You may wonder if such a thing is possible. Aren’t most resumes about as interesting as yesterday’s news?

Yes, most are. But yours doesn’t have to be. You have about three seconds to grab the hiring manager’s attention. So don’t waste it with trite, cliché-ridden sentences or a long list of the jobs you’ve held––from bagging groceries to supervising a sales team. Instead, start your resume with a powerful objective, which includes your desire to be called for an interview, which will lead to the job you’re seeking.

Place that statement at the top of your resume like this:

Objective: Communications Trainer

Seeking an interview for a position where my ability to increase and open communication between management and employees will transform interpersonal relations, resulting in an increase in the bottom line and in company morale.

When it comes to writing a resume, opening with an objective is a relatively new technique. How can you be sure it will work? Because the more specific and direct you are with your purpose, the more compelling you will appear to the hiring manager. When you are clear about what you want, he or she will be clear about wanting to meet you.

A clearly stated objective will cause a hiring manager to sit up and notice you as an individual with a goal in mind.

A clearly stated objective will cause a hiring manager to begin ‘picturing’ you in the position for which you are applying.

A strong purpose-filled statement like the example above leaps off the page of your resume. It will keep your goal front and center. And if your objective is to land a job interview, what could be more important than commanding the reader’s attention the moment he or she starts to read.

Here are THREE more examples of excellent resume openers:

Objective: Executive Secretary

Seeking an interview for the position where my organization and communication skills will increase the executive’s ability to manage key affairs without delay.

Objective: Director of Marketing

Seeking an in-person meeting to secure a job where I can enhance the bottom line as a result of my ten years of experience moving a company from start-up to successful corporation.

Objective: Head Chef

Seeking an interview for the opening at Chez Francois, Century City, where my prize-winning entrees with an international flair and my unique ‘very French’ chocolate desserts will increase the bottom line within three months—guaranteed.

Punch up your resume with a clearly worded objective and the hiring manager just may open the door for you—one that leads to a new career in the profession of your dreams.

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, Amazing Resume Creator. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.” Visit our friends at Amazing Resume Creator for your “instant” resume today. In just 10 minutes flat you will have an amazing resume guaranteed to land you more hot job interviews next week.

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Are you concerned that a hiring manager may notice the gap in your resume? Maybe you worked steadily from 1993-2001 and then you were unemployed from 2001-2002.

Should you ignore it, explain it, or make up something?

None of the above. Tell the truth and let it work in your favor. Here’s how:

Suppose you took care of a sick relative, spent a year getting your master’s degree or further training in your area of expertise, did extended volunteer work in your community, or took a year off to see the world?

List whatever it is on your resume. By bridging the work-gap you are showing another side of yourself––one that can inspire any hiring manager. You will appear to be a balanced person, one who has a sound work history and also someone who knows there’s more to life than work. By admitting the truth, you also display your integrity. The employer will not need to worry that you play games or hold secrets.

Here’s an example of how to build that bridge on your resume:

1993-2001, Assistant Director of Marketing, Ace Manufacturing, Boston, MA
2001-2002, Boston University, Earned an M.A. in Business

OR

1993-2001, Assistant Director of Marketing, Ace Manufacturing, Boston, MA
2001-2002, Volunteered with clean-up after 9/11 in New York City

OR

1993-2001 Assistant Director of Marketing, Ace Manufacturing, Boston, MA
2001-2002 Took a year’s leave to care for aging parent.

When you are called for an interview and further questions arise about your employment history, you’ll be ready to talk to the hiring manager with ease. Your resume is clean, clear, and concise. You held back nothing. Therefore, you can relax and talk freely about what you can bring to the new position and how your skill and talent will add value to the company.

For example, based on what you did during the ‘gap,’ you might offer to coordinate a community effort to feed the homeless or sponsor a junior soccer team or plan an event for seniors. Such an outreach would bring positive attention to the company and put you in a favorable light, as well.

When it comes to your resume, tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth and see how even the gaps can work for you, not against you.

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Your resume can push a hiring manager to call you for an interview.

The Key? Action Verbs . . .

So many job seekers fall into the trap of being “long winded” in their career communications and job applications. Remember, bullet lists, numbered lists and clearly written sentences usually beat the pants off of the dreaded paragraph that never ends!

For example: (Brace yourself!)…

I have spent the last seven years developing and executing a plan of action that included holding communication classes for new employees, making sure they are onboard with the company’s policy, based on my ability to bring more clarity to management’s relationship with foreign partners and also helping middle and upper management get along better.

Such writing will land a resume right into the paper shredder. But this doesn’t have to be your resume.

YOU can rise above the job-hunting crowd by using this secret tool––action verbs.

Here are three examples of how to make it work for you.

1. Education and Training:

• Earned a Master of Business Communication from South Texas University.
• Served a one-year apprenticeship at Lawton Business Institute.

2. Specific Duties:

• Led communication classes for all new employees.
• Created a manual and training on business ethics and integrity.

3. Key Accomplishments:

• Created new marketing channels for our South American partner.
• Revitalized communication between upper and middle management.

Inspire the prospective employer to action––calling you for a job interview––by using the small but mighty tool of action verbs that shows what you’ve done in the past and what you can do now for his or her company.

Avoid long, wordy paragraphs filled with gobbledy-gook writing. Get right to the point––the point that shows what you’ve accomplished and what you’re capable of doing now.

Transform your resume by selecting words from this list of powerful action verbs:

Create (Created)
Provide (Provided)
Restructure (Restructured)
Manage (Managed)
Lead (Led)
Resolve (Resolved)
Change (Changed)
Increase (Increased)
Commandeer (Commandeered)
Place (Placed)
Direct (Directed)
Serve (Served)

Sit down today and create a brand new resume––one that inspires confidence, clarity, and a commitment to calling you for an interview that could lead to the job you’ve dreamed of.

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, Amazing Resume Creator. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.” Visit our friends at Amazing Resume Creator for your “instant” resume today. In just 10 minutes flat you will have an amazing resume guaranteed to land you more hot job interviews next week.

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1. How to Write a Resume with Purpose and Pizzazz! Guest article by Jimmy Sweeney, Author of the brand new,...
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