. Play up your other abilities by using strong adjectives throughout your résumé that jump out of the page, suggests Erica Moore-Burton, a private career coach. "If a hiring manager is looking for a qualified person, your experience is right on the money and they can see this from the content of your résumé, then your education will be secondary and chances are that you will at least land an interview; where you can impress them even more when you talk about your experience. Very seldom do hiring managers talk about your education in detail, it's the experience that they want to know about."

In general, including education is, of course, preferable. And you should NEVER lie about your education. Use your discretion when deciding whether to include your education your résumé, but know that not including it doesn't mean you won't get the job.

"The key to how to communicate one's education in a résumé is all about the industry and context of the job and employment being considered. If you're applying to be a professor or a doctor it goes without saying that you need to have certain degrees and levels of education to qualify for consideration. If you're applying to be a business leader it's helpful to have a college degree, but don't we all know of the 'richest man in the world' who never completed college yet went on to develop a most successful computer company?" reminds Joan Tabb, author of "Great In 8: The Fastrack to Career Success." "Define your résumé to your particular strengths; whether they are your education, employment achievements, industry recognition or a combination."

By Rachel Farrell, CareerBuilder.com writer

5 Ways to Rehab Your Résumé

Just in case you haven't heard it enough: It's tough to get a job these days. So tough, in fact, that it's not unlikely for a job seeker to spend six months or longer looking for a job before actually getting one. Although it's common for today's job search to take a while, there are ways to increase your chances of getting noticed quickly. So, if you're starting to get frustrated with just how long it's taking to find a job, you may want revamp your job search, starting with that all-important document: your résumé.

Although most job seekers feel that they've done all they can with their résumé -- included great "action" words, checked spelling and grammar, ensured consistent formatting -- there is almost always room for improvement. Chances are, your résumé can benefit from one of the following points:

1. Make sure your objective has an outward focus

If you choose to include an objective on your résumé, make sure it addresses the employer's needs. "Don't emphasize what you're looking for in a job, but rather what skills and talents you offer an employer," says Rick Saia, a certified professional résumé writer for Pongo Résumé.

For example, an objective statement like: "To find a position in public relations that will allow me to further my communications career and develop my skill set," is all about what you want out of your job search. In order to increase your chances of engaging a hiring manager, change your objective to instead reflect what you have to offer, i.e., "To benefit a company through my extensive network of press contacts, 10 years of copywriting experience, and demonstrated ability to successfully pitch stories to the media."

2. List accomplishments, not duties

"Does the résumé emphasize what you accomplished in your current or previous job? That's what should stand out; not merely what duties you performed, but what differences you made in your role for your employer," says Saia. "For example, 'served as project manager for replacement of 1,000 desktop computers' is a duty. Saying 'managed replacement of 1,000 desktop computers in half the allotted time' tells the employer you can take on a big job and meet a critical deadline. That's an accomplishment, and it made a difference."

Most duties can be turned into accomplishments through quantifying them or stating how you met or surpassed the goal of the assignment.

3. Don't list out-of-date or irrelevant skills

At your entry-level job, you may have spent a lot of time on administrative work, like filing documents into a comprehensive system of folders and filing cabinets. But that was 10 years ago. Today, companies rarely even keep physical records, so most likely the "administrative skills" you listed on your résumé won't be applicable at your next job. If you haven't done something in 10 years, chances are things have changed, and it's best to leave the skill off your résumé.

Although entry-level job seekers sometimes include a section of "interests" on their résumé, the space-filler has no place on the résumé of older workers. Even if you spend every second you're not working thinking about baseball and you've scored the most homeruns in your recreational league, a hiring manager has no real use for -- or interest in -- this information. Anything you list on your résumé should have a professional tie-in.

4. Make sure your résumé is search engine optimized

Since much of the initial job application process is done online, recruiters often use software programs to scan submitted résumés for important words and job functions. If your résumé doesn't include these keywords, there's little chance that your application will ever reach the desk of a hiring manager.

"Right this minute, recruiters and employers are typing keywords in their search engines to find job candidates to fill openings that match your job objective," says Susan Ireland, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Résumé." "So do some research to find 10 or so keywords from job postings and job descriptions that best match your job objective. Then weave those keywords into your résumé statements and/or make lists of keywords in special sections on your résumé, under headings such as Skills, Relevant Skills, Computer Skills, Technical Skills, or some other heading that makes sense for your occupation."

For example, if your goal is to get a job as an advertising coordinator, you will probably come across the same keywords (i.e. accounts, AdWords, media planning, sales, marketing, tracking, supporting) over and over again in job postings for that kind of position. Figure out how to incorporate these keywords into your résumé for the best chance of being found by a recruiter.

5. Bold your best features

According to a recent study from the U.S. Department of Labor, there are 5.4 applicants for every job opening. With stats like that, you can bet potential employers are up to their eyeballs in applications. Make it easy for hiring managers to skim your résumé for important qualifications by bolding any skills, honors and experiences that support your candidacy.

The strong text should be saved only for your most important qualifications, though, so limit bold items to no more than five. Also, make sure to keep a "plain-text" résumé on hand, in case a job listing calls for an unformatted résumé.

By Kaitlin Madden writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

Ditch the Résumé Objective

Your résumé is spit shined, polished, lightly buffed and glistening in all its glory. You've run it through key word tests, tailored it to specific employers, focused on results you've achieved, and even printed it on coffee-scented paper stock (one can never be too prepared, right?).

But when it comes to that darn objective, you're never sure what to write. Will you sound too generic? If you get too creative, will it turn the employer off? Yet the truth is that objectives -- at least in the traditional sense -- are dead.

Ready to take its well-worn place is something far more important -- a stark assessment of who you are through the eyes of your potential employer. Maybe your past experience is solid, and the results speak for themselves -- but can employers truly relate to your experience in their world? Are you helping them see your potential through a lens they understand?

Potential is in the eyes of the beholder

Many job seekers get so focused on presenting themselves to a potential employer using the traditional "here's what I want to accomplish" objective, that they overlook another, more critical component -- the valuable skill set they already possess.

But why so important? Heck, it's results that count, right? Sure -- but only to a point. When faced with the choice of picking someone who blew past their sales targets but left a trail littered with upset co-workers and frustrated clients in their wake, and someone who can show equivalent results, demonstrating they delivered using a forward-thinking and (here's the important part) team-oriented approach -- you can likely guess which one a hiring manager will go for.

Yes, employers want to see results. But they also want to see how you achieved those results. An objective will give them an idea of how you'd go about it for their company ... so show them! Why waste your time, and theirs, with an objective that speaks nothing to this?

Understand your potential

Before you can hope to sell a future employer on your potential, you need to understand it yourself. Anyone can say they've got "tons of potential" or use phrases like "out of the box" or "dedicated" but how can you quantify and describe this to an employer in a way they can relate to? It's simple. You need to understand yourself.

Not in the vaguely new age kind of way, but in the brass tacks, nuts and bolts of knowing your own work styles and competencies kind of way.

And there's the problem. Most of the objective methods used in the past to help us understand ourselves and our natural competency potential are not an ideal way for illustrating this to an employer. Your hiring manager might get a kick out of it (they've probably had similar experiences), but it's not likely to help you win out against other candidates.

Instead, assess yourself using one of the many tools that employers use to identify competency potential. These assessments provide very accurate, objective, and useful measures of your natural styles and competencies in the workplace. They can help you put your past accomplishments into context -- and better yet, will help you explain how you achieved your results in language that employers can directly relate to.

(You'll also learn a thing or two about yourself along the way too, but don't let that stop you ... )

The end result will make a big difference in how you present yourself -- and how an employer will see you. For example:

Skilled sale professional with a 15-year track record of meeting/exceeding sales targets: two-year winner of top performer award, exceeded annual revenue targets by 50 percent or more in 2008 and 2009.

Turns into:

Skilled sales leader with a 15-year track record of exceeding sales goals using a highly adaptable and persuasive selling style. Exceeded annual revenue targets by 50 percent or more in 2008 and 2009 by building on strong organizational and goal-oriented skills.

An overly-simplified example perhaps, but this new version answers a number of questions an employer is bound to ask about how you accomplished all those things on your résumé.

Still stumped on where to begin? Visit sites such as http://www.onet.net/ or http://www.shldirect.com/ (free to use!) to assess yourself. Or use recruiters or outplacement firms like Teneo Talent (http://www.teneotalent.com/) that offer proven competency and motivation assessments. Added bonus? These firms can also connect you with a career coach to help you further identify and understand your potential.

Crafting a résumé certainly isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, but this much is clear: the old rules no longer apply. So throw out that objective, and replace it with something that matters -- a statement about your true potential.

By Nels Wroe an assessment and talent management expert for SHL (http://www.shl.com/), a global leader in workforce-related talent assessment solutions. Nels.Wroe@shlgroup.com