Write a Resume - Continued

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In steps Five and Six we learned how to highlight our previous jobs and duties. In this section we will learn how to highlight our accomplishments and what not to include in our resume.

Twelve Step Resume

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Step Seven: Accomplishments

When you are finished, go back to each job and think about what you might have done above and beyond the call of duty. What did you contribute to each of your jobs?

• Did you exceed sales quotas by 150 percent each month?
• Did you save the company $100,000 by developing a new procedure?
• Did you generate new product publicity in trade press?
• Did you control expenses or make work easier?
• Did you expand business or attract/retain customers?
• Did you improve the company's image or build new relationships?
• Did you improve the quality of a product?
• Did you solve a problem?
• Did you do something that made the company more competitive?

Write down any accomplishments that show potential employers what you have done in the past, which translates into what you might be able to do for them. Quantify whenever possible. Numbers are always impressive. Remember, you are trying to motivate the potential employer to buy . . . you! Convince your reader that you will be able to generate a significant return on their investment in you.

Step Eight: Delete

Now that you have the words on paper, go back to each list and think about which items are relevant to your target job. Cross out those things that don't relate, including entire jobs (like flipping hamburgers back in high school if you are now an electrical engineer with ten years of experience). Remember, your resume is just an enticer, a way to get your foot in the door. It isn't intended to be all-inclusive. You can choose to go back only as far as your jobs relate to your present objective. Be careful not to delete sentences that contain the keywords you identified in step four.

In Steps Nine and Ten we will learn how to write sentences and arrange them to have an impact that will get noticed. Write a Resume - Continued

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