Resume essential, job experts report
by Dawn Hanneman, reporter

    Finding a job in today’s economy is challenging—finding a good job without a good resume is even more difficult.

   According to Communicating for Results, a properly written resume can give an applicant an advantage over others applying for the same position. If a resume is written poorly, it can do just the opposite.

   As an individual begins to look for employment, there are several items to consider. First locating employment is obvious, but once a potential job is spotted, one must gain the interest of the employer.
   Job seekers use a resume to inform potential employers of their education, work experience, skills and anything else that may pertain to the job they want.

   A resume, whether good or bad, is often the employer’s first impression of the individual applying for the position. With a little bit of effort, some creativity and a lot of proofreading, creating a good resume can be the means of getting a foot in the door of the ideal job.

   Chance Spiker, a business communication instructor at TCC, said a good resume has become more important over the last few months.

   “As a result of last September and the downturn in the economy, employers are receiving more resumes than ever. New college graduates entering into the job market will even further increase the number of resumes employers receive. You really need to get their attention quickly and keep it,” he said.

   Putting together a resume can be difficult and time consuming, especially for someone unsure where to start. Traditionally, the information in a resume includes a qualification statement, work experience, skill set and education.

   Spiker said using “key words” in a resume will often catch the eye of an impending employer.

   “The key words you include in your resume should tie in with your qualification statement and should also be supported by the duties and tasks you list as part of your experience. For example, if you list Organizational Skills as a key word, then back it up in your experience section with examples.

   Using “key words” in a resume is essential. When trying to appropriately describe past work experience, one should pull out old job descriptions or performance reviews. Also, particular classes and course work that pertain to the job can catch an employer’s attention.

   Higher technology has also changed the way employers view resumes.

   “Many companies use scanning engines and databases to screen candidates. The employer can scan paper resumes or electronic resumes into a database,” he said.

   Above all, giving honest and truthful information in a resume is vital. If someone is considered for employment, many companies base their final decision upon a background check.

   For one-on-one assistance, students can contact the career and employment center on any campus. The better a resume is presented, the better the chances are of obtaining the desired job.