One of the major errors seen in resumes is incorrect organization.  Lack of organization is problematic because it precludes the job seeker from showcasing his or her skills in a proper manner for the benefit of the reader. Looks are everything when it comes to a resume. You are judged by the template you use, by the words you choose and by the adjectives and verbs you use to describe your skills and functions.

If you are working professional with five years of experience or more, your education should come after your work experience. Why? You are no longer a newbie to the workforce. You have experience. You are a young professional who is weaving his or her craft in a field. And, after about five years of work experience, your Bachelor’s degree and MBA are perks but not the important skills an employer is seeking. At five years out, employers want to see that you have cultivated the skills and you are management track.

Advanced professionals are those with five to fifteen years of experience. The majority of advanced professionals are seeking to move to the next big level: high ranking managers or C-Level executives. If you are an advanced professional, certainly there are specific skills that go along with your position. You are no longer assisting the partner in a law firm. Rather you are managing your own caseload and perhaps you are training or mentoring young associates or staff members. At the advanced professional level, you are focusing on the results and accomplishments you bring to the table. You are not discussing just your job duties or functions. If, at five years or more of experience, your resume contains only job duties and responsibilities, then your resume is lacking the ability to market your skills and accomplishments.  Remember, jobs are about skills, and if an employer can’t see that from a quick glance at your resume, chances are you aren’t going to get the call for the interview.

This begs the question: How do I showcase my skills? Look at your job industry. Then look at your job title. Make a list of skills that go along with your job and industry. Include those on your resume.  Make a list of accomplishments you have achieved for each position. Perhaps you were selected to lead a big project that saved your company in the upwards of $15K. Include that on your resume. Certain industries and positions require numbers on the resume. If you are in finance or sales, you need to show how you increased profitability of the company.  Did you increase it in Quarter 1 of 2013 and then doubled it in Quarter 2 of 2014?

When in doubt of how to market your skills and accomplishments, turn to a certified professional resume writer who has a knack for taking your skills and making them shine.