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GETTING STARTED

The first step is to gather the pertinent information; I have attached a work sheet that you may copy and follow to assist you in that process.

Whether you are embarking on a new career or advancing up the career ladder, when you first start to put your resume together, it will be difficult to remember all of the pertinent facts, particularly if your career spans several years or more. However as you work on your resume, you will remember past accomplishments, especially when you are gearing your presentation for a specific position.

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TYPES OF RESUMES

This section will address the most frequently utilized types of resumes, their function and for which situations they are most appropriate.

Most potential employers or personnel recruiters look at hundreds of applications and may spend literally just a few seconds scanning your resume to see if it indicates that you have the level of skill or experience they are looking for. For this reason, using the right resume can make the difference between obtaining an interview, or not.

THE REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME

This type of resume is most frequently used, and preferred by employers for most positions in Nursing and healthcare. It details the facts of your education and career, and lists your prior work experience in chronological order, beginning with the most current employment. This type of resume is preferred because it reads easily and it allows you to bring to the foreground those areas of your education and career which meet the requirements of the position you are applying for.

It is important to remember that it is not necessary to list your entire job description for each position you held, but to list those areas of responsibility that meet the requirements of your prospective employer. For example, if you are applying for a position in education, you will want to list in greater detail your previous education responsibilities including precepting, orienting and education / staff development programs that you may have conducted, initiated and created, as opposed to focusing on other duties and responsibilities you may have also had. I recommend devoting only one or two lines to the areas that are not key to the position you are seeking, do not exclude them entirely.

THE FUNCTIONAL OR SKILL BASED RESUME

This type of resume emphasizes education, accomplishments and skills as opposed to work history. It is especially useful for new graduates, if you are changing careers or if your employment history is varied.

This format allows you to highlight skills which you may have acquired in unrelated positions, life experiences, or in volunteer or coursework, which are transferable and may be used in the new position you are seeking.

Some of these skills may include the management of people or projects, ability to prioritize, crisis intervention, mentoring, training and education of others, budgetary preparation and other fiscal responsibilities, to name a few. It is important to show how those acquired skills apply to the position you are seeking.

Although this type of resume format is not the favorite of potential employers, I have seen it work very well when done correctly.

One of the pitfalls that I have encountered with this type of resume is that it was difficult to match the acquired skill with the employer. I therefore recommend mentioning the name of the employer with the acquired skill. For example:

Managed and came in consistently under, a budget exceeding $400,000 per year while the retail manager at Lord and Taylor.

While experience at Lord and Taylor may not seem applicable to Healthcare, the budgeting principles remain the same, whether you are budgeting staffing for a unit or for a department store.

Always include a synopsis of all of your employment history, with corresponding dates at the end of this type of resume. See the examples included in the SAMPLE RESUMES section.

CURRICULUM VITAE

"Course of Life", also called a C.V., is used primarily by individuals with extensive scientific, academic and professional credentials in education, research and science, or the arts.. It is also used by individuals who are applying for senior level managerial administrative positions, such as a Chief Nursing Officer, a Vice President of Nursing, a Chief Financial Officer, or a Medical Director. A job posting will generally state "submit C.V." when one is required It is suggested that at best, you are in the mid-career stage of your professional development before using this format.

This type of resume is a very lengthy, detailed and structured listing that includes advanced education and degrees, publications, awards, projects and accomplishments and successes in your professional life. A curriculum vitae may be anywhere from ten to twenty pages in length, depending upon the extent of career accomplishments.

Unlike the two previous mentioned resume formats, references ARE included in Curriculum Vitae.

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ELECTRONIC AND SCAN-ABLE RESUMES

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to create different resumes for different types of submission.

Once you have created a well written, presentable, crisp and clean print version of your resume, it will meet the requirements of plain text (ASCII), scanning or emailing submissions, with a few minor changes. We will discuss those minor changes below.

Please bear in mind that key words are of great importance regardless of which version of your resume you submit. If your print version contains a high number of key words applicable to your career and the position for which you are applying, your resume will meet the needs of any electronic resume processing system or automated applicant tracking system.

ELECTRONIC RESUMES and ASCII

What is ASCII? ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, and is a data format which is understood by most computers. This is especially important when submitting your resume electronically (not as an attachment), because it ensures that everyone receiving your resume electronically will be able to open and read your file.

Converting your Resume to ASCII, saving as a Text Only Document.
When you are submitting your resume electronically, you must first convert it into ASCII. This is done by opening the resume in the word processing program you are using, go to File on the toolbar, select Save As and "save as" a plain text file in the drop down box below the name of the document. If you get a prompt that says that your document may contain features that are not compatible with text only format, then you need to do some "clean up".
Your finished product will be a very plain version of your original, without any fancy formatting, symbols and fonts.
This may include any of the following: (All instructions pertain to Windows/ Word Programs, Mac users please refer to your word processing manual)

1. Standard Key Board Symbols: Use only standard keyboard symbols such as asterisks (*), dashes (-), or plus signs (+). DO NOT use bullets (•), or any other symbols for which you must use the insert command. Use the Space Bar, not the Tab Key, to place a single space after each symbol and between words and symbols.
   
   
2. Quotes: Change all of your curly quotes to straight quotes by selecting the entire document (if you have quotes in the resume). Click on Format on the Tool Bar, and select Auto Format. Then click on the options button; make sure that the box "Replace Straight Quotes with Smart Quotes" is NOT checked. Click O.K. All of your curly quotes will automatically be changed to straight quotes.
   
   
3. No Forced Return: Do not use the Enter or Return key to begin a new line (forced return), allow the lines to wrap naturally, unless you want to intentionally start a new line.
   
   
4. No Page Numbers: Delete all page numbers, ASCII does not differentiate between pages.
   
   
5. Content: Make sure that all of your important information is in the top section (view the screen), since that is primarily what will be seen first, if you don't capture their attention there, they won't scroll down to read further.
   
   
6. Contact Information: Make sure that all of your contact information; including your name is on the top, in an orderly fashion.
   
   
7. Formatting: NO bold, underlining, or italics!! When you wish to emphasize a word, use all caps. Use this technique sparingly however, so that the truly important words stand out.
   
   
8. Line Lengths: Most email limits the length of the lines, so your message will read differently once sent. To prevent this, limit your line lengths to 65 characters. You do this by opening your text only document, by selecting the actual file (do not double click on the icon, you will open the document in notepad, this is not what you want!). Select the entire document and change the font to Courier, 12 pt. Go to File on your Tool Bar, select Page Setup, set your left margin at 1 and the right margin at 1.75. When the font and margins are set within those parameters, your line lengths will be 65 characters. The person receiving the email will see your resume in whatever font they have the have set for their email, so do not sweat the cosmetics.
   
   
9. Last Step: To save the changes you just made you must convert your Text Only document to Text Only With Line Breaks. To do this, once you have made the above changes, leave the document open. Select File from the Tool Bar, and select Save As. Rename your document in File Name, so that you will be able to distinguish between the Text Only version and the Text Only With Line Breaks version, such as: "Resume with Line Breaks". Under that box is the Save As Type pull down menu. From that menu, select "Text Only With Line Breaks", and then click save.

I strongly recommend that you check the changes and the presentation of your resume by emailing it to yourself before you send it out to potential employers. This way, you will be able to correct any embarrassing errors you may have missed the first time around. I also recommend that you send it to a friend who can also read and critique it for you since a second opinion will ensure you haven't overlooked anything. It is very difficult to edit your own work…and spell check is not infallible!!

SCAN-ABLE RESUMES

Many large organizations today utilize optical scanning systems to track large volumes of applicants. All of these automated applicant tracking systems use key words The number of times keywords appear on a resume will determine if and where your name will appear in a search of the company's' database. Just as many of you have used key words when searching the Internet for information, companies now utilize the same technique in screening job applicants.

For this reason, all resumes, regardless of which version you may be using (print, ASCII or electronic), should contain an adequate number of relevant keywords applicable to the position for which you are applying, and should always be geared to each position specifically, unless you are applying for the same type of position with different employers.

Here are few simple rules to keep in mind when preparing your resume in a scan-able version:

1. Neatness Counts: A scan-able resume should not be folded, spindled, stapled or mutilated. (For those of you who remember those early computer punch cards). Smudges, wrinkles, folds, staple holes all show up when the document has been scanned and can interfere with the legibility of the resume.
   
   
2. Nothing Fancy: Unlike the print version of your resume, your scan-able version should not contain any italics, bold or fancy fonts. They also do not scan well and appear as weird symbols such as & or ~. Again, plain, crisp and many keywords is the rule here. Use a decent size crisp font, nothing under 11 such as Arial or Optima.
   
   
3. Paper: Use light colored paper, such as white or light Ivory, darker paper comes out gray or darker when scanned.
   
   
4. Margins: Set all of your page margins, Top, Bottom, Left and Right at one inch.
   
   
5. Character Spacing and Symbols: As with ASCII, it is important that no characters are touching. If you use bullets be sure to use only the solid type: •, instead of: o (the hollow type).

A FINAL WORD ON EMAILING AND INTERNET RESPONSES TO JOB POSTINGS

I doubt at this point that there are many of you who have not gone surfing on the Internet in search of that dream job. So many choices…where to apply? How to apply? May I suggest caution and discretion, and I'll tell you why.

Many of those large job boards (I am sure you know who they are), have resume banks that are accessed by employers and professional recruiters alike. The response may be large in number, but poor in quality. For example, you may find a large number of professional recruiters contacting you, trying to convince you to apply for something or interview for positions, which hold little if any interest to you in terms of your career goals. You may find that you have no control over who responds to your resume, if at all. Worst case scenario, someone who you don't want to see your resume in cyberspace, like your current employer might happen upon it, which will leave you in an awkward position.

Also, once you resume is "out there", unless you keep a list of which resume banks you have posted your resume with and go back to inactivate it, you may continue to receive calls long after you have found yourself a position.

My suggestion is to use discretion when posting your resume on line or responding electronically.

A few simple rules apply:

1. Follow Directions: Always read and follow the directions in the advertisement. Use the job code or title in your subject line. You do not want the potential employer to delete your response because they think you can't follow directions or because they have no idea which position you are applying for. Remember, you've got about 30 seconds to grab their attention, make sure you do all you can to ensure that!
   
   
2. Placement: Place your resume in the body of the email, not as an attachment, unless specifically requested. This technique will also circumvent those systems that do not allow attachments.
   
   
3. Proper Formatting: Be sure you have a properly formatted resume specifically for email. When you copy and paste the print version of your résumé, the whole thing gets jumbled when emailed. Use the format described above for converting to ASCII.

If you do post your resume in a resume bank, after 30 days if you have received no response and do not yet have a new job, remove it and place it elsewhere.

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THE COVER LETTER

The cover letter is a necessary tool as well as an opportunity to give the potential employer insights into your strengths, abilities and skills and a glimpse at your ability to organize and convey your thoughts, as well as demonstrate your writing skills.

The cover letter should ALWAYS be customized to the position and facility to which you are applying. Before beginning the cover letter make sure you have a clear understanding of what the position entails and the skills and experiences required for this position.

In the cover letter, you should always include mention of the position, and three to five qualifications briefly illustrating how your experience and / or education meet the requirements and attributes they are seeking for said position.

You should also make mention of at least two specific accomplishments and connect these qualifications to the position. This portion of the cover letter is you "sales pitch", if you will. Its purpose is not only to get them to go ahead and read your resume, but to grant you an interview.

One or two sentences should also address why you wish to work with that particular organization. Most facilities and healthcare employers today have a web site on the Internet. Here you will be able to learn about the history of the organization, their mission statement, advances in patient care and so on. It will be well worth your time to take a few minutes and get to know something about the facility to which you are applying, and mention what you admire and respect about the organization in the cover letter.

You are going to have to research them anyway, before you go on the interview, you might as well use the knowledge gained beforehand to hopefully win you the interview. The idea is to always to present yourself in a manner that will stand apart from the rest!

The cover letter should end with a courteous and sincere thank you, for their time expended in reviewing your resume. You should also assert that you are every much looking forward to hearing from them and will follow up in a week to see when a meeting might be arranged.

A FEW POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND

1. Your cover letter should always be customized and personalized - unless you are sending a general resume, not in response to a specific ad or job posting.
   
   
2. Your cover letter should be brief; it is not a repeat of your resume. Do not ramble; be sure your thoughts are well organized and presented clearly.
   
   
3. The letter should basically consist of four parts, as discussed above:
   

1) The opening; in which you mention the position for which you are applying and where you learned of the opportunity. Mention specifically the source i.e. Nursing Spectrum, April 8,2000 and so on.

2) Your Sales Pitch: Here is where you highlight the experiences, accomplishments and achievements that meet the requirements of the position. Talk about what you can do for them, what you "bring to the table".

3) Compliments, Compliments: Here is where your research on the organization is put to good use. This is where you tell them why you want to work with them, what appeals to you about the organization and why you chose them, specifically.

4) The Closing: In the last part of your letter you will thank them, ask for the interview and let them know you will follow up.

4. Absolutely NO TYPOS!!!
   
   
5. The paper used for the cover letter should always be the same as the resume.
   
   
6. NEVER hand write the cover letter!
   
   
7. Keep copies of all letters sent so that you can follow up, as mentioned in the closing.
   
   
8. Never mention anything negative, about yourself, your life, the organization, anywhere in any of your materials, resumes, cover letters, or even in the interview!!!

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THE OBJECTIVE

Although many people (Professional Recruiters, other than myself) may say that the objective is optional, I insist upon it because a clear objective will define your goal, what it is you want. It will also give you a sense of direction for the layout of the rest of your resume.

The objective on your resume should be customized to the position(s) you are seeking, and it is this portion of the resume that you change according to the position for which you are applying. However, avoid using specific job titles. For example "seeking a position in education where I can utilize my extensive clinical experience in Trauma, Critical Care and the Emergency Department", just about says it all. You can be sure you will not be called to interview for a position as a Certified Diabetic Educator.

When writing your objective, be clear on what you want (the type of position you are seeking), the level of responsibility you are seeking, (entry level nursing, Nurse Manager, etc.) and the qualifications you have or will be using to fulfill those responsibilities.

SOME EXAMPLES:

1. "As a recent graduate I am eager to apply my accumulated clinical experience and education in an entry-level clinical nursing position, preferably in the Operating Room." While this statement defines your ultimate goal to become an OR Nurse, it does not preclude you from interviewing for an entry-level staff position in another clinical area.
   
   
2. "As a Registered Nurse of 4 years with increased responsibilities in staff supervision I am seeking a managerial / supervisory position within the Critical Care field." This statement clearly defines your career goal and why.
   
   
3. " As a Masters Degreed Registered Nurse with over 15 years of clinical, supervisory and staff development and education experience in Open Heart and Cardiac ICU, I am seeking a position that will allow me to utilize my accumulated skills in the areas of Education / Staff Development or Management". Again, this statement while not mentioning a specific job title, in one sentence sums up the applicants' goal and qualifications.

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SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

This section of your resume will specifically highlight the skills, experiences and attributes that qualify you as a successful candidate for the position you are seeking. It is not meant as an overview of all of your strengths and skills, but those which target specifically what the employer is looking for in the posting or advertisement. Again, as with the cover letter, make sure you are clear on what the position entails, and gear your summary strictly toward these attributes and requirements.

This format can be used regardless of which type of resume you are using, it is an exceptional way of quickly summarizing for the reader what you have to offer and is especially useful as you gain experience in your field.

Some Guidelines:

1. Use a bullet format, 3 -5, not more than 7 or so (depending upon the seniority and level of responsibility of the position).
   
   
2. Begin each sentence with an adjective such as verifiable, demonstrable or demonstrated, confirmable, accomplished, skilled, proficient, talented etc. (See the list of Adjectives).
   
   
3. Target the skills the employer is seeking.
   
   
4. BE HONEST!! Again, your statements must be truthful and verifiable, you will be asked to expound upon them during interview. Make sure you can give examples of how you obtained and have used these skills.
   
   
5. Use past tense when listing duties and responsibilities except under current employment, be consistent with this, and do not make the mistake of using past tense in some phrases and present tense with others.

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EDUCATION

Where you place your education on your resume will depend on the level of education and the type of position for which you are applying.

It is also somewhat a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer to place it right after the Summary of Qualifications, before the Career Summary or Experience section; others prefer to place it after.

Personally, I feel if you are a new graduate (especially if you have GPA of 3.0 or higher, or you are applying as an Advanced Practice RN, it should come before the Experience section.

1. Always place the most recent first (reverse chronological order).
   
   
2. Do not include high school, unless it is a recognized prestigious one.
   
   
3. Do include dates of graduation (as opposed to duration of schooling: 2002 vs. 1998 - 2002).
   
   
4. Do not include continuing education courses here; they should be placed in a separate section named accordingly.
   
   
5. Do include all relevant course work for advanced degrees as well as projects such as teaching or research.
   
   
6. Include a GPA of 3.0 and higher.
   
   
7. Do include scholarships, honors, and dean's list.
   
   
8. If currently pursuing a degree, such as a Bachelors or Masters, list that first, Name of School, location (town or city), and for date put "current" or anticipated date of completion, if you are on track for anticipated graduation date.

 

For Example:
Wagner College, School of Nursing, Staten Island, NY         May 2003
Master of Science, Nursing

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CAREER SUMMARY OR EXPERIENCE

In this section you will list, again in reverse chronological order, all of your relevant employment history. Use the concept "relevant" accordingly. For example as a new graduate you will need to list unrelated employment experience from which you have gained transferable skills and experiences. As a new graduate you will hopefully be using the functional resume format as opposed to the reverse chronological format, and you will have addressed the acquired skills in the summary area. Be sure to see the sample Functional Resume in the addendum.

In this section also include significant volunteer, practicum and/or internship experiences. This is particularly important for a new graduate.

When listing a brief overview of your job description for each employer, describe the most pertinent and responsible tasks and achievements first, (again, bearing in mind the skills that are being sought for the position for which you are applying).

Wherever possible, include figures to quantify and substantiate your accomplishments. Focus on accomplishments, such as improvements in processes and procedures, problem resolution, increased production, and cost cutting and savings. The idea is to highlight those skills and experiences which most specifically relate to the positions(s) for which you are applying.

Use strong action phrases and words when describing your experience. See the list of Verbs and Phrases in the addendum.

For individuals in senior roles or with extensive careers, focus on those skills and accomplishments that are most significant and pertinent to your desired objective.

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ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES

Additional Categories would include Continuing Education, Additional Skills, Publications and Presentations, Certifications and Licenses, and Interests.

Of all of the aforementioned, all should be utilized if they apply, with the exception of Interests, which is strictly optional. Definitely do not include Interests if it means adding a page! Only include those interests and hobbies that apply to your chosen field. For example, if you are interested in working in Pediatrics, you will want to mention any volunteer work with children.

Continuing Education: In this section list all continuing education courses you have taken within the last 5 years. Include courses that are older than 5 years if they contribute to the current objective or are pertinent to your present position. List them again; in reverse chronological order using this format:

Additional Skills: In Nursing the most relevant additional skills would be computer and software proficiency, if you have them list them, along with any other significant applicable skills such as cardiac monitoring, IV proficiency, etc.

Publications and Presentations: Any pertinent presentations you have made and anything applicable that you have written which has been published should be listed here, utilizing the standard method for noting publications.

Certifications and Licenses: List your License (s), state and number, and any and all certifications here.

A Word on the References: Never include your references on your resume, and DO NOT put "References Available Upon Request"… that is a given.

Your resume is the first and only opportunity you will have to introduce yourself.

Below are a few guidelines to keep in mind when preparing both the resume and the cover letter.

1. First impressions are lasting and your resume is the only opportunity you will have to make a favorable one!
   
   
2. Your resume and cover letter MUST catch the attention of the reader right away; it is your marketing tool and will determine whether or not you are granted an interview.
   
   
3. Your resume is NOT your autobiography; brevity and simplicity are the rule, not the exception.
   
   
4. Be sure to include all pertinent abbreviations after your name, this includes level (s) of education and certifications. For example, if you are a Certified, Registered Nurse with a Bachelors Degree, then after your name you should have: RN, C, BSN. (Remember those spaces for ASCII and scan-able resume formats!)
   
   
5. Your resume should never exceed two pages, one is desirable. Even individuals with many years of career experience should not exceed three pages.
   
   
6. It is illegal for a prospective employer to ask certain personal questions with regard to race, age, religion, marital status or family structure and size. Do not include this in your resume.
   
   
7. Do not include your references in the body of your resume, they should be on a separate sheet that you can submit when asked. Be sure that you have spoken with all of the people you wish to use as a reference and have obtained their consent!
   
   
8. Absolutely NO typographical or grammatical errors - EVER!
   
   
9. Use a simple font, such as Times Roman, Arial or Optima, nothing smaller than 11pt., especially if you are faxing your resume.
   
   
10. Keep it simple, stay away from borders and designs. You want the potential employer to focus on your qualifications not your artistic designs. Also if faxing, or if applying on line, in most cases what appears decorative in print, translates to garble when converted to an ASCII print, and is usually not scan-able.
    
    
11. BE HONEST! Your resume should be truthful and honest, do not exaggerate, amend or enhance your career, it must withstand scrutiny and reference checks.
    
    
12. Your high school information does not go on the resume. A GPA of 3.0 and higher should be noted with your college education information, as well as any honors received and honor societies you may have received or of which you may be a member.
    

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A FINAL CHECKLIST

OVERALL APPEARANCE, LAYOUT AND FORMAT

1. Is the resume a maximum of two pages?
   
   
2. Be sure there are no errors, grammatical or typographical!
   
   
3. Is the final copy neat, appealing to the eye? Is everything centered properly, is the lay out consistent throughout the document?
   
   
4. If you have made copies be sure that all of the copies have the appearance of an original.
   
   
5. Be sure to print or copy the resume on to good quality paper, this is crucial if mailing or presenting at interview!
   

CONTENT

1. When listing your previous employers, are they all either bold or underlined, or both? (Is the formatting consistent?)
   
   
2. Have you customized the resume for the position for which you are applying? This would include listing the pertinent experiences and responsibilities of each previous position before the less relevant duties.
   
   
3. Do your sentences begin with action verbs (see the examples of Verbs)?
   
   
4. Does your objective address the position for which you are applying?
   
   
5. Have you covered all of your significant previous employment and volunteer work, even if only briefly?
   
   
6. Have you included any and all awards, accomplishments, honors, presentations, etc?
   
   
7. Have you avoided using personal pronouns (I, me)?
   
   
8. Does the resume effectively communicate your abilities and present you as an asset?
   
   
9. Did you include any computer experience and soft ware proficiency you have?
   
   
10. Have you omitted any personal information relating to age, race, sex, religious affiliation, marital status, health and so on? You want to avoid any potential for bias in the screening process!

ORGANIZATION

1. Have you listed the most recent experiences and education first?
   
   
2. Have you included your telephone number and all pertinent contact information?
   
   
3. Have you included after your name all of the abbreviations you've earned?
   
   
4. Is the resume organized in a manner that stresses the important, applicable information and facts first?

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

1. Did you speak to all individuals you wish to use as a reference and obtain their consent?
   
   
2. Do you have all of your references, their titles and contact information on a separate page? Do not put them in the body of the resume.
   
   
3. Has at least one other person proofread your final copy?
   
   
4. Does your resume present professionally and concisely?
   
   
5. Is the resume an honest factual account of the experiences and personal assets which serve to qualify you for the positions for which you are applying?
   

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ADJECTIVES, VERBS AND ACTION PHRASES

The Objective, Summary of Qualifications and the Career Summary /Experience portions of your resume should be filled with adjectives, verbs and strong action phrases and words. Below are some examples.

ADJECTIVES

Adept, Accomplished, Attestable, Capable, Conscientious, Consummate, Demonstrable, Demonstrated, Efficient, Excellent, Experienced, Expert, Innovative, Professional, Proficient, Proven, Skilled, Skillful, Steadfast, Successful, Verifiable

VERBS

Accelerated, Accompanied, Accomplished, Achieved, Acquired, Acted, Adapted, Added, Addressed, Adjusted, Administered, Advanced, Affected, Aided, Appraised, Arranged, Assembled, Assigned, Assumed, Assessed, Attained, Augmented, Broadened, Built, Centralized, Chaired, Changed, Checked, Clarified, Collaborated, Collected, Committed, Compiled, Completed, Composed, Conceived, Conceptualized, Conducted, Constructed, Consulted, Contributed, Coordinated, Created, Cultivated, Decreased, Delegated, Demonstrated, Described, Determined, Developed, Directed, Diversified, Documented, Eliminated. Enabled, Encouraged, Enhanced, Established, Evaluated, Exceeded, Executed, Expanded, Expedited, Extended, Facilitated, Fit, Focused, Formalized, Formed, Formulated, Gained, Generated, Guided, Handled, Headed, Identified, Illustrated, Implemented, Improved, Increased, Influenced, Informed, Initiated, Innovated, Instituted, Instructed, Introduced, Isolated, Launched, Led, Maintained, Managed, Maximized, Met, Minimized, Modified, Monitored, Motivated, Nurtured, Orchestrated, Organized, Oriented, Oversaw, Participated, Performed, Pioneered, Prepared, Presented, Prioritized, Processed, Produced, Promoted, Proposed, Quantified, Raised, Received, Recommended, Recruited, Redesigned, Reduced, Refined, Remedied, Reorganized, Resolved, Restored , Reversed, Saved, Screened, Secured, Selected, Simplified, Staffed, Standardized , Strengthened, Structured, Supported, Surpassed, Systematized , Taught, Tested, Trained, Transformed, United, Updated, Upgraded, Utilized , Validated , Verified, Widened

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ACTION PHRASES

Begin all of your sentences describing skills and experiences with Action Phrases. Make sure that all but
your current duties and responsibilities are in past tense! Be consistent with this, one mistake I see very
often is attention to details such as this one.

Information Gathering Worksheet - Acrobat PDF format
Sample Resumes - Acrobat PDF Format

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