The Three C's of Resume Creation

When you start writing your resume, you need to pay attention to a lot of different things. It's a little like golf. Keep your knees slightly bent. Follow the ball with your eyes. Swing all the way through the stroke. It just goes on and on. How is one person supposed to remember all of those things at once? 

It's the same way with resume writing. Keep all of your verbs in the same tense (usually past tense). Inject enthusiasm into the resume wherever possible. Show your accomplishments rather than relate the tasks you have handled in the past. Leave enough white space on the resume so that it doesn't look cluttered. It just never seems to stop.

One way to make the whole process a little easier is to plan your resume out before actually drafting it on a computer. Focus on one thing at a time and move ahead when you feel like you have one step conquered.

Writing a resume isn't much fun. When you do it yourself, though, you have a great opportunity to learn more about yourself, which in turn helps you answer those tough interview questions later on.

Think of the resume writing process as a self-improvement project. You will have a chance to reflect on your career, your personal and professional skills, your accomplishments and your future career goals as well as be better prepared for the future.

To make the most of the opportunity, take a look at the Three C's of Resume Creation shown below. Each "C" word will help you focus on a different aspect of the resume and will help you ensure that it accomplishes what it is supposed to accomplish.

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  Here are the Three C's of Resume Creation:

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  The first "C" – Content There are two basic elements of a resume. The first is design and the second is content. The design is the format (chronological, functional, combination). The second is the tough part as it entails the aspects of your personal and professional background that make up the "content" of the resume. The content is what determines if you are called for an interview or not. First and foremost, make sure your resume is free of flaws. If you have typos and grammar errors, you do not stand much of a chance of being seriously considered.

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  The second "C" – Character This is a subcategory of the first "C". An employer wants to know what kind of person you are. Show the employer that you are a problem solver, results-oriented, loyal and determined to succeed and you will do much better at making a good impression than someone who simply states their employment history.

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  The third "C" – Competency This is also a subcategory of the first "C". You have to prove that you can do the job. Are you adequately trained, educated and accomplished? Use active language to clearly SHOW just what you have achieved and how your qualifications match the exact needs of the organization.

You can create a resume that looks fantastic and impresses the employer, but it takes effort and thought. Do it right. There is no point in crafting a resume if it doesn't accomplish what you want it to accomplish. Put the time in to make it a professional document and you will find that the job of your dreams is very likely just around the corner. Just remember "The Three C's of Resume Creation".