[US Jobs Vacancies] Quiz: Do you know when to rephrase your résumé?

US Jobs Vacancies has posted a new item, 'Quiz: Do you know when to rephrase
your résumé?'


Susan Ricker, CareerBuilder Writer





Sometimes a rsum was once good, but now it's stale. Sometimes it was never that
good to begin with. Either way, how do you know if it's time to rephrase your
rsum?




Below you'll find five sentences commonly found on a rsum. Each sentence could
be rewritten to better reflect the job seeker's skills. Choose the option you
think best describes why and how the sentence should be reworded. Once you've
finished, review the results to see if you know how to write a winning rsum or
if it's time for some rephrasing.




1. "Objective: To obtain a challenging position in leadership that will allow me
to apply creative problem solving to achieve optimum results."A. The objective
is pretty vague; it should also include the company or position title, as well
as a desired salary.B. The space for objective statements could be better used
if replaced with a summary of yourjob-seeker brand, or a one-sentence statement
that summarizes your expertise and skills.C. Simplify the objective statement
and use language from the job description.




2. "Summary of qualifications: Maintained strong business relationships with new
and old clients, and cultivated strong connections with team members to create
strong communication at our company."A. This could be separated into three
bullet points to make a stronger statement.B. The repetitive language should be
removed, and there should be individual bullet points with clear descriptions of
each qualification.C. Leave this as is.




3. "Professional experience: Independent business consultant at ABC Co.,
2006-present; account executive at JRR Sales Co., September 2000-April 2006;
cashier at Jerry's Ice Cream Shop, June 2003-April 2006."A. Bullet points should
follow each title, as well as daily tasks performed.B. The only work experience
listed should be relevant to the job you're interested in and should include
three to four bullet points of major accomplishments that relate to the position
for which you're applying.C. This is fine, as long as the location of each
business is also included.




4. "Education: College University, Class of 1998."A. Include the school's
location.B. Include the school's location, your degree information and any
training or certificates received. Revise the title to say, "Education and
training."C. Leave this as is.




5. "References: John Baker, supervisor at ABC Co., phone and email included;
Linda Cook, manager at JRR Sales Co., phone and email included."A. Leave this as
is.B. Leave references off of the rsum, and use the space for something else.C.
Use the line, "References available upon request."




Results


Mostly A's:You're on the right path, but most of your answers would make the
rsum too wordy or unorganized. You may want to edit your rsum so it's more
concise. In each section, ask yourself if the hiring manager would find that
information helpful, relevant and easy to understand. Rsum space is too valuable
to be wasted on unnecessary information.

Mostly B's:Your rsum rephrasing skills are top-notch. You clearly took the time
to research the position you're applying for, and you're able to communicate
your personality and experience in your rsum. You've likely included only
relevant information on your rsum and everything included supports why you're
the best candidate for the job.

Mostly C's:Although minimalism can be an attractive quality in business, your
answers indicate that you're holding back on your rsum. Hiring managers can go
through thousands of job applications when searching for the right candidate,
and it's important that you stand out from your competition by showcasing your
individuality, experience and personality. If you don't have much work
experience, include information that's relevant to the position of interest, and
communicate why you're right for the role.




Susan Ricker is a writer and blogger forCareerBuilder.comand its job blog,The
Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career
management, hiring trends and workplace issues.







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