The delicate qualifications...
The majority of resume experts unite in the opinion that Qualifications represent one of the toughest, as well as one of the most often read, according to statistics, parts of a resume and, thus, one of the most important. In this article, we will try and help you complete this part successfully and make it as informative as possible.
The first thing to observe here is, when your professional history is shorter than 3 years and you have no visible achievements yet, to restrain yourself to merely stating the position you seek. Make-believe qualifications overloaded with fancy wording will rather spoil the impression of your resume than strengthen it.
The most often asked question with regard to Qualifications is “What am I supposed to write in here?” The most commonly given answer to that – “Some general info about your professional experience and skills” – is of little, if any, practical help. Should you find yourself in such a situation, follow the advice of Susan Britton Whitcomb, the renowned resume expert and the author of “Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer”. Below are the 12 ingredients she considers for crafting a Qualifications Summary:
- Title/functional area
- Subcategories of functional area or core competencies
- Industry
- Number of years of experience
- Expertise, strengths, specialization
- “Combination” accomplishment or highlights of accomplishments
- Advanced degree, certification, licenses
- Language skills, international business skills
- Technical/computer skills
- Personal profile/management style
- Affiliations
- Employers or colleges with name recognition
While it is not necessary to use all the ingredients, you now have the clue of what sort of info you might need to present your achievements and experience the best possible way.
One more thing to help you generate more response from potential employers is to adjust your resume to a particular vacancy you seek by accentuating the required qualifications. This will grab the attention of a reader and spark their interest in your persona.
Another issue that causes debate among experts is to where place the Qualifications Summary? – At the top of a resume when you practically have a blank sheet, or at the bottom, when your resume is almost done? Each of these options has its pros and cons:
- When at the beginning, Qualifications chart path for other items like employment history and education. As a result, you resume appears whole and more logically consistent.
- Under the second option, it is easier to summarize Qualifications based on the foundation in the form of professional history.
Whatever option you choose, however, follow a simple rule – Qualifications and Employment parts must complement and support each other. The end effect of this will be the trust of a potential employer and, subsequently, more chances for an invitation to an interview.