Summaries are hot.  Objectives are not.   Traditionally, candidates began by listing an objective that tended to sound something like this:  “to get a great job where my great skills can be used in a great company that offers opportunities for advancement.”  The problem:  this kind of generic opening makes you sound pretty much like all the other candidates.  By using a few concise statements to showcase your key achievements, experience, and skills, a summary helps a hiring manager understand the value you can bring to the job. 

Create a great look.  Fashions in resumes, like styles in clothing, change.  Check out the library or your local bookstore for examples of resumes with a ‘today’ look.  These resources will give you suggestions for striking formats that balance type and ‘white space.’  They’ll also guide you through the basics—creating a header, choosing a style, and presenting your experience, education—including degrees and awards, and relevant professional or community involvement. 

Choose between a ‘chronological’ and a ‘functional’ resume.   The chronological resume is the most traditional—and the one most employers prefer.  You lay out your work history starting with the most recent and describe your accomplishments in each job.  The functional resume focuses on accomplishments rather than when and where they took place.  It highlights skills, which can be especially important if you’re changing fields.  It can also be effective if there are gaps in your work history. 

Study job descriptions for the type of position you’re seeking.  If you’re looking for a job in quality assurance for a biotech firm, for instance, be sure your resume reflects your credentials for that position. The same holds true for other types of jobs in other industries. If you’re fortunate enough to get interviews with more than one company, then go the extra mile and customize your resume for each position. 

Use keywords that will help you survive software screening.  Today, computers—not people—often do the first screening of resumes.  To make sure your resume gets through this screening, use the keywords most commonly used for the job for which you’re applying. If you’re seeking a position that requires computer literacy, be sure to list the software in which you are proficient.  If your appointment is set up through The Suburban Group, this may eliminate the computer’s role as preliminary screener. 

Focus on achievements rather than responsibilities.  Describing your responsibilities shows only what was expected of you.  Describing your achievements shows your contribution.  Get specific about ways you helped the company increase sales, reduce costs, save time, boost efficiency, or add value.

Use power words.  Begin each statement with a strong verb to project a ‘can-do’ image. Examples:  Organized workflow….  Handled multiple tasks.   Invented an alternative….  Created a new system… Saved the company x dollars (or hours)….  Resolved problems…  Negotiated a solution… Improved a process…  

Make sure your cover letter is as impressive as your resume.   Your resume is your alter ego.  So be sure to introduce it with a great cover letter.  Set it up as a formal business letter.  In the first paragraph, mention the job you’re applying for and, if it’s relevant, where you learned about it.  Use the second paragraph to summarize your major qualifications for the position.  The closing paragraph should note that you are enclosing a resume with more details about your background, mention that you will call in a few days to see if you can arrange a meeting, and express your appreciation for being considered for the position.  You can find more information at your local library, bookstore, or on the Internet.

Prepare.  In real estate, it’s “location, location, location.”  For interviews, it’s “preparation, preparation, preparation.”  Do some research on the company as well as the job for which you’re applying.  Think about why you’d like to work there, and how your skills match the job requirements.  Ask your references—in advance—for permission to use their names.  And bring their phone numbers and other contact information to the interview.  Even if you’ve already submitted your resume, it can helpful to have a copy with you. 

Remember the power of first impressions.  You have only one chance to make a great first impression.  So check out your image.  Look the part for the job you want to land.  Some experts even advise dressing for the next job up the ladder.  Unless you’re interviewing for an unusual job, you can’t go wrong by dressing conservatively.  Be sure to make eye contact, project confidence, and be enthusiastic. And remember to be just as courteous to the receptionist or other ‘gatekeeper’ as you are to the hiring manager. 

Anticipate the questions you’ll be asked.  Prepare answers for the questions you’re most likely to be asked.  You may find it helpful to rehearse with a friend, or record—on tape or even on a camera phone--your practice sessions.  Be especially well prepared to answer difficult questions—why you left your last job or why there’s a gap in your work history.  While it’s essential to be honest, it’s also important to present things in the most favorable light.  Resist the impulse to criticize your former boss or company.  Seize opportunities to show how your background and experience have prepared you to make a contribution. 

Remember that conversation should flow in both directions.   Listening—as well as talking—is an essential part of communication.  Since a successful interview is about making a connection, take your cues from the interviewer.  If he or she is inclined to be talkative, then feel free to use examples and give longer answers.  However, if the interviewer asks tight, controlled questions, try to keep your answers brief and to the point.

Use a power close.  Be sure to thank the interviewer for meeting with you.  If it was a great interview, say so.  Express your interest in the position.  But don’t stop there.  Find a way to summarize the specific contribution you feel you can make.  “I’m really enthusiastic about the opportunity to create a new marketing strategy…” or “I believe that I can lead the research team to new scientific breakthroughs…” or “I’d love to use my administrative skills to support the engineering group.”  And if the receptionist was helpful, be sure to thank him or her as you leave. 

Write a thank-you note.  Send a handwritten thank-you note on high-quality paper within 24 hours of your interview.  (Even in the age of the Internet, snail mail wins out here).  Keep it both professional and personal.   If the interviewer gave you great insights into the job’s challenges and opportunities, express appreciation for that.  If you explored ways in which you might make a contribution, reinforce that.  Close by letting the interviewer know that you’d welcome the opportunity to contribute to the company’s success.  Interviewers—including senior managers—say that the thank-you note is becoming so rare that a good one makes a candidate stand out from the crowd.