The Hidden Step
www.necouncil.org/the
hidden
step
STEP FOUR
Build Your Resume
Your work experience is the most important
measure employers use to identify a match
How else can employers regard you as a match when
relying on an 8.5 x 11 document (the resume)? Certainly
not by the adjectives used; everyone uses those adjec-
tives in their resume. Instead they rely on the work expe-
rience. This allows them to determine if an applicant has
a proven track record in achieving successful outcomes
using a specifc set of skills.
Remember the following about your work experi-
ence:
1. Be sure your work experience is written in
a general format frst
(we add specifcs prior to ap-
plying for each position)
When writing your work experience, remember we are
frst creating the general resume (base of the soup). We
add the specifcs later. Here is the difference:
An applicant applying for a customer service position
may write the following bullet:
(The red text outlines areas that make the bullet specifc)
Incorrect
Specifc bullet #1:
“Charged with the responsibility to answer calls for
a
manufacturing company
speaking with
Information Technology
Manag-
ers, answering
technical questions
, always achieving a positive out-
come.”
This is a specifc bullet and incorrect.
stage four:
the
work Experience
“First, write your
resume in a
general format
—
the details are
added later.”