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The Purpose of Your Resume
- By Perry Maisin
- Published 02/7/2008
- Resume Development
- Unrated
Perry Maisin
View all articles by Perry Maisin
The Building Blocks of a Resume - Introduction
Keep this purpose in mind as you read the article below:
Why did I say 'build' a resume and not 'write' a resume?
A resume is not a story, it is not written with stream of consciousness like a novel. Resumes are built in a purposeful, strategic way to sell your strengths and eliminate your weaknesses. The best resumes turn your Tasks and Responsibilities into Accomplishments and Results.
A resume should not be purely chronological - that is a big mistake. I don't know anyone who has had a consistent rise in significant accomplishment over a long career. Most people, including you, have nuggets of brilliance - accomplished at many different times throughout your life.
Your resume should be a highlight reel not an autobiography. The strategy is to match significant keywords, (Knowledge Skills and Abilities), to your accomplishments. You can't do this with a chronological resume.
The only purpose a chronology has in today's job market is to help the reader understand when you moved from job to job and which job you had first, second, and third. The chronology doesn't explain a thing about who you are and what you accomplished. Neither does your longevity. Some people accomplish more in six months than others do in five years.
Never confuse a job title with an accomplishment.
