Hi Mark,Thank you for submitting your resume for a free critique. You have excellent IT experience, but I see a few ways you can improve your document:- Add a “Qualifications Summary.” This section includes your career goal as well as your top credentials for a network administrator position. Here’s a link to an article that explains how to create a summary section: http://www.resumepower.com/career-summary-resume.html- Add accomplishments. Your work history is very focused on job duties, and you can make your resume stand out by demonstrating how your IT skills made a difference to your employer. Think about ways that you improved server performance, enhanced system security, cut costs, improved users’ understanding of technology, etc. Remove one-line bullets like “typing” and “outlining” — they don’t really help market you for a network administrator position.- Move your list of skills (e.g., animation creation) to a “Skills” section rather than including them in your experience section. You might want to create sub-categories such as “Networking Skills,” “Software Skills,” and any other categories that apply to you.- Avoid using personal pronouns — it’s assumed that your resume is about you. So, “I assist in all areas…” can be changed to: “Assist in all areas…”- Use the manufacturers’ spelling for tech programs. For example, change “Netware” to “NetWare” (with a capital “w”).I hope the feedback is useful. Here’s a link to another article that might be helpful: Resume Tips for Technology Professionals: http://resumepower.com/technology-resumes.htmlBest wishes,Kim Isaacs

Hi Katy,Thank you for submitting your resume for a free critique. Your resume is well written and I just have a few suggestions for you:- Add your career goal. The reader should immediately know that you are pursuing a position with a publishing house. You can incorporate your objective as a “headline,” which is a banner that goes across the top of your resume (below contact information).- Spell out your “value proposition.” This is best achieved in a summary or career profile section, where you can write several bullets or sentences describing the main reasons why you should be hired.- Add a “Key Skills” section. Check out job ads for positions that interest you, and look for skills that are frequently requested. You can then incorporate your matching skills in your resume.- Focus on the outcomes of your work. You have excellent intern experiences, but the descriptions read like job descriptions. You can turn that around by writing about your contributions and results of your work. For example, how many articles did you copyedit? Were you able to produce quality work under tight deadline pressure? How did you improve the editorial layouts and what were the benefits?- Include testimonials. If you have feedback from supervisors or professors regarding your work quality and potential to succeed in the publishing industry, add excerpts to your resume. Here’s a blog post that explains how to incorporate testimonials in your resume: http://www.resumepower.com/blog/2008/01/07/power-up-your-resume-add-testimonials/- Add a link to writing clips. If you haven’t done so, set up a folio site that includes links to samples of your work.Wishing you good luck, and please let me know how your job search is progressing!Kim Isaacs

Hi Katy,Great questions! It is best if your resume is concise, but the one-page resume rule is indeed a myth (or a throwback to earlier times!). Many new grads have so many important credentials that they would be selling themselves short by using a one-page resume. So, do try to keep it short, but remember that content rules and it’s okay to use two pages if that’s what it takes to “sell” you. One way you can contain the length is to omit some of your job description bullets and replace with accomplishments.Yes, I do think you should include your retail job on your resume. You don’t need to include a long description — just the basic facts about the job (employer, job title, dates, and a brief description) and any stand-out accomplishments.Good luck to you!Kim Isaacs

Hi Kathy,Thank you for submitting your resume for a free critique! Here are a few suggestions for improving your resume:- Define your objective. The reader of your resume would have no idea that you are seeking a position in publishing marketing or PR. You can add a “Headline” across the top of your resume that states your new goal. Also, pinpoint the specific job title you would pursue in your new field (e.g., marketing copywriter, marketing assistant, etc.).- Downplay unrelated work history. Review your job descriptions and honestly think about how important each bullet would be to a potential employer in your new field. Unrelated tasks such as “weeded library materials” aren’t doing much to sell you (and please remove “other duties as assigned” – this does nothing for you). You can, however, emphasize skills that are transferable to your new objective. For example, you conducted school tours. That in itself doesn’t say much, but you can expand on this and talk about the outcomes of these tours. Did you develop any business relationships that improved the organization’s image? Did you help increase visitors or library usage? Did you gain any media attention as a result of your tours?- Be consistent. Your resume is often the only representation of you, so it should be perfect. For example, you are inconsistent in using a period at the end of your bullets. You are also inconsistent with adding a space between dashes in your date format.- Turn your resume into a “value proposition.” An employer will be taking a chance on you as you’re a career changer. You need to demonstrate that you have an understanding of marketing and PR. You have excellent experience, but you need to show how it’s relevant to your new objective. Consider adding a Qualifications Summary that spells out the value you offer.Good luck with your career transition!Best wishes,Kim Isaacs

Hi Julie,Your questions are excellent. Here’s my feedback:- Dropping Years from Degree: That is a red flag. I’ve heard many recruiters state that they assume that the job seeker is trying to hide something when there’s no degree date. One study showed that when the date is omitted, the resume reader may add as much as ten years to your age (not good!). I say include the year.- Dropping Earlier Jobs: Yes, you can do that, but mainly because employers care most about your recent accomplishments. However, some do like to see the complete career progression, and you can show this by adding an “Early Career” section and just listing the highlights of your experiences. You can omit dates from this section.- Highlighting Accomplishments in the Cover Letter: That is good, but your strongest accomplishments should also be featured in the resume. Your resume will be stronger if you write about improvements you made to the newsletter, increase in the number of sponsors, increase in readership, etc. Marketing achievements will be particularly important given your career goal.A few suggestions for your resume:** Use the standard spelling for computer programs (e.g., QuarkXPress).** Add an explanation for your career change and passion for the arts — the cover letter is not always read, so an explanation in the resume is helpful to employers. The Qualifications section is a good place for this.** Remove the objective section. It’s too focused on what you want, rather than on what you can do for an arts organization. Add your career goal to the Qualifications section and/or add a “Headline” across the top of your page that states your objective.** Turn the Qualifications section into a value proposition statement. Think about what you would be able to do for an arts organization if hired!** Add any related arts-industry experience, even if as a volunteer. You might want to reach out to nonprofit arts organizations and offer to do free press releases, newsletter articles, web copy, etc. This will reinforce your passion for the industry and enhance your arts-related marketing qualifications.Overall, your resume is one of the better documents I’ve seen in a long time. I think you’ll have a strong marketing piece after you make a few minor changes. Good luck and let me know how your job search is progressing.Best wishes,Kim Isaacs

Julie – You’re very welcome!Wishing you all the best,Kim

Hi David,I’m so sorry to hear about the heartbreak and loss that you’ve suffered over the last few years. You definitely needed the time to start to heal and figure out what you want to do next, so the 2-year “gap” is very understandable. If an employer doesn’t understand or is not willing to give you a chance, I would question how happy you would be at their company.Here’s my take on your resume and cover letter strategy:The Good:————– I like that you included a Qualifications Summary and focused on your management qualifications.- It’s a great idea to include consulting engagements to “cover” (truthfully) your recent experience. Bye-bye, gap!- Good to see that you’ve included accomplishments in each of your positions, along with quantifiable outcomes. Fantastic!- Nice job including your continuing education in the “Education” section, instead of omitting the section altogether.Areas for improvement:—————————-Your resume needs a lot of cleanup, and here are the areas that jump out at me:- Improve your Qualifications Summary. I like the idea of your summary, but it could be a lot stronger. Think about what you are offering and include concrete ways that you would contribute as a manager. Pretend you’re at a job interview for your “dream job,” and the manager asks you what you would contribute to the operation if hired. What do you offer that other candidates do not? Your summary should be compelling, because that is what will make the hiring manager continue reading your resume.- Proofread and correct errors and inconsistencies. For example, you used past tense for previous jobs (which is correct), but not in your first two (earliest) jobs. Correct hyphenation errors (for example, should be “third-party maintainers” in your cover letter and “Coordinated movement” in the resume). Job titles should be lowercase (e.g., “training director”) unless used as part of a headline. Be consistent in using abbreviations (e.g., capitalize “K’ for thousands in all instances). Watch for parallel sentence structure in both your resume and cover letter. I just spoke with a recruiter who said that he tosses resume with just one error – ouch!- Enhance your accomplishments. Read each of your bullets, and ask yourself, “So what?” You need to convey the significance of the accomplishment, and it should further your message that you are a talented manager. As an example, one of your accomplishments is “Drove service revenues from $8K to over $130k.” But what’s the timeframe for that? Did that take four years or was that a one-year increase? How did you accomplish this?- Focus on the last 10 years or so. Your resume goes back to the 1980s, and while you have interesting and excellent experience from that time period, you need to highlight more recent accomplishments. You can keep the early positions, but cut down on the amount of space used, and consider summing it up in an “Early Career” section.- Make minor changes to the cover letter. You did a good job with the letter — it’s focused on the employer and what you can do for them. I would move the part about your layoff and wife lower (it’s a downer right at the top of the resume, and it looks like you’re covering up for something that doesn’t need to be covered up). Proofread and correct grammatical errors throughout the letter — it should be perfect.I’m wishing you the best of luck in your job search.Take care,Kim Isaacs

Hi Vicki,You have excellent experience! Here are a few tips for improving your resume:- Create two resumes. Your two goals of teacher assistant and lead teacher are different enough to warrant different resume versions. You would need to emphasize more of your leadership skills in the lead teacher version.- Add an Education section. Maybe it got cut off, but I don’t see an Education section, and school administrators will be looking for educational information.- Switch to a “combination” resume format. This type of resume leads with a Qualifications Summary, and then provides a reverse chronological work history. Include descriptions of your responsibilities as well as accomplishments in each of your positions. How did your teaching skills benefit the teacher, students, and school? Here’s an article on combination resumes that might be helpful:http://www.resumepower.com/combination-resume.html- Tell your story. Your resume leaves me wanting to know more about your qualifications and teaching style. The meatiest part of your resume is the “Scope of Experience” section, but it reads more like a laundry list and doesn’t give insight into how you truly made a difference in the lives of children. Here’s a link to a sample resume for an elementary school teacher — this will give you an idea of what I mean by “telling your story”:http://www.resumepower.com/Elementary_School_Teacher_Resume_Sample.htm- Make sure your resume is perfect. Correct errors like inconsistent use of capitalization, apostrophes, and parallel sentence structure.I hope this is helpful. Wishing you a successful job search!Take care,Kim Isaacs

Hi Kimberly,Thank you for submitting your resume for a free review! Here’s what you should do for the last two years of temp assignments to avoid the appearance of job-hopping — group them under *one* section and provide the overall time period. You can then include highlights of your most impressive company assignments. Check out this article for more detail on how you can do this:Resume Tips for Temps: http://www.resumepower.com/resume-tips-temps.htmlI would also suggest that you rework your introductory statement. While the message is good, it’s loaded with what employers now recognize as “fluff” — statements that are overused and really don’t have much significance (e.g., “self-motivated,” “superior organizational,” etc.). Rewrite that section while thinking about why the employer should hire you instead of other applicants. You can even lead with a statement like, “Value offered…” and then provide a bulleted list of what you bring to the table.You should also add more of a focus on your accomplishments throughout your work history. How did your employers benefit from your administrative skills? This article includes questions you can ask yourself to help draw out your accomplishments:Administrative Support Resume Tips: http://www.resumepower.com/admin-support-resume-tips.htmlGood luck securing a permanent position! You have excellent experience and skills, so it’s just a matter of marketing yourself a bit better.Kim Isaacs

Hi Ileana,Thank you for your note and for submitting your resume for a review! Here are some of my ideas for improving your document:- Add a “Headline” that reflects your assistant principal goal. Right now, the reader would have no idea you’re pursuing this type of position.- Add an element of a “Mission Statement” to your summary. School districts are looking for assistant principals who demonstrate passion as well as leaderships competencies. Take some time to think about why you should be selected as an assistant principal, and use your summary to really “sell” you, your mission, and your qualifications. How would you contribute positively to a school if hired?- Revisit your work history and make your leadership accomplishments “pop.” This is going to be really important, because you’ll be up against others who have more recent, school-based experience. You do have excellent experience, so elaborate on your achievements and showcase the *results* of your work that would be relevant to an educational leadership position. For example, you managed the team for the largest Hispanic promotion in the U.S. — that’s an amazing accomplishment, but the reader has no idea what you did, how many people you supervised, or the result of the promotion. Think about the accomplishment in light of what would be important in a school setting (e.g., achieving buy-in for your ideas, getting people on the same page, setting and achieving goals, monitoring project milestones, rallying for community support, etc.). Highlight the results of your work — especially leadership accomplishments — for both your corporate and volunteer positions.- List your MBA more prominently. It gets “lost” at the bottom of your resume. You can mention it in your summary section (add a line like: Backed by solid credentials, including an MBA, fluency in Spanish, etc.).Wishing you all the best in your job search! Good luck and please let me know how it’s going.Kim IsaacsThe Resume Expert

Hi Ileana,You’re welcome! It’s okay for you to go to a two-pager — you’re pursuing a leadership role and you have many accomplishments and skills you need to emphasize. A one-page resume might even work against you, making you look more entry-level.If you go to two pages, make sure your strongest credentials (especially your MBA) appear on page one.Good luck!Kim Isaacs

This is my resume for your critique. I am looking for a HR Mgr/Generalist/Recuriter position and have not been getting the response I thought I would get for so much experience. Also with posting on some of the boards because I have been getting more responses from a city that I not living in or interested in working someone suggest not including my address. What are your thoughts on that? if you were hiring what would be the impression of this resume. Please I need your helpHuman Resource Professional with broad-based diversified generalist and hands-on management experience with the Ability to participate with senior management in the strategic planning of company-wide initiatives. Well versed in areas of Human Resources, and able to work with employees at every level of the organization.SKILLS SUMMARY• Staffing / Executive Recruitment• Human Resource Administration• Benefits Administration• Employee Relations• Training and Development• Project Management• Operations Management• Policy Design and Implementation• Employee Labor Law/Conflict ResolutionPROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCECompany, New York, NY 2007-PresentHR Consultant (Temp)Provide consultation in areas of recruitment, compensation, benefits, training & development and policy & procedure. Serve as a coach to lower level HR Consultants and Assistants.Company New York, NY 2006-2007HR GeneralistResponsible for the recruitment for all executive, managerial, exempt, and non-exempt positions; orientation, benefits, compensation review, training & development, employee relations, policy & procedure interpretation, and performance management. Provided counsel, assistance and follow-up on company policies & procedures for line managers. Provided support, and advice to six satellite locations.Responsible for full-cycle, high volume recruitment including phone screens, interviews, offer negotiation, relocation, and agency management.Participated with management as a strategic partner to develop and achieve departmental goals and objectives.Provided coaching for managers on staff development, dispute resolution & organizational effectiveness.Provided training to managers on interviewing techniques.Managed temporary employees, interns, and the summer student program.Key Accomplishments:Successfully recruited, interviewed and hired key senior management for executive committee.Lead various HR projects and strategic staffing initiatives including Company Branding to attract talented candidates, and the Applicant Tracking System.Improved employee retention by creating and implementing Employee Partner Program.Reduced recruiting costs 30% by negotiating fees, implementing non-fee sources, and expanding Employee Referral Program.Standardized the recruitment process and re-designed interview procedures and created faster selection process.Company, New York, 2002-2005HR ManagerResponsibilities included recruiting, benefits administration, employee relations, compensation administration, performance management and staffing. Provided support, guidance and advice to senior management.Served as internal subject matter expert on HR issues, employee relations, and employment law.Liaison with outside counsel on employment matters including work authorization (immigration, visas), terminations and documentation.Supervised HR and accounting staff.Developed and implemented procedures for new hires which included new hire packages and orientation.Conducted exit interviews to uncover any organizational/managerial issues; and implemented solutions.Key Accomplishments:Implemented new and effective welfare programs including TransitChek, and Flexible Spending Accounts.Created an effective mentorship program which improved employee moral and retention.Researched and negotiated improved insurance coverage resulting in a total savings of 15%.Implemented Sexual Harassment training to comply with employee handbook.Company, New York, 2001-2002ControllerPositively restructured recently merged company’s accounting department by redesigning and implementing internal controls and new policies and procedures.Managed staff of 5 including hiring, termination, employee relations and conflict-resolution.Participated in financial negotiations with banks and outside agencies.Established comprehensive spending and collection controls.Key Accomplishments:mproved employee moral and communicated employee concerns to senior management.Created positive cash flow by lowering accounts receivable by 30 % in 3 months.Company, New York, 1992- 2001Human Resource Manager/ControllerResponsibilities included day-to-day administration of all major HR functions including recruitment, union and non-union payroll, and employee relations. Participated in the long-term strategic planning of a start-up that expanded to 3 companies and grew over 90% in employees.Directed all aspects of recruiting process, including offer negotiation, and agency management.Guided managers regarding terminations, sensitive workplace conflicts, and employee relations.Investigated and resolved union contractual disputes and grievances.Coordinated all human resources related legal issues, DOL and unemployment hearings.Promoted workers safety awareness, resulting in lower workers compensation claims and decreased annual workers compensation premiums and average number of recordable injuries.Key Accomplishments:Created and designed company first Employee Handbook, Policy and Procedures Manuals.Researched and led the negotiations for improved health and property insurance coverage including higher coverage limits and broader coverage with a 30 % annual saving.Selected and implemented new benefit plans including: medical, dental, flexible spending plan and 401k.Developed and implemented employee turnover improvement strategy which reduced turnover by 60%.EDUCATIONNYU, Certificate in HR – School of Continuing EducationORGANIZATIONSCOMPUTER SKILLSMS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, QuickBooks, ITrack

Hi Maria,Thank you for submitting your resume. I agree that you have excellent HR experience and your resume should be generating results! Here are areas you can improve:- Rewrite the opening sentence. Honestly, you lost me on the first line — it’s a mouthful! As you know, hiring managers are quickly scanning resumes to decide whether to keep or toss. So your resume should open with a bang, but still be easy-to-read. It should also be error-free (the only letters that should be capitalized in your opener appear at the beginning of sentences). You should consider expanding this opener so that it’s a more meaty Qualifications Summary. Employers looking at your resume should immediately see what you can do for them.- Expand on your current experience. Even though you’ve been temping, you have responsibility for solid HR management tasks, so don’t be afraid to write about it! Specifically, what have been your accomplishments? Because this section is so brief compared to your other jobs, you’re sending a message that you’re not doing anything of importance.- Expand on your accomplishments in your earlier positions. It’s great that you’ve included a section for “Key Accomplishments,” so you have a good start. But think about the true value of each of your accomplishments. Here’s where the “So what?” question can be so beneficial. After each accomplishment, ask yourself, “So what?” This will help you get to the bottom of what the real value your work had on your employers and team members.- Add knowledge of HR regulations (e.g., ADA, FLMA, EEO, etc.). You mentioned in an early job that you coordinated HR legal issues, but knowledge of specific regulations is important to many employers, so consider adding a list (this can go in your Skills section).- Proofread your resume. There are little errors here and there (e.g., tense usage, hyphenation, capitalization, inconsistencies), and your resume should be perfect.Regarding your questions:- I know it can be hard to select a job title when filling out online forms, but sometimes the form forces you to pick just one. If you can type in your own job title, it’s okay to include several variations: HR Manager / Generalist / Recruiter Also, are you contacting potential employers by phone? If you connect with managers in the department where you want to work, you might learn about which areas they need employees. Plus, it’s a good chance for you to show your strong interest in the employer and build relationships!- There’s not much you can do about out-of-town inquiries that don’t interest you. I would say that you should follow up and respond anyway, because you never know if the contact person knows of an opening near you. Plus, it’s another chance for you to network!Wishing you all the best. I really hope that your job search turns around. You have excellent qualifications, and employers need to see that!Take care,Kim Isaacs

Hi Kim,I have another question. I attended an Ivy League College continuing education program and received a certificate from their 5-6 class program. Should I school name and then list for eg. Harvard Continuing Education – Engineering Certificate, or could I just say Harvard – Engineering Certificate How should I list the school. Of course the reason I choice that expensive school was to be able to list it on my resume. Any suggestions? Thanks again

Hi Maria,I’m glad the feedback was helpful! I think you should list the school in the same format that the program lists it. For example:Harvard University (Division of Continuing Education)Engineering Certificate, YearBTW, Ivy League school names are sometimes used as keywords when employers search for applicants, so you might expand your reach by including Harvard University.Re: Resume length — try to keep your format down to two. You can accomplish this by cutting your description of job duties to 2-3 sentences (this will also give you more space to list accomplishments). Also, I’m not sure how your Skills Summary is formatted on your Word version, but this bulleted list can be in two-column format — that will give you a number of extra lines.Best wishes,Kim Isaacs

Dear Kim,Firstly I would like to thank you for your time and help. I really appreciate it. I am a senior graduating in May with a bba in finance seeking an entry level position as an analyst at a major investment bank.EDUCATION2004 – 2008 – SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Washington, DC• Bachelor of Business Administration with concentration in Finance, May 2008• Overall GPA: 3.503• Beta Gamma Sigma, National Society of Collegiate Scholars• DW Scholarship – Awarded annual scholarship based on academic excellence• Recipient of University and Alumni Award, 2005-2008• Member of Finance Club, intramural football and basketball teamsWORK EXPERIENCE04/07 – 09/07 Bulge Bracket Investment Bank New York, NYANALYST, EQUITY RESEARCH – II-RANKED LATIN AMERICA TEAM• Evaluated various equity strategies in South America and Mexico in the energy, basic manufacturing, transportation & technology sectors.• Created research project focused on South America’s international trade regime. Analyzed macroeconomic, fiscal, and financial market implications of alternate policy scenarios.• Conducted comprehensive research on potential investment opportunities, including companies, competing firms, industries, and countries/regions• Wrote and published equity research reports for institutional investor distribution based on current trade ideas and relevant news events• Worked closely with Partners, MDs, and VPs to generate presentations emphasizing the most appropriate and fundamental components• Effectively communicated and interacted with campaign offices, institutional sales force and traders05/06 – 8/06 OFFICE OF U.S. SENATOR _ Washington, DCSUMMER INTERN• Collected data and information on legislation and current events to formulate policy and voting positions• Coordinated constituents, principals, and legislative staff during due diligence and casework.• Supervised and trained new interns on selected projects.05/05 – 08/05 xyz music company New York, NYMARKETING INTERN• Responsible for developing marketing strategy for college market• Participated in developing firm presentations to research the market atmosphere• Contacted current and perspective partners to introduce the firm, inform about products and services, and gather pertinent records• Gathered and compartmentalized pertinent information on sales, clients, and demographics into XYZ Database, Outlook, and Excel and PowerPoint Documents• Set up one-on-one conferences and attended client and presentational meetingsSKILLS/PERSONAL• Study Abroad in city, Australia, February – June 2007• Computer Skills: MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Bloomberg, Reuters, familiar with VBA, Flash, and web page design• Languages: fluent in Hebrew, basic Spanish• President, ABC Fraternity, 2005 – 2006• Help the Homeless, AIDS & Relay for Life Walker• Social Activities & Hobbies: Avid runner and guitarist. Enjoy basketball, golf & travel (in Australia and Southeast Asia)

Hi Kim,I am planning to relocate in July and am looking for temporary or contract work in a sales support or administrative role, but more long term am seeking to become more HR focused(even if in an administrative capacity initially). Can you suggest where I should trim my resume and where I need to beef it up? Thanks!Energetic and skilled candidate with experience in supporting high level executives and analyzing information seeking to use skills in a professional and challenging environment. Self-directed and works well in team setting as well as independently. Well versed in Microsoft Office Suite and SalesForce.com, but highly adaptable to new software.Complimented as someone who “Takes ownership” for seeing projects from start to finish.EXPERIENCE:July 2006 - Company Name, N.Y.November 2007 Sales AdministratorPlayed a central role in the coordination of sales staff operations as well as other business functions. Consistently exceeded management expectations by working outside of the original job description including, but not limited to, interviewing candidates, preparing and scheduling the new hires induction process, mentoring sales staff and training and supervising administrative staff.• Maintained application data in the Sales Force.com CRM application.• Conducted training for the staff on various business applications.• Created and maintained reports from data extracted from CRM tool.• Analyzed sales data and resolved reporting issues.• Organized and coordinated web-based meetings.• Routinely worked with international offices to ensure enterprise alignment with respect to business processes.May 2007 – Company Name, ConnecticutJuly 2007 Contracts AdministratorAdministered the process of auditing specialized contracts and resolving contractual terms for transactions involving physical energy products and financial derivatives.October 2002- Company name, Bronx, N.Y.May 2006 Contract AdministratorInstrumental in coordinating the purchasing activities among over 130 varied departments among 5 different campuses. This challenging role enabled the successful and timely completion of over 1000 purchase transactions, of varying degrees of complexity, annually. The following are the highlights of this role:• Analyzed purchase orders and negotiated contracts maximizing savings to the university.• Evaluated, researched and recommended new products to administration, faculty and students.• Acted as liaison between University vendors, staff and Finance departments. Responsible for accounts valued at over $2,000,000.• Managed and ensured the execution of university-wide service contracts and maintained the relationships relating to these contracts.• Instrumental in providing a comfort-level to seasoned university end-users with various internet purchasing systems. Accepted the high-profile task of maintaining, managing, and providing end-user support for these new systems.May 2000- Company Name, New York, N.Y.September 2001 Executive AssistantEffectively executed the responsibilities of this high-profile position by managing numerous and diverse personalities with a strong work ethic, sound ability to exercise judgment and professionalism. These duties included but were not limited to the following:•Schedule and coordinate meetings between CEO, Chairman of Private Equity and senior executives of COMPANY NAME and portfolio companies.•Responsible for coordinating weekly report to President of COMPANY NAME.•Served as a member of Private Equity Market Research Committee, providing information on research resources available, as well as sourcing research information.•Prepared and arranged for all meetings with internal investment and deal teams, setting international audio and video conference calls.•Coordinated domestic and international meetings for CEO and portfolio investors.October 1999- Company name, Harrison, N.Y.April 2000 Personal Financial AdvisorLeveraged interpersonal skills and creative thinking to simultaneously achieve corporate objectives and advise clients on how to successfully obtain their financial goals. Obtained Series 7, Series 63, and New York State Life and Health Insurance licenses. Performed detailed analysis of clients’ financial situations and integrated financial products based on clients’ needs.May 1996- Company Name., New York, N.Y.September 1999 Sales AdministratorSuccessfully built and maintained key cross-cultural relationships for an international enterprise resulting in company growth. Supported Vice Presidents of Sales servicing major clients including providing pricing information, sales reports and new product development. Supervised customer service staff, including hiring and training of new employees. Directly responsible for maintenance of day-to-day activity with several key accounts, totaling over $1.5 million in sales annually. Assisted in coordination and staffing of trade shows. Tasks included sales forecasting, cost of goods sold calculation and related expense planning.February 1995- Company Name., New York, N.Y.March 1996 Office ManagerSucessfully organized and maintained the daily functions of a growing retail organization. Managed accounts payables: purchase order entry, invoices and receiving reports. Processed weekly payrolls, administered employee records and group health plan. Responsible for day-to-day accounting activity and financial matters, including interfacing with outside financial counsel, vendors and factors.January 1995 Assistant to the Office ManagerSuccessfully mastered office protocols and tasks resulting in meeting time constraintsEDUCATION: University Name, N.Y.Bachelors of Arts, May 1994Honors: Dean’s ListMajor: HistorySPECIAL SKILLS: - Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SalesForce.com- Fluent in Italian.

Hello,I’m looking to obtain an entry level position in Employee Relations with a company in their Human Resouce department. My challenge is I haven’t recieved any call backs from the resumes I’ve submitted.I’m aware I do not have a lot of experience in this field but my goal is to create a resume that tells the reviewer “She looks like a strong candidate lets bring her in for an interview.”OBJECTIVE: To obtain a position where I can utilize my experience in Human Resources and four plus years of experience as a retail manager.EXPERIENCE:Sept. 2003- Company Name, Costa Mesa,CAPresent Human Resource Representative•Actively recruit candidates through internet sources as well as internal and external postings.•Conducted Hire Right training classes for hiring managers to ensure the right candidates are being hired for the right jobs and maximize the effectiveness of the selection process.•Established a tracking system for candidates applying for our Underwriting positions.•Coordinated Job Fairs and Open Houses to actively recruit for open positions.•Received and resolved employee and candidates issues via telephone, emails and walk-ins.•Interacted with all levels of management and Human Resource colleagues on a daily basis regarding recruitment strategies, reporting and improvement processes.•Conduct phone screen interviews for prospective employees.•Communicate pre-employment assessment results to applicants and hiring managers.•Coordinate pre-employment reference checks and drug screens.•Liaison between hiring managers and candidates.Dec. 2001- Company Name, Buena Park, CASept. 2003 Assistant Manager• Responsible for training all new hire employees• Handled employee relation issues• Conducted weekly audits of receipts• Interviewed potential employees• Responsible for weekly scheduling• Maintained a high level of customer service and customer satisfactionAreas of Strength:• Strong communication skills• Analytical problem solver• Time management skills• Driven to learn and apply new ideas• Ability to multitask and perform a wide array of duties• Experienced in balancing priorities for short term and long term goals.Computer Applications:• Windows XP• Microsoft Word• Microsoft Outlook• Microsoft Excel• PowerPoint

Hi Kamisha,Thank you for submitting your resume for a free critique. I’m sorry to hear that your resume hasn’t been generating calls for interviews. You have nearly five years of HR experience plus retail management experience, so you have excellent credentials and you should be getting interview invitations! Here are a few suggestions:- Add a Summary Section. This will allow you to spotlight your strongest credentials. Check out an HR resume sample from ResumePower.com to see how a Summary can be used:http://www.resumepower.com/HRGeneralistResumeSample.html- Add a Key Skills Section. Refer to the above sample to see how a bulleted “Skills” section can help bring your HR credentials to the forefront. I would keep it focused on HR-related skills, and not more general skills like “time management.” The ones you’ve listed tend to be overused, and hiring managers may just gloss over them.- Revise Your Employment Section. You have impressive accomplishments, but they would be stronger if you expanded on the benefits of your HR initiatives. For example, how many candidates do you typically source and for what level positions? How has the tracking system saved time or money? What challenging employee issues did you help resolve? What recommendations have you given management to improve employee relations or other HR functions? If you think about how your employer benefited from your performance, your Employment section will be much stronger! Also, you have excellent transferable skills from your former retail position, so don’t be afraid to elaborate on your accomplishments there — especially ones related to HR, training, employee development, etc.- Proofread Your Resume. As an HR person, your resume should be squeaky clean. You have errors like inconsistent use of periods after bullets, incorrect capitalization (like “job fairs” and “open houses”), missing hyphenation for compound adjectives, and non-parallel sentence structure in your bullets. Also, your previous jobs should be written in past tense. Give your resume a thorough proofreading before you distribute it.I hope this helps. Good luck to you — I hope your job search turns around!Kim Isaacs

Any help and suggestions would be appreciated.SUMMARY- Self motivated, detail oriented and energetic professional with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of an organization with extensive experience in administrative industries.EXPERIENCE2/90 to presentADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Maintain all business operations in the absence of the CEO. Ensure timely handling and confidentiality of all business related materials. Serve as liaison between customers and production plants as well as customers and CEO/Owner. Responsible for Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable using QuickBooks Pro 2007. Update and maintain client database. Handle all Banking. Track all customer orders and deliveries. Perform a variety of administrative and secretarial functions such as researching files and managing incoming correspondence including product orders. Receive, screen and accept incoming phone calls, visitors, and mail and provide prompt responses to all inquiries. Maintain an effective filing/record keeping system.7/03 to presentREAL ESTATE SALES Have thorough knowledge of housing market in the area. Research available housing by types, pricing and location. Prepare comparables for prospective Buyers and Sellers. Negotiate Purchase and Sale agreements. Follow-up on potential client inquiries. Deal with Buyers and Sellers, one on one, in a professional manner.SUPPORT STAFF To the Chairman of the Board, Account Executives and the Customer Service Department.ADMINISTRATOR of CONTRACT PROCESSING CHANNELRECEPTIONIST/SWITCHBOARD OPERATOREducationGraduated High SchoolReceived Real Estate LicenseReceived Real Estate License

Below is a current resume that I have been wririntg and I am lookong for some professional advice. I am looking for a Marketing Director, Marketing Management, Event Management, Sports Maeketing position. (As an FYI I will have a site setup with samples of work). Obviously formatting is being affected by the cutting/pasting/posting on this site.SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONSA highly motivated marketing director with sixteen years of diversified experience in sports marketing, public relations, relationship building, advertising, sponsorship development and corporate events. Expertise in developing successful business-to-consumer and business-to-business marketing strategies that utilize print, online and broadcast mediums. Thrives under pressure and excels in managing multiple projects concurrently with strong detail, problem solving and follow-through capabilities. An effective team leader with a demonstrated ability to manage and motivate cohesive teams that achieve results. Proven ability to deliver consistent growth in revenues and exceed department goals while bringing expenses in under budget. Core competencies include:•Project Management•Strategic Partnerships•Sponsorship Activation•Event Management & Promotion•Public Relations Strategy•Budget Management•Market Research & Analysis•Brand Management•Media Relations•Crisis Communications•Media Buying•Advertising CopywritingPROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEMARKETING DIRECTOR DatesXXXXX Company, City, StateDirect all marketing efforts including corporate events, public relations and advertising for five national publications, three local publications and ten affiliated websites. Conceptualize and design all corporate logos, sales collateral, websites, presentation materials, press and media kits, exhibit booths and graphics to create consistent, dynamic and professional branding. Support the growth of advertising and subscription revenues through strategic, integrated marketing efforts across multiple platforms including print and broadcast advertisements, email newsletters, online campaigns, sweepstakes, video streaming and circulation promotions. Oversee the creative design and copywriting of all advertising efforts including direct mail pieces, subscription inserts and website banners. Write and publish 60 special advertising sections and two stand alone publications. Spearhead and execute new publication launches and identify potential marketing and content partnerships to drive revenues and brand awareness. Direct all public relations activities including the writing of press releases. Hire, train and motivate department employees. Create, manage and monitor department budgets.Selected Accomplishments•Manage a six person marketing department that annually conceives, designs and implements more than 700 branding projects, 80 public relations initiatives and has been recognized for excellence in writing and advertising design by the awarding of three Silver Davey Awards, two Communicator Awards of Distinction, two Gold Create Awards, one Silver Create Award and several Florida Magazine Association Awards.•Identify, negotiate and maintain marketing partnerships with CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Fox Sports, Asian Golf Monthly, NCAA, TVN, CSTV and The Wall Street Journal.•Executed online brand awareness campaigns that increased website visitors more than 400%.•Successfully market and manage annual corporate events that include hosting more than 150 clients at The Masters, planning and executing a three-day Resort Marketing Conference, planning and exhibiting at six major industry conventions and promoting and executing seven consumer golf shows and twenty golf events annually.•Play a key role in a business development team that has successfully expanded our brands by launching two magazines, four social networking websites and establishing a video production division that has led to the construction of an onsite television studio, the integration of streaming video on all corporate websites and expanded the reach of Golfweek HDTV programming to more than 50 million homes via cable and satellite distribution.MARKETING DIRECTOR DatesXXXXX Company, City, StateOversaw all event management and marketing efforts for the XXXXX Company.Developed annual marketing plans and budgets, negotiated advertising contracts and executed media buys. Conceptualized print, broadcast and outdoor advertising campaigns, wrote advertising copy and supervised the design of all creative elements. Implemented and executed a comprehensive public relations plan, maintained good working relationships with media outlets, wrote and distributed press releases and pitched public interest stories. Generated leads and presented custom proposals to potential sponsors, event planners, wholesale travel partners to generate corporate events, meetings and golf tournaments. Negotiated event contracts and had primary oversight of event execution, problem resolution, staff supervision and coordination of facility operations and hospitality services. Coordinated accommodation and transportation needs for each event. Activated event and facility sponsorship programs and ensured all contracted elements were executed. Maintained beneficial relationships with local business leaders and worked in tandem with tourism officials to secure conventions, meetings and sporting events for the area.Selected Accomplishments•Annually executed a successful PGA Champions Tour event that drew more than 110,000 spectators and raised more than $400,000 each year for local charities. Event responsibilities included: media relations, merchandising, sponsorship development and activation.•Secured and hosted more than 85 events per year.•Increased key accounts revenue 40% during my tenure.•Established new single month and annual sales records for our facility.•Increased revenues 20% while realizing marketing department expense savings of 16%.SPONSORSHIP DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR DatesXXXXX Company, City, StatePrimary liaison between the Tour and the Tour’s event sponsors, event management companies and benefitting charities. Researched and identified potential Tour and event sponsors. Created and presented sponsorship proposals, negotiated final sponsorship agreements and worked in conjunction with the sponsor to implement custom marketing programs. Monitored all sponsorship programs to ensure hospitality, promotional and signage requirements were fulfilled. Maintained year round relationships with sponsors to ensure event sponsorships were renewed, and new marketing and promotional opportunities were developed. Analyzed and evaluated host cities and recommended Tour expansion opportunities. Formulated event budgets, business plans and public relations campaigns. Negotiated and executed event contracts and was responsible for verifying all deposits were paid, legal requirements were fulfilled and all monetary deliverables met. Planned and directed advertising policies and programs for each event, negotiated media buys and supervised the production of collateral materials and advertisements.Selected Accomplishments•Successful in increasing XXXXX Company Tour sponsorships and purses more than 25% while increasing charitable donations generated by each event.•Secured and maintained major event sponsorships with Fleet Bank, Brighthouse Networks, PaineWebber, Lucent Technologies, Lincoln Financial, M&T Bank, Bulova and Hewlett-Packard.•Set up the volunteer committee structure for each event and assisted in the recruiting, training and motivating of more than 100 volunteers needed for each tournament’s operation.•Planned and coordinated all aspects of the 2000 and 2001 tournament organizer conferences including writing and publishing of the XXXXX Company Tour Event Production Manual.PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONSAmerican Marketing Association, American Advertising Federation, Florida Magazine Association, Meeting Professionals International, National Association of Sports Commissions, International Network of GolfAssociation of Golf MerchandisersEDUCATIONXXXXX UNIVERSITY, City, StateEconomicsJanuary 1988 – May 1991

Personal Data:SKILLS/QUALIFIERS:Proven skills in strategic and tactical sales, business development, planning, organizingOEM Design and project managementAdvanced consultative, problem solving, negotiation and decision making skillsStrong PC skills; demonstrated proficiency with a variety of software program applications including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), Windows, Photoshop, word art, and InternetExcellent listening and communication skills; the ability to comprehend and clearly communicate in written, discussion and presentation formatsDemonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of individualsExceptional skills in collaborating with clients and staff and in developing and maintaining long-term supportive relationshipsAbility to organize time effectively, priorities, meet deadlines, and move work forwardAbility to assess the effectiveness of processes and procedures and recommend improvementsAbility to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, and percentages.National Account ManagerNovember 2005 to currentDirected& managed sales efforts, set objectives for retail sales force consistent with company goals and objectives, recruited and trained new support and sales staff. Working directly for the manufacture in China, designed and implemented business plan to work in the US market, through market and research analysis, target market analyst and lead generation. Managing the day-to-day business of all special projects and overseeing product planning from concept development to platform. Establish relationships with key individuals in the Fine Jewelry and fashion industry, large retail chain stores, license, branded and patent design companies. Selling medium to high-end stainless steel jewelry. Design OEM marketing initiatives and channel marketing programs: including packaging, displays, and marketing material. Plan and execute presents at National Trade show as well attend several International Trade Shows. Develop and manage annual business / action plans to include sales growth, weekly and monthly reports: forecasting, product tracking, marketplace trends, new business development avenues and competitive updates.Union Steward, Organizer and TrainerJanuary 2000 – November 2005Efficiently and strategically organized xxxxxx call center, in 2 months. Cold calling employees and scheduling house calls to recruit them as committee members, trained them to increase membership and participation within their work group. On-site union representative for xxxxx following the vote: scheduled and conducted union orientations for 450 xxxx workers, training 30 union stewards, diplomatically worked with HR as well as all levels of management to integrate the union into the workplace, overcoming strong animosity and working through ambiguous contract language. Negotiated vacation schedules, grievance procedures and protocols, setting up standards of work relations and expectations.Outside Sales RepresentativeJanuary 2000 – November 2005Built long lasting effective relationships with existing and potential local business’s in order to sell data, voice, wireless, and long distance services. Implemented booths in several local events to generate leads through community awareness and incentives. Called upon local business’s utilizing consultative approach, offering them new products and services that would increase their company’s productivity. I continually exceeded all monthly sells and product participation goals. Successfully built effective and long lasting business relationship’s with existing and potential customers.Sales and Catering ManagerApril 1996 – January 2000Responsible for the sales, marketing, coordination and management of all catering events, working closely with clients to create a unique event experience. Worked aggressively in developing new markets and clientele through outbound solicitation calls, direct mail, networking, bridal and trade show event participation, created adds for local advertising, maintained continuous knowledge of direct competition, contract negotiation, event planning and event follow through.Education:PCC Sylvania, 1995-1996, Mt Hood Community College, 1992-1994, Leadership School, University of Iowa, September 2004, Labor Education and Resource Center Certification Program, University of Oregon, 2004Training:Certified Vulpor Sales Course, April 2004, Diversity Pluralism Workshop, January 2000, Presentation Skills, April 2003, Communication Skills March 2004

Hi Alfred,Your resume is excellent, and I just have a few suggestions:- Remove some of the statements in your Summary section that are very general and overused (like attention to detail, problem solving, etc.). Also, you can use the Summary to include some of your strongest achievements — this will give employers an idea of how you would help them achieve company goals.- Edit down the “job description” paragraphs under each position so that your accomplishments can be more prominent.- Try to vary your word choice to make the content more interesting (for example, you use “successful” a number of times).- Proofread your resume to correct any errors (for example, add a hyphen to “six-person marketing department”).Thanks for submitting your resume, and good luck in your job search!Kim Isaacs

This resume was created for a specific job. I am concerned that I may seem “overqualified” (I’m not fond of that term!) AND my resume is more than one page- will that be an issue?For your reference here is the Job Posting:Seeking a qualified Marketing Coordinator. Our ideal candidate will assist the Marketing Director in marketing and new business developments. As part of the Marketing team you will provide awide range of marketing administrative and organizational support including general research,clerical, generating statistical reports and project based work. As the MarketingCoordinator, you projects a professional company image through in-person and phoneinteraction. You are a critical team member whose focus is to provideexceptional support to ensure smooth team operations. You must possess excellent organization & communication skills, and have an eye for detail. Self-motivated, comfortable workingindependently, with the ability to work within tight deadlines.MY RESUME:GOAL: MARKETING COORDINATORCAREER STATEMENT: Sharp, experienced, results-oriented marketing coordinator and business development specialist with a positive attitude. Proven track record in successful execution of marketing projects and establishment of valuable business partnerships. Adept at market research and identifying marketing development opportunities while strategizing to maximize use of available assets for increased brand distribution/awareness.SUMMARY OF SKILLS• Managing and prioritizing multiple tasks/ departments• Excellent organization, communication & follow-through• Detail oriented, creative thinker and problem solver• Polished written and verbal communication skills• Strong interpersonal and analytical ability• Comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment• Resourceful and motivated self-starter, able to work independently & with teams• Ability to read and analyze statistical market data• Effective public speaking and presentation abilities• Proficient in Mac & PC applications, MSOffice, Filemaker Pro, AS400 & experience using QuarkEXPERIENCEMarketing and Business Development Coordinator, Company Name7/2004 – PresentImage based marketing, business development and event support in the medical field. Create and execute marketing plans and community outreach projects including: goal setting, market research, reporting and administrative team support. Create marketing collateral packages. Coordinate internal and external requests for marketing operations assistance. Design and organize client meetings and events including all venue/vendor sourcing and budget management.Selected accomplishments:• Increased client referrals 25% by conducting in-person meetings and consistent client management• Acquisition of 2 major national client contracts in 3 months through presented sales proposals• Created cohesive company marketing collateral packages including logo development & printing• Streamlined client file organization by the creation of excel based spreadsheets to track client contact & sales resultsBusiness Development Project Manager, Company Name1/2006 – 5/2007Appointed lead business development strategist for initial contact with new clients. Specialized in relationship building and retention of high-profile clientele (deleted: MAJOR COMPANY NAMES HERE). Established guidelines and schedule for completion of printing projects. Entrusted with highly confidential art development responsibilities. Contributed to development of custom and original artwork through collaboration with artists and graphic designers. Completed copyright clearances. Maintained archival files of all artwork and applicable information. Executed all functions of production from initial contact through on-time delivery of finished goods. Designated as trainer of new project managers. Selected accomplishments:• Increased efficiencies & reduced production turnaround time 25% by utilizing functional prioritization• Reduced cancelled orders 30% and salvaged the threatened loss of key accounts by initiating daily and weekly communications reports and focusing on personalized client supervision• Recognized Client Relationship Specialist and preferred project manager by major national accounts• Key contributor in improvement of inter-departmental project flow by assisting in the establishment of real-time based deadlines for order entry and job order release• Improved office efficiency by initiating purchase order requirements and pre-production checklists implemented by company president for use throughout customer service department and included in new client information packets• Strengthened inter-departmental relationships by practicing team focused recognition and open communication• Won the respect of all department managers, company president and owner as recognized by receiving MVP employee of the quarter award January 2007Page TwoMarketing Manager, Company Name7/2002 – 7/2004Created and implemented successful internal and external store marketing programs. Directed all details of marketing, public relations, event production and promotional programs. Published and maintained monthly community marketing calendar. Identified new and profitable promotional opportunities. Collaborated with vendors, local organizations, and management team to develop fresh marketing strategies for increased brand recognition. Negotiated vendor contracts. Projected and evaluated all event participation. Responsible for monthly reporting of budget and cost reconciliation. Provided marketing support and training to multiple managers, departments and product lines. Established consistent image of company branding.Selected accomplishments:• Increased quarterly store traffic 12% and sales 10% consistently since implementation of marketing program• Exceeded company mandated store events by 50%• Launched first-time store wellness fairs and educational classes (e.g. deleted examples of fairs and educational classes that were launched)• Initiated unprecedented participation in community events (e.g., deleted examples of community event participation)• Increased holiday catering orders 35% by educating staff in store offerings and recognizing weekly team performance• Achieved successful placement of press releases and store coverage in local newspapers• Managed large marketing program on small marketing budget by effectively soliciting vendor contributions and utilizing community partnerships• Successfully attained employee participation in community & store activities while strengthening store moraleEDUCATIONTRADE SCHOOL NAME HERE1995-1998Associate of ArtsMarketing/ Product DevelopmentMAJOR UNIVERSITY NAME HERE1992-1995Communications Major

Hi Suzanne,Thanks very much for posting your resume! It’s okay that your resume is more than one page. In fact, you will need two pages to adequately showcase your accomplishments and skills. Your resume is a very good start, and here are my suggestions for improvement:- It’s a great strategy to use the job ad to tailor your resume, but I think your adaptation is a little too much. It looks like the desired skills from the job posting were paraphrased in your Summary of Skills. Try to vary your word choice, and also *show* that you have the desired skills by providing related examples in your work history. Also, some of the skills in your Summary of Skills section are overused/clichéd, like “detail oriented,” “polished communication skills,” and “motivated self-starter” — it seems like everyone is claiming skills like this, so employers are glossing over such statements. Instead, turn your Summary into a “value proposition” that is loaded with accomplishments and ways you would benefit the employer if hired.- In marketing, written communication skills are crucial, so you should clean up the writing so that it’s perfect. For example, change “Acquisition of…” to “Acquired two major…” to make the sentences parallel.- It’s also important to demonstrate results and outcomes in your field, so try to elaborate on how your work benefited the bottom line. For example, you “increased client referrals by 25%” — how does that translate to increased revenues?I hope this helps. Wishing you all the best!Kim Isaacs

Dear Kim,I am currently looking fo a new job for the first time in 7 years. I’m an attorney specializing in discovery management; jobs in this area tend to be project-based and can last from a few weeks to several months or eaven a few years. Due to physical challenges and recent health problems, I’m focusing on work I can do as a consultant/contractor (but I wouldn’t turn down the right permanent position, if offered).I’m submitting a version of my resume with an objective statement — something hiring partners at law firms frown upon, but is required by other job search agencies. I’d appreciate help on making this statement more substantial. Also, I’m concerned about References. A firm I recently worked for has a policy of not providing these; they will only give prospective employers verification that I worked for that company and the length of time I worked there. Additionally, some of the places I previously worked for have gone out of business; or, the references Ithat I had at other places have long since left or (sadly) passed away. How do I handle requests for such references?Thank you so much for your help!CherylCHERYL M. EARLE3407 Old Dobbin Road, Montgomery, Alabama 36116-1903Home Phone: 334-215-3706 Cell Phone: 334-233-2631 Fax: 334-273-0477 E-mail: chemarle@yahoo.comOBJECTIVEMid-level position managing legal discovery and document review with opportunity to assist attorneys with civil litigationBAR ADMISSIONAlabama State Bar, 1999LAW-RELATED EXPERIENCELaw Firm, AlabamaResearch Attorney for Special Projects, Mass Torts Department, November 2001 – February 2008• Managed Multi-District Litigation (MDL) Document Depository (September 2002 to February 2008)o Reviewed more than 1 million pages of evidentiary documents for litigation purposes and for inclusion in electronic databaseso Coordinated document review assignments with attorneys at local depository and at other sites across the USo Retrieved, reviewed and coded documents in Concordance and Summation legal databaseso Prepared memoranda and spreadsheets providing detailed analysis of discovery materials• Aided attorneys and support staff with processing and preparation of personal injury claims and litigationo Conducted legal research and drafted pleadingso Conducted supplementary online research for additional documents and information pertinent to litigationo Assisted with preparation of correspondence to clients and referring attorneyso Contacted clients for additional information needed in case preparation, litigation, and potential settlementso Prepared and input case intakes and referrals into databaseLaw School, AlabamaStudent Intern, Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP), August 1996 – June 1997• Participated in law school clinical program under third-year law student practice rule (as authorized by Alabama Supreme Court)o Assisted attorneys and advocates in cases involving mentally ill patients confined to state mental health facilitieso Interviewed clients in person (at state facilities) and over the phoneo Worked with clients, attorneys, and social workers to investigate and resolve issues concerning involuntary confinement and treatmento Aided in legal research on an appellate brief submitted to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (ruling granted in favor of our client)Faculty Research Assistant for Library Services, Bounds Law Library, March 1996 – June 1997• Prepared research and teaching materials for law school faculty; worked 20 hours per week while matriculating 10-15 hours per semester)o Investigated copyright issues related to procuring and reproducing texts for academic useo Conducted legal research using WESTLAW, LEXIS and the InternetADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCEManufacturing Company (MC), Montgomery, AlabamaAdministrative Assistant and Cost Analyst, Materials Purchasing Department, April 1999 – September 2001• Assisted materials buyers in negotiating and preparing commodities contracts between raw materials suppliers and MC for manufacturing plants in the US and Mexicoo Assisted Legal Department at MC’s corporate headquarters with coordination and preparation of documents for litigationo Notified and educated suppliers about MC’s freight-on-board policy and its corresponding Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) provisions; result was the reduction of freight claims for both the company and its supplierso Prepared contracts and purchase orders for raw materials and capital projects involving plant maintenanceo Solicited price quotations from current vendors and established Excel spreadsheet format which simplified quote submission process and allowed MC to track and compare usage volumes and costs over timeo Prepared and analyzed cost reports used by materials buyers and production planners in purchasing decisions, including cost reductions, materials consolidation, and selection of vendorso Acted as liaison between vendors and the Purchasing, Transportation and Accounting Departments on issues concerning inbound freight, commercial carriers, and payment terms for commodities, resulting in reductions in freight costs and greater payment discounts for raw materialso Established online databases and printed directories for the Purchasing Department, allowing buyers to have easier and faster access to current vendor informationo Completed Year 2000 (Y2K) compliance project, which involved data collection and communication with MC’s past, present, and potential materials suppliers and service providersNot-For-Profit Organization, AlabamaAdministrative Assistant, Combined Federal Campaign, September 1998 – January 1999• Aided Campaign Director with 1998 Federal Campaigns (CFCs) in City 1 and City 2, which together generated nearly $700,000 for more than 1,000 local, national and international charitieso Prepared weekly reports on donations using WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Excel and dBase IVo Wrote script for Talent Showcase at City 1’s 1998 CFC Kickoffo Assisted Director with merger of the City 1 and City 2 CFCs in 1999Regional Bank, AlabamaAdministrative Assistant, Year 2000 (Y2K) Department, March – June 1998• Worked with Vice President of Corporate Projects on short-term project for the bank’s Y2K Departmento Analyzed and processed data on Y2K readiness for all branches of Bank throughout the southeastern USo Organized meetings for personnel of Banko Communicated with vendors of computer hardware, software, and office equipment to request information on Y2K complianceo Prepared compliance files for Federal Reserve auditso Prepared in-house memoranda and reports using Microsoft Word and ExcelRecord/Music Promotion Company, AlabamaRecord Pool Co-Founder; Office Manager, September 1990 – December 1991• Co-founded record pool to enhance promotion of music in Alabama and the southeastern USo Procured and distributed records from major and independent labels for club, radio and mobile disc jockeyso Coordinated jointly sponsored promotional events with record companies, radio stations and clubso Designed, wrote, and published bi-weekly reports and brochures to inform the music industry of the progress and popularity of music and performers in the region, with specific focus on the Alabama music sceneMajor University, AlabamaGraduate Research Assistant, AUM Department of Marketing, June 1989 – August 1990• Worked 13-20 hours per week as a research assistant to Marketing faculty while carrying a full course load in the MBA programo Analyzed consumer surveys used in academic researcho Assisted Conference Chairperson with coordination for Atlantic Marketing Association (AMA) annual meeting (October 1989)o Co-authored five-year index and classification of AMA Proceedings (published Fall 1991)EDUCATIONLaw School, AlabamaJuris Doctor (JD), 1997• Scholarshipso Seybourn H. Lynne Scholarship, 1996-97o Dexter C. Hobbs Memorial Scholarship, 1995-96o E. W. Godbey Memorial Scholarship, 1994-95• Honorso Who’s Who Among American Law School Students, 1996-94o Arthur Davis Shores Award, 1997• Activitieso Frederick Douglass Moot Court Team Manager, 1996-97 Southern Regional Competition, Second Place National Competition, Eighth Placeo John A. Campbell Moot Court Competition, Spring 1996o Black Law Students Association Delegate, BLSA National Convention, 1997 Co-Chairperson, Public Relations Committee, 1996-97 Chairperson, Public Relations Committee, 1995-96 BLSA President’s Award, 1996 and 1997o American Bar Association, 1996-97 Entertainment and Sports Industries Forum Intellectual Property Section Law Student Divisiono LAWS Student Group Leader, 1995-96Major University, AlabamaMaster of Business Administration (MBA), 1990Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.), 1988(Major: Marketing – Advertising and Promotion Track)• Honorso Dean’s List• Activitieso National Student Advertising Competition Team, 1988-90 Seventh District Competition: Third Place, 1990o Marketing Club, 1987-90 Vice President – Career Development, 1988-89o Public Relations/Advertising (PR/AD) Club, 1988-90 Charter Member, 1988 Active in fund-raising and membership driveso Theater Guild, 1988-90 Screening Committee, 1989REFERENCESAvailable upon request

Hi Kim, no I did not put my career goal on the resume. I am looking for an senior sales position. I do not use bullets I use paragraph format. I am new at looking for a job, I understand that I should put a career goal on the resume??

Hi Tiffany,Thank you for submitting your resume — it’s a great start! Here are a few proposed changes to take your resume to the next level:- Add a “Wow” Factor. As a marketing manager or director, I would like to see some of your most impressive marketing projects. Your focus is on your responsibilities (reviewing participants, developing project milestones), but you can make a big impact by emphasizing your accomplishments. Give examples of communication pieces that met or exceeded client expectations, shows that you managed that were well attended, client relationships that led to increased business/contracts, etc. This article might be helpful:”Marketing Resume Tips: Build Your Personal Brand”http://resumepower.com/build-your-personal-brand.html- Add Representative Projects and Outcomes. Include highlights of your client projects in your business section. You don’t have to name your clients, but you can write about branding initiatives you led and the positive benefits for your clients.- Clean Up the Writing. You have minor errors that should be fixed. Examples from the Summary: Change to “14 years’ experience” or “14 years of experience…” Change to “Develop and maintain” because you are writing about yourself (the “I” is assumed, so you would say “I develop,” not “I develops…”). Eliminate overused phrases like “excellent communication skills” — that is a given for a marketing manager at your level. You can also remove the “References Available” line.- Add an Online Folio. If you don’t have one already, create an online career folio or blog that can bring your branded message to life. Once you have established an online presence, you will increase your chances of getting found when an employer or recruiter Googles you.- Include Testimonials. An effective addition to your resume would be testimonials from your clients or employers regarding your marketing leadership accomplishments. You can add a section for testimonials, or sprinkle them throughout your resume. Many of our marketing clients have been successful using this strategy, and I believe it will work for you.I hope this is helpful, and that you find a position that offers you the salary you deserve!Best wishes,Kim Isaacs

Hi Pat,You’re very welcome! Here are my suggestions for improving your resume:- Expand Your Strengths Section. This introduction to your resume is your “value proposition.” Pretend you’re speaking directly to the executive that you will be assisting. How will you make this person’s life easier? How will you help the division run more smoothly? What do you offer that other executive assistants do not?- Add Achievements. Your Experience section would be much more powerful if you wrote about the results of your work. Give examples of how your admin skills contributed positively to the company’s operation. Show that you went the “extra mile” as the trusted assistant to top executives. You have an impressive work history, so give examples of your successes. Make yourself so irresistible to executives that they want to call you…right now!- Remove the “References Available” Line. This is a waste of space as it’s assumed that you have references if you’re in a job search.It’s okay to go to two pages if that’s what it takes to “sell” your qualifications. The “one-page resume rule” no longer applies!Best wishes and good luck to you,Kim Isaacs