Sample Professional Resume for a Corporate Attorney - Critique
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About this Sample Resume Critique
In this sample resume critique, the certified professional resume writer at
ResumeEdge explains
the process of creating the client's "after" resume from the client's "before" resume.
So that you may easily compare them to judge the quality of
ResumeEdge's work,
both the "before" and "after"
sample resumes are linked below. They are also linked from the Sample
Resumes page.
Sample Resume Critique
Dear Katherine ~
After careful study of your career objective and past experience,
I chose a
“Professional” format to best display your skills.
This format is the one most chosen by business professionals, such
as you. Employing the Times New Roman font, the resulting document
is elegant and uncluttered with plenty of white space.
I began your resume by centering and bolding your name, then increasing
its size so it would stand out from the rest of the text. I then
separated your work and home phone numbers at the left and right
margins respectively. This arrangement provides easy access and
readability.
In the body of the resume I decided to summarize and emphasize
your skills through a qualifications section. I highlighted your
analytical &
multi-lingual capabilities and your solid business law experience
while also expressing your desire to move into new areas (i.e.
- law enforcement, national security and human rights).
I then chose those skills from your resume that support your desire
to use your legal skills in domestic and international areas.
Unlike your old resume, I chose to present your professional experience
before your education. You have accomplished a lot in your years
since college. It is now time to let your experience speak first
for you instead of your degree.
In your experience section, I began each bullet point with the
strongest action verb possible while also rewriting some of the
text for clarity and conciseness.
For example, you wrote in a paragraph style:
“…represented various purchasers and sellers in domestic
and international securities and merger and acquisition transactions,
and entities in partnership transactions; represent public companies
in compliance work; represent borrowers under credit facilities.”
I rewrote that to read in two bullets:
- Provide legal counsel to various purchasers, sellers and entities
regarding domestic / international securities and merger / acquisition
/ partnership transactions.
- Serve the interests of public companies with compliance issues;
defend borrowers under credit facilities.
In another example, you wrote:
“Assisted legislative staff with domestic and international
policy research...”
I rewrote that to read:
“Conducted domestic and international policy research for
legislative staff; summarized committee hearings.”
Next, I listed your education. Finally, I listed your bar admission,
activities, and honors. I could have left your activities and honors
under education, but space was limited and I felt these items were
best suited to their own section since there were so many.
All decisions to modify or exclude data were in keeping with the
guidelines and standards set forth by the Professional Association
of Resume Writers (PARW). With this resume, you now have a powerful
tool that's well-organized and filled with pertinent data, while
also being aesthetically pleasing.
It was a pleasure serving you, Katherine. Good luck in all your
future endeavors.
ResumeEdge Editor
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)
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