Click on the underlined parts of this
defective resume to see how to improve them.

OBJECTIVE

To find a challenging position that will take advantage of my extensive experience. Twenty-three years as a computer science professional. A dedicated and hard working team player who has always brought projects in on time and under budget. A skilled team leader whose energy and motivation serve as an example to others. Excellent communication skills.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

I.B.M., Poughkeepsie, NY                                                                                                     1971-present
Senior Procurement Analyst                                                                                                   1991-present

Established supply contracts with various outside companies for the procurement of industrial hardware.

• Served as team leader for a group consisting of accountants, legal workers and quality control engineers.
  
  
• Coordinated research on supplying companies, including on site inspections of manufacturing and inventory control.

This is the end of the defective resume.

Put in your e-mail address. Although most employers will use the phone, having an email address shows that you are computer literate. Put it right below your phone number.

Put your job title in the first line of your objective or summary. Most hand sorting is done very fast. If you don't say what you are right away, you won't even get looked at. Everyone wants a "challenging position" with a company. Don't waste the most important line in your resume.

Citing over fifteen years experience in anything will usually get your resume trashed (too old and too highly paid). Use "highly experienced" so that you don't screen yourself out if the employer is looking for a particular number of years. The word "professional" means nothing and it wastes resume space.

Too much flattery is the trademark of a poor resume writing service. It takes up space and pleases clients. Keep your positive statements about yourself down to one line as in the summary statement below.

SUMMARY

Experienced and versatile Purchasing Agent with specific talents in organizing and leading groups of employees. Knowledgeable about all areas of purchasing, including contracts, quality control and inventory management. A skilled team leader whose energy and motivation serve as an example to others.

Why advertise how old you are? If you have been with a company for twenty years, there is no need to give a comprehensive date. Split your resume into specific jobs and then on the second page, start with a new heading "Other Positions Held" for job titles before 1980. Don't give dates for the positions under this new heading. Age discrimination will keep you from getting interviews, unless you do something about it.

Don't put down your exact title for a previous job unless it is the industry standard for that position. "Procurement Analyst" may sound important, but "Purchasing Agent" is what employers are looking for. Look through newspaper ads and Internet job banks to find the job title most often used. Use this title as shown below.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

I.B.M., Poughkeepsie, NY                                                                                                     
Senior Purchasing Agent                                                                                                   1991-present

Potential employers read bullets more than job descriptions because they already know what a "purchasing agent" does. Here is an area of your resume that offers you the opportunity to stand out. Don't waste it with more routine duties. Make your our job description all inclusive so that you can save your bullets for achievements. The resume should be written as follows.

Established supply contracts with various outside companies for the procurement of industrial hardware. Served as team leader for a group consisting of accountants, legal workers and quality control engineers. Coordinated research on supplying companies, including on site inspections of manufacturing and inventory control.

• Planned and directed 15 million dollars worth of purchases each year from over 10 different supplying companies.
  
  
• Saved 2 million dollars through initiation of a competitive quoting program for bulk purchases. Devised and implemented a tool refurbishing procedure that saved $850,000.

If you avoid some of these basic mistakes, you will simply get more interviews. Since finding a job is a numbers game, your resume is a critical step in generating employer interest. It must pass through certain screenings and, at the right time, attract attention. Good luck!