By Simon O'Mahony
Most people dread the idea of having to write a resume. You have very limited opportunity to capture and hold a reader’s attention, so your resume has to be both informative but also compelling so as you stand out from your competition. The best examples of both informative and compelling resumes are made up of five key components. Follow these while writing your one page autobiography and you are guaranteed to have a resume that will grab readers’ attention and compel them to take a second look.
*The Beginning
The ‘Objective’ should not be generic and boring. This is your opportunity to shine. Consider it a quick summary of you. Use this opportunity to sell yourself using dynamic and action oriented words. Include your major accomplishments, education, and your personal traits. It’s all about you! *List your Accomplishments
What are your major accomplishments? What are the highlights of your career? Once you determine these, it is time to make them shine. Include 5 or 6 bullet points of your top professional achievements. Don’t bore people with a job description but compel them with your achievements and quantify when possible, e.g. increased sales by 24% in 2012.
*Highlight your relevant areas of expertise
If responding to an ad, carefully examine what the employer is looking for, and try to determine what the hiring manager will be looking for as they review resumes. You should tailor your resume for every position you are applying to.
*Highlight your academic career
This is especially important if you are a recent graduate. Include any relevant coursework, internship/externship experience, volunteer experience, awards etc.
*Outline your work experience
In the sections that outlined your professional accomplishments and areas of expertise, you detailed the reasons why you're a great fit for the position. In this section, you'll provide the "who, when, and where" of your past experience. You can order this section chronologically, or sort past jobs by category -- whichever method best emphasizes your strengths.
Again, think of it as your autobiography. Go shine, and talk about YOU!
Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Simon is responsible for hiring management positions for Sage Hospitality nationwide and for their corporate office in downtown Denver. He is also involved in overall recruiting initiatives including college recruiting programs, diversity initiatives, and employer branding. Simon works with several local and nationwide agencies, colleges, universities, in order to build a network and pipeline of candidates. In 2009 he was the recipient of the Sage Innovation Award as a result of his use of social media networking to enhance the recruiting process.
When he is not recruiting, (Recruiters are always working!) Simon enjoys Colorado’s beautiful outdoors. He also has a passion for photography and while it sounds like a cliché he loves meeting new people (which is why he probably loves recruiting!). Simon is a supporter of several non-profit organizations in Denver.
Simon can be reached at Simon.OMahony@SageHospitality.com.
