Organizing your Resume around your strengths

The most successful resumes convey seven qualities that employers seek: they demonstrate that you

1. think in terms of results
   
2. know how to get things done
   
3. are well rounded
   
4. show signs of career progress and professional development
   
5. have personal standards of excellence
   
6. are flexible and willing to try new things
   
7. communicate effectively
   

Organization your resume is a question of portraying these seven attributes in the strongest possible light.

While you're pondering your strengths, you also need to consider any perceived weaknesses you may have. Do you have something in your history that might trigger an employer's red flag? Here are some common problems and quick suggestions for overcoming them:

Frequent job changes. If you were a victim of circumstances in positions that were eliminated as a result of mergers or other factors beyond your control, find a subtle way to convey that information. Reasonable employers understand that many otherwise stable employees have been forced to job hop in recent years.

Gaps in work history. Mention relevant experience and education you gained during employment gaps, such as volunteer or community work. If gaps are due to personal problems such as drug or alcohol abuse or mental illness, you can use a cover letter to offer honest but general explanations about your absences ("I had serious health concerns and had to take time off to fully recover").

Inexperience.  Mention related volunteer work. List relevant course work and internships. If appropriate, offer hiring incentives such as "willing to work nights and weekends."

Overqualification. Tone down your resume, focusing exclusively on the experience and skills that relate to the position.

Long-term employment with one company. Itemize each position held at the firm to show career progress with increasing responsibilities.

Job termination for cause. Be honest with interviewer. Show that you're a hardworking employee and counter their concerns with proof, such as recommendations and examples of completed projects.

 Criminal record.

To focus attention on your strongest points, adopt the appropriate organizational approach, based on your background and your goals.