Eyesight. Mine has been on the rocks. At least, I’m dealing with a nasty allergic reaction that’s resisting attempts to rid my eyes of the sandpaper feeling. We do all sorts of things to improve our eyesight. Glasses, contacts, Lasik, steroid drops every two hours. With all that effort to see clearly, I started thinking about helping hiring decision makers (hiring managers) see job seekers more clearly.
Many job seekers struggling to find work have the same vision problem. They are not communicating their qualifications, skills, and accomplishments effectively for a hiring manager see they are a great fit. If you feel like you aren’t having luck and you aren’t sure why, these seven sections will help a hiring manager see you more clearly.

1. Summary
Also called “professional summary” or “professional profile,” summaries are typically located at the beginning of your resume immediately following your contact information. The space at the top of your resume is prime real estate. The top quarter to top half of the first page receives more attention than any other section of your resume. A well-crafted summary at the beginning of your resume will draw hiring managers’ attention and boost your chances for an interview.
Show hiring managers you fit the job description and requirements in a summary at the beginning of your resume instead of burying your qualifications in work history sections. Summarize who you are professionally and what you can offer the company.
Emphasize how you match the job qualifications and requirements. Share specific and relevant career highlights. Remember the Powerful Selling Statements we built in May’s article? Insert one or two here. Summaries can be formatted in paragraph style, bullet points, or a combination of both.

TIP: Ditch the “objective” from your resume. And ditch it now. Shred it into tiny little pieces, put it in a box filled with worms and toss it in the compost. Using an objective on a resume is not only old school (making you look out-of-date to a hiring manager), but it also sends the wrong message. An objective is all about you—what you want, what your goals are, how the job can help you. Hiring managers want to know how you can help them, not vice versa. An objective is like having your doctor ask you for a backrub. Don’t ask your dream job for a backrub. Instead, tell them how you’ll solve their problems and ease their aches using a summary.

2. Skills, Competencies, or Expertise
These three sections are lumped into one category because they communicate similar qualifications. Typically, these sections are lists of terms formatted in paragraph or bullet style. Skills, competencies, and expertise vary by job function and industry and can include a variety of keywords such as payroll, customer service, Microsoft Word, marketing strategy development, transactions, database administration, or any other relevant skills you wish to highlight.
Don’t overdo it. Keep it to ten or under. No one will believe you are an expert at everything (other than your grandmother). These sections may be used as subsections of your summary. Here is an example of a summary with an expertise subsection.
TIP: Applying online? Make sure your resume and cover letter are filled with keywords and key phrases that are referenced in the job description so the resume scanning software matches you to the job. Keywords are typically nouns that describe competencies and can be soft skills (customer service) or hard skills (mechanical or technical skills). Keywords can also be certifications, degrees, professional associations, or even software. Skills, competencies, or expertise sections are perfect for adding extra keywords into your resume.

3. Honors and Awards
It’s okay to brag a little. In fact, I highly encourage braggin if you are looking for work. Employers want the best of the best. If you’ve been honored or received an award, add it to your resume. “Employee of the Month,” “Manager of the Year,” and “Top Sales Associate” are examples of common employee honors. Mention the honor and describe how you earned the title.
In my experience, most companies don’t recognize employees with formal awards but that does not mean you can’t take advantage of this section. If your work has been honored in a less-official capacity, but recognized nonetheless, incorporate it into an Honors section. Example: “Featured Report: Marketing Analysis and Strategy Report featured in Board of Director’s annual retreat influencing decision-making to launch product into new market. New market resulted in 14% increase in sales in first six months, outperforming projections by 4%.”
It is also acceptable to add one or two short statements of recommendation like, “’Sue demonstrated exceptional marketing insight. Her thorough and innovative marketing analysis and strategic recommendations opened our eyes to new opportunities that have proven very lucrative.’ Bob Board Member, XYX Corporation”

4. Volunteer Experience
Volunteer experience is very valuable for (1) job seekers with less experience (such as new graduates), (2) job seekers returning to the workforce (stay-at-home moms and those who have been out of work for a significant length of time), and (3) career-changers who need to demonstrate experience in the new field even if they have not held a paying position.
Format your volunteer experience like your work experience. Include your volunteer job title or create a short description of your job duties in place of a job title. For example, your title might be “Volunteer.” Include your job function with “Database Administrator, Volunteer.” Include details about your accomplishments and contributions, as well as skills honed.
Use volunteer experience to help fill in employment gaps. Expand on volunteer experience when it relates to the job app.

TIP: Volunteering also offers an excellent opportunity to network, and frankly, one of the best ways to find a job is through networking! Check out www.volunteermatch.org to find local organizations that are looking for help.

5. Organizations or Professional Affiliations
Membership to organization and professional associations indicate a high level of dedication to your industry. Memberships also suggest commitment to professional development and desire to remain on the leading edge of your business.
If you belong to professional organizations, add them to your resume. Don’t assume the person reading your resume will know about the organization. Add a short description and be sure to mention if you passed testing or hold special qualifications to become a member.

6. Certificates and Licenses
Some professions, like pilots and doctors, require licenses or certificates and that must be featured in a resume. Certificates can give you an advantage when they are not required for a position. For example, some warehouse operations jobs may not require it, but a forklift operations certificate can set you apart from the competition.
Look at boosting your credentials with a certificate or license that relates to your field or industry. If you have one or two and want to conserve resume space, add them to your education section.

7. Publications
Publications build credibility and demonstrate subject matter expertise. Have you published a paper? A report? Written an article, a book, or ebook? Been interviewed or consulted with as an expert contributor for a story? Include the name of the piece, the publication name, publish date, and a little about the piece.
Next time your send in your resume, include a pair of glasses for the hiring manager-in the form of these additional resume sections. Tune in next month for more resume musings.
 
She may no longer work in a barn, but Liz Williams is still taking the struggle out of job search and the pain out of promotion with professionally-written resumes. If you have questions about resumes, cover letters, or maximizing your LinkedIn profile, learn more at writerla.com and follow Liz at facebook.com/writerla to get more tips on resume writing.