M.E.D.'s 15 Steps to a Better Resume Your resume is the KEY to explaining who you are, what you have accomplished, and why you should be considered as a serious candidate. In effect, it is a personal selling device. Experts in resume preparations provide the following tips: Do not make it overly long. Two pages are acceptable. Use white paper. Colored paper does not fax or copy well. Select a "normal" type style such as Times or Universal. Place your name, address, and telephone number at the top of each page; include an alternate telephone number. Watch the past and present tenses on your job duties. Leave enough margin space for note taking by the interviewer. List significant positions. Highlight responsibilities and accomplishments. This is important! Always include dates of employment. List jobs chronologically, most recent first. Be clear, concise, professional. Do not list personal information that is extraneous or not required by law (i.e. age, gender, marital status, family, etc.) Indicate that references will be supplied upon request. Do not list them. Proof read, spell check, make it perfect. Include special courses, seminars, and include licenses/certification dates and numbers. We Can Help If you do not have a resume or you are not happy with the one you have, let us help. We will help you rewrite it, have it designed, and printed on quality paper for a nominal fee. Once you create that initial resume, we will keep your documents on file which will let you easily and inexpensively update it whenever you change positions, add credentials, change your name, address or telephone number. Ask your recruiting specialist about this added M.E.D. service. Always have your resume available when you are likely to see professional acquaintances or friends who may be able to help you find the position you are seeking. Present your resume to people you contact about possible employment. More Than Meets The Eye A resume should demonstrate your strengths and communicate your level of professional accomplishments. There are times where a strictly factual resume might not properly showcase an applicant. For example, we had just such a situation. A young man, recently out of the military, was working for us as a temp. We always received great reports from his employers. They appreciated his attitude, his work ethic, and were particularly complimentary of his professional skills. In fact, we considered him one of our top temporary employees and were eager to place him in a full-time position. Each time we sent his resume to an employer, there was no response. The problem was his military terminology. Our solution: revise the resume and provide a detailed discussion of what skills and abilities he gained in the military. Result: many interview opportunities, leading to a good job offer. For more information about presenting yourself effectively through your resume, call Medical Employment Directory of St. Louis at (314) 991-8806 or 1 (800) 599-6791 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Central Time, or fill out the on-line form to request a free consultation at a convenient time. Copyright 1999-2008, M.E.D. 11701 Borman Drive, Suite 160 ~ St. Louis, Missouri 63146 ~ (314) 991-8806 ~ FAX (314) 991-3752 http://www.medstl.com ~ info@medstl.com WBE CERTIFIED A Woman-owned Business Enterprise