Sample Technical Resume for a Technical Writer
and Editor - 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 William ~
I carefully studied the job description you provided and geared
your resume towards those specific responsibilities so that you
would have an advantage over the other applicants.
To begin, I condensed your resume from two pages to one without
losing any content. In the industry, one-page resumes are far preferred
over two pages. Only seasoned executives with decades of experience
have a two-page resume.
For your resume, I chose the “Professional” format,
a style that's most chosen by white-collar workers, such as you.
This format employs the Times New Roman font resulting in a document
that's quite elegant in appearance. I separated your contact information,
placing your phone/fax number flush left and your email flush right.
Now, a hiring manager can easily locate this data.
Rather than writing an objective, I chose a Qualifications summary.
In an objective, you're telling a hiring manager what you want.
In a Qualifications summary, you're telling the hiring manager what
you can offer the targeted firm. You're sending a powerful
message when you put a hiring manager's needs above your own.
In this paragraph, I described you as meticulous and accomplished.
Keeping in mind the job responsibilities, I emphasized your writing,
editing, and proofreading experience for healthcare related documents, “…including
those for hospitals, insurers, and pharmaceutical concerns.” I
added that you're skilled in both print and online editing - a
real talent in today's technological marketplace. I next added
your computer skills.
Because editing is generally computer-intensive, a hiring manager
likes to know, up front, what software you're familiar with. I
went on to write of your fluency in Japanese and English and that
you're certified in Technical Writing and Editing. In this brief
paragraph I gave a hiring manager many reasons to make you the
successful candidate.
The Professional Experience section follows. In the bulleted text,
I began each sentence with the strongest action verb possible,
while also revising some of your data for clarity, conciseness,
and maximum impact.
For example, you wrote:
“Wrote, edited, proofread, produced company quarterly news
letter.”
I revised that to read:
“Produced company's quarterly newsletter, including writing,
editing, and proofreading copy.” (The fact that you produced
the entire newsletter is the most important activity, with the
tasks involved coming later. Too, so many of your bullets began
with the word “Wrote,” I felt it necessary to use different
terms so that a hiring manager would be compelled to read all the
data).
In another example, you wrote in two bullets:
“Coordinated the development of the culture training program
for exchange students going to and from Japan.” “Developed
marketing materials for exchange courses and programs.”
I revised that to one bullet that reads:
“Organized the culture training program that assisted foreign
and national exchange students; developed marketing material for
exchange courses and programs.” (Since both activities concern
the exchange course, the resume's better organized by combining
these two activities.)
For your last job listing as an Editor and Translator in Japan,
I condensed the data into one line for space considerations.
I ended your resume with the Education section.
All decisions to modify 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, William. Good luck with the job!
ResumeEdge Editor
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)
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ResumeEdge give
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