Text: (312) 375-7672
A Top Ranked Resume Writer in Chicago, IL
- Helping Job Seekers Since 2004
- Free Consultations & Resume Review
- ATS Compliant
- Personalized Service - Talk With Your Writer
Contact Us
Grab the Attention of Employers With a Powerful Resume
A well-written resume highlights your strengths and professional achievements and reflects your personality even before you meet employers in person. It increases your chance of getting called for an interview and landing the job. That's when you need to call a top-ranked resume writer in Chicago, IL.
At AAA Targeted Writing & Coaching Services, I focus on writing resumes that make you stand out from other candidates. I take the time with each client to ask questions and understand your goals and achievements. Call to schedule a free consultation and get the process started.
As well as resume writing, I offer:
- Cover letter writing
- LinkedIn profiles
- Professional biographies
- Reference list (free by request with purchase of resume)
Schedule an appointment with me to boost your chances of getting hired.
Resu-myths = Resume + Myths
Online career experts frequently talk in terms of must and always when they talk about how to write a resume. They claim to be presenting rules or industry best practices. But their advice often does not have any reason or strategy behind it. Below are a few examples of what I like to call “resu-myths”.
1. A resume should always be one page.
Busting the myth: I’ve met very few hiring managers who agree with this claim. Many of my clients have gotten great jobs using two page resumes. Moreover, if this expert advice were true, why don’t employers instruct candidates to send one page resumes in job postings?
2. All bullet resumes are easier to read.
Busting the myth: All bullet resumes might look easier to read, but that’s not true once we start to read. We’ve read paragraphs since we learned how to read. We know how to skim information in that format. Bullets tell us to stop. If we stop at the beginning of each line of the all bullet resume, how can it be easier to read? The flow of information is broken and choppy.
Should there be no bullets in a resume? Absolutely not! Bullets are very useful to call out achievements and key words. However, if all information is put forth as bullets, nothing is called out and the information becomes harder to read and often more confusing.
3. Employers know what you can do by the titles one your resume. They want to see achievements and numbers. That’s all that should be listed on your resume.
Busting the myth: I’ve never seen a job posting that says, “Send us a list of achievements.” Instead, job postings list requirements, including experience, education, certification, and technical skills. These items need to be presented on your resume to demonstrate your qualifications. Once you have done that, it is very important to show achievements and success stories with quantifiable examples whenever possible. A good resume will have a balanced overview of experience, skills, and achievements.
4. A resume should cover every job you have ever held.
Busting the myth: Employers care most about your career as it is related to the open position they are trying to fill. Usually, a resume should cover the last 10-15 years of your career. Early work is not relevant in most cases.
5. A resume must show quantified achievements.
Busting the myth: To a degree, this point has merit. If you can use numbers to quantify the scope or impact of an achievement, it gives that success story more validity. On the other hand, if a success story cannot be stated in terms of numbers, you should still put it on your resume. Demonstrate your strengths whenever possible even if they cannot be quantified.
6. A resume must display your work history in reverse chronology [most recent to least recent job]
Busting the myth: If your work history follows this pattern, that’s great. However, what if you were a successful sales professional for eight years and then spent the next three years as a business owner or teacher and your current goal is to find a job in sales? My recommendation is to break the chronology and put the most relevant information first. A few hiring managers might be upset that you did not follow a “standard” form of reverse chronology. More employers will be impressed that you put what they care about – what is most relevant – first. If screeners and hiring managers only spend 8-10 seconds scanning resume, they don’t have time to dig through irrelevant information.
7. Education must be listed as the last [or first] element on a resume.
Busting the myth: This is a great example of why you should avoid “always” rules when writing a resume.
If you’re a new graduate or if you’ve just completed a graduate degree that is relevant to the job you are seeking, education should come first. It is the most important information you want an employer to see. On the other hand, if you have experience in your field, education usually should be placed at the end of a resume. In this case, you’re telling a prospective employer that your experience is more important than your education.
Learn More About
AAA Targeted Writing & Coaching Services
Share On: