What goes in your resume will determine whether or not you will go before an interviewing committee. Organizations have systems (automated or human) that look for key words, including: experiences (professional or volunteer), knowledge (academics), skills and abilities (i.e. can you lead, do sales, aggressive marketer, Latino community outreach etc.). The majority will base their decision on your professional experience and your references, so it is important you be as detailed as possible, and think through it. Every resume must be tailored to the position you are applying for. Keep it to one page (unless its a curriculum vitae or CV) and have someone with a good eye review it.
Here is a collection of “must include in your resume” tips when applying through BilingualHire:
- Name/Contact Information: Ensure you put your full at the very top. Ensure you put your home address. And, make sure you put down a way to get a hold of you. Include your direct phone number (cell phone works best) and your email. Make sure your email is professional in nature. Try not to use “pelitosnegros” or “lameramera” in your email, because A. not everyone cares what color and B. not everyone cares that you are the best.
- Summary of Qualifications: Detail your knowledge, skills and abilities as they relate to your background and the position you are applying for. Bullets and one-liners.
- Education: Include your degree (i.e. Diploma, M.B.A., B.S., A.A., etc), major/minor and institution where you received your degree. If you have military schooling, be sure to list it. Also, be sure to include the date that you received the degree (not actual commencement).
- Professional Experience: Be sure to include your organization, title and dates you worked. Not just your role/responsibility but highlights of your accomplishment. If you led the charge, then say so. If you led increased sales or membership growth then say it. Here we want to know what you are made of. Those highlights should be bullets, i.e. major accomplishments. Again one-liners.
- Boards/Civic Organizations/Honors etc: List those boards and organizations you serve on. If you have received organization, business or government honors then say it. Ensure you put the date. These give the reviewing committee an additional opportunity to see your commitments and passions.
- Professional References: Ensure you list a minimum of three references that can speak to your abilities on the position you are applying for. Their names/titles/organization and phone numbers. Let your references know of your job search, and ensure they have a copy of your resume/cover letter handy.
The next position is around the corner, so be ready. Oh, and keep your online resume up to par via LinkedIn. See you on Twitter!
David Molina is co-founder/CEO of BilingualHire. You can reach him on his cell at +1-503-708-4614 or email david@bilingualhireco.com.