About this sample resume:
Loretta created a resume that made the most of her experience, both on the job and off the job, to highlight and to emphasize her qualifications for the sales job she wants.
Loretta wanted to highlight that she’s currently in school and about to achieve her degree in business. This implies that she’s probably a young woman full of energy and ambition. And because her degree is in Business Administration, the employer will see that she could have potential to move into management if they like her performance on the sales floor.
By putting “Concurrent with Education” at the top of her Education section, Loretta is telling the employer that she is a hard worker - excelling at a professional job while carrying a full course load at college.
- Used Professional Achievements Heading
There were many titles this job seeker could have chosen for this section: Experience, Work History, History, Accomplishments, or Achievements.
Loretta chose Professional Achievements because she wanted to be perceived as a professional rather than an entry-level college student. And because she is seeking a sales job, she included the word “Achievements” in the title because that’s exactly what sales is all about.
- Incorported Volunteer Fundraising
Loretta incorporated her volunteer work into the Professional Experience section rather than placing it under a new section such as Community Service. She did this because her volunteer work in fundraising is so relevant to her job objective in sales. Her volunteer work also rounds out her sales qualifications by adding cold calling, writing, and Internet marketing to her in-person sales experience at her paid position.
Her volunteer fundraising also indicates that sales is in Loretta’s blood. Why else would she do it for free when she already has such a busy schedule?
- Quantified Achievements with Lots of Numbers
As with any good sales resume, this one has lots of quantified achievements. By using numerals (for example, “60” instead of “sixty”), Loretta draws visual attention to her achievements. And she gave her achievement statements even more graphic appeal by using the % symbol instead of spelling out “per cent.”
- Used Sub-bullet Points for Emphasis and Organizaiton
Notice the use of sub-bullet point statements. This technique helps organize information, avoid long paragraphs, and highlight each sub-point. The eye goes to these excellent points, simply because they are indented and use the dash symbol in contrast to the bullet points of the other statements.
- Included Relevant Personal Pursuits
Personal pursuits are not always appropriate on a professional resume. However, in Loretta’s case, they are highly relevant for three reasons:
- Her team sports demonstrate that she’s a team player. Notice, she made that clear by incorporating the word "team" into her list of sports.
- Her individual endurance sports show that she’s goal-driven and has focus and discipline to reach those goals on her own. Notice she uses the word "challenge" in her intro to those activities.
- This whole section suggests that she’s energetic -- something every employer wants from his salesperson.
With this excellent resume, I don’t think it will take long for Loretta to land her new sales job!
This resume was created using Susan Ireland's Ready-Made Resumes (a Job-Hunt Sponsor).
© Copyright Susan Ireland, 2012. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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About this author:
Susan
Ireland is the author of four job search books including The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect
Resume, now in its 5th edition. For more information
about writing your resume, read Susan's books or visit Susan's Website SusanIreland.com. For immediate help with your resume and cover letter, check out Susan's Ready
Made Resumes and Cover Letters, an online resume builder to help job seekers quickly create an effective resume. Follow Susan on Twitter @SusanIreland, visit her JobLounge blog, and interact with her on the LinkedIn's JOBS Group (Job Openings, Job Leads and Job Connections!) in her ** Let's Talk Resumes ** featured discussion.
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