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AMEN!!! My keywords are used in a summary of qualifications. As often as
possible, I make them "power" words, but I definitely use power words in
describing achievements in a job.
One other helpful hint, if you can use something quantitative to describe
the achievement, DO IT. Example: "reduced document review timeframes by
30% by instituting reviewer's guidelines", or "delivered $400,000 in
documentation deliverables in less than 12 months". You get the idea.
As for the tall slim redheads, you're on your own:)
Connie
-----Original Message-----
From: John Posada [mailto:jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 1999 10:16 AM
To: Giordano, Connie; TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: Resumes and such
Ya, know...it's funny, but when I've critiqued
resumes, my pet peeve has been that people use such
mamby-pamby words to describe what they do. While it
is not considered "civil" to talk about yourself in
day-to-day life, resumes are the place where this does
not apply.
Too many people use terms such as "..was involved
with..", or "...participated in the development..."
This doesn't tell me anything.
Use "power" words". "I was responsible for...", or "I
saved the company...", or "I successfuly managed.."
Also, some words get people's attention: Saved money,
reduced cost, increased market share, decreased
turnaround, met regulatory compliance...Tell me, as a
manager, what YOU ARE GOING TO DO FOR ME!. I don't
care what you want to do and I'm not interested in
anything you are proud of if it isn't going to:
1) Make me money.
2) Make me look better to my peers, management, or
board of directors.
3) Hurt my competition.
4) Get me dates with tall, slim redheads (Ok, so I may
not want all of the same things that you want :).
Remember...resumes are not written for the writer,
they are written for the reader.
>
> Here are some other ways to get some serious hits on
> great tech comm
> opportunities: try keywords like "research",
> "interview", "process
> modeling", "usability", "project management",
> "consensus building", and
> "strategic planning". These worked well for me in
> obtaining lots of
> interest for senior-level positions.
>
> Connie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Posada [mailto:jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 1999 9:31 PM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: Re: Resumes and such
>
>
> However, a good technical writer with knowledge of
> the
> specific tool(s) will get hired before (just) a good
> technical writer.
>
> My point? Just because you are a good tech writer,
> don't expect that to be an automatic advantage,
> because you may be disappointed. You must keep up
> with
> the "toys"
=====
John Posada, Merck Research Laboratories
Sr Technical Writer, WinHelp and html
(work) john_posada -at- merck -dot- com - 732-594-0873
(pers) jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com - 732-291-7811
"The art of creating software that is usable by individuals is a
communication skill. It is not a programming skill."
--Bill Atkinson, creator of MacPaint and HyperCard
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