4 Ways To Turn Resume Fluff Into Marketable Facts

Numbers and symbols quickly jump out at employers so use them whenever you can. Resumes have their own special rules and I always show all numbers as digits as they catch the eye. Percentages are always best as they show the impact of your efforts.

Avoid words that aren't specific, such as "many," "few," and "several."

The problem with writing responsibilities you held on the job is it doesn't tell an employer how successful you were at executing your plans. An employer only cares about how good you did your job and how what you did can apply to the job they are offering.

Rather than list responsibilities, demonstrate your performance.

• Are you the most senior member of your team?
• Do people turn to you for the more challenging issues?
• Is your level of accuracy and the quality of your work at the highest level?
• Have you demonstrated the ability to meet aggressive deadlines?

Today's employers expect candidates to know basic computer skills and programs, so only list specialized technical skills that are relevant for the job. An employer does not need to see you know programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

Also, when you do list any technical skill, tell an employer how well you know the specific program by detailing what you may have created or done with it. Simply listing a specific program will not help an employer understand how well you know it or what your capabilities are.