Some employers are so inundated with resumes that it could take weeks to review them to identify
qualified candidates. In today's competitive marketplace, your resume must stand out to grab the
attention of the decision maker and create a strong impression. The best way to prepare a
dynamite resume is not to change the facts, but to present them in the best format.
Ten Keys to a Stellar Resume
1. Position titles and job descriptions: Provide your titles for each position you have held and a
detailed explanation of your daily responsibilities and measurable results. Your resume should tell
the reader exactly what you do. (Certain titles such as operations manager, analyst, and consultant
are especially vague.)
2. Clarity of dates and locations: Document your career history accurately. Do not leave the
reader wondering where you were employed or for how long you were there. If you have had
overlapping jobs, separate them on paper, or eliminate one, to avoid confusion.
3. Detail: If needed, clearly state some of the more technical or involved aspects of your work or
education.
4. Proportion: Give appropriate attention to jobs and/or educational credentials according to
their length or significance. For example, if you want to be considered for a position in quality
control, do not write one paragraph describing your current responsibilities in the lab, followed by
two paragraphs about your college internship at your hometown bank.
5. Relevancy: Limit your resume to that which is job-related and/or clearly demonstrates a
pattern of success. Concentrate on topics that address the needs of the employer.
6. Explicitness: Do not assume that the resume reader knows, for example, that an "M.M." is a
Master of Music degree or that your current employer, Chep, manufactures pallets.
7. Length: Write only a page or two. Strong content does not need more than two pages.
8. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation: Never send out a resume with errors. Always proofread
the resume.
9. Readability and Overall appearance: Organize your thoughts in a clear, concise format. Avoid
a writing style that is fragmented or long-winded. Select a proper format, font style, and light colored
stationery (preferably white). Resume readers are accustomed to a predictable format. If you
deviate too much or if your resume takes too much effort to read, it may end up in the trash, even if
you have the ideal background
10. Chronology: The best format in which to organize your resume is in reverse chronological
order. That is, your most recent position should be listed first and your previous positions should
follow in sequential order.
Write several drafts, and always proofread for errors. If you have a trusted colleague, seek his/her
feedback. A simple critique can save you a great deal of time and money.
Building a Stronger Resume
Build a stronger case for your candidacy by highlighting the following areas of interest:
1. Professional achievements interesting to your reader: If you have hot fill, bottled water, or
carbonated experience, state this in the resume. If you have won awards or reached certain goals,
let the reader know. Also, state the number of people you supervise and what their titles are.
2. Educational accomplishments: List your degree(s) and/or relevant course work and specialized
training. Mention special honors, scholarships, or awards you may have earned, such as Dean's
List, Cum Laude, or Phi Beta Kappa.
3. Additional areas of competency: These could include computer software fluency, dollar value
of raw materials purchased per month, or any specialized training.
4. Relevant professional designations: If you're licensed or certified in your profession or belong
to a trade organization, state this in the resume.
5. Success indicators: You should include anything that distinguishes you as a leader and
achiever. Milestones such as Eagle Scout, class president, scholarship recipient, or valedictorian
identify you as a potential winner. If you worked to put yourself through school, you can consider
that success indicator. Mention it in your resume.
6. Related experience: In today's diverse work environment, it is important to list your fluency in
foreign languages. If you worked as a co-op student in the industry you're currently in, let the
reader know.
7. Military history: If you served in the military, describe your length and branch of service, rank,
special training, medals, discharge and status.
8. Citizenship: Mention your citizenship if your industry requires it. Dual citizenship should also
be mentioned.
The following areas should be omitted, or at least minimized.
1. Salary history or salary requirements: Do not mention this in the resume.
2. References: If you have superb or well-known professional references, you may list them.
Otherwise, "References: Available upon Request" is sufficient. Avoid personal references like your
minister or attorney.
3. Personal Information: Omit items other than the absolute essentials such as, "Married, three
children, willing to relocate, excellent health." Listing your Masonic affiliation, NRA membership, or
political involvement may cause the employer to believe that these activities could interfere with
your work. Never include a photograph with any correspondence.
________________________________________________________________________
EXAMPLE RESUME
CANDIDATE NAME
Street Address
City, State ZIP
email address Work Number Home Number
EDUCATION
B. S. Education - The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina - 1984
• Rugby Team Captain
• Deans List each semester
• Magna Cum Laude graduate
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Eleven years in Production Management supervising teams in snack, soft drink and pet food
manufacturing. Highly skilled in the administration of Human Resources and technical issues
associated with Sanitation Management. An award winning Occupational Safety and Health
Manager and successful leader in union and union-free environments.
SKILLS SUMMARY
Dale Carnegie Honor Graduate Total Quality Management Statistical Process Control
Project Management Confined Space Entry Coordinator Hazardous Material Handling
EEO Administration OSHA Accident Prevention HAZMAT Coordinator
Train the Trainer HACCP / Food Safety Manager Ergonomics Coordinator
WORK HISTORY
FORTUNE 100 BEVERAGE COMPANY, Chicago, IL. February 1999 - Present
A division of a leading beverage company. Manufacturer and distributor of juice and non-
carbonated soft drinks.
Production/ Maintenance Manager
Managed 20 direct reports in a juice facility operating four production lines. Directly responsible for
training, development, safety, payroll, attendance, discipline, GMP’s and union relations in a
team based environment.
• Managed start-up of a new production department, to include equipment installation, hiring,
training and implementation of process procedures.
• Enhanced product quality by running only 4 incidents of hold product, from a total of 82, over
two year period.
• Production efficiencies 3.85% over departmental average and highest in department over the
same two years.
• Lowest injury and lost time injury rate in the department during the same period.
THE IAMS COMPANY, Henderson, NC April 1996 - January 1999
A $700 mm/year, 3000+ ton per week computerized manufacturer of premium pet foods.
Shift Leader
Managed up to 39 direct reports and supervised all shift operations for milling, extrusion and
packaging. Directed activities associated with production scheduling, the materials function
(warehousing, inventory control, purchasing, coordination of raw materials) and production
reporting. Handled team and professional development, staffing, payroll, attendance, disciplinary
and related employee relations issues in a union-free environment.
• Increased efficiency from 63% to 83.5% by setting operational standards, reducing downtime,
coordination with maintenance, operator training, and eliminating waste.
• Achieved zero lost time accidents and the lowest recordable injury rates in the facility by
heightening employee awareness and involvement.
• Coordinated "Best Ever" test run and commissioning of two new products in 1997 through
skilled planning, technician involvement and coordination with Maintenance, Quality Assurance, and
R&D departments.
FRITO-LAY, INC., Kirkwood, NY April 1994 - March 1996
A division of PepsiCo and the largest salty snack food manufacturer in the world.
Processing / Sanitation Resource
Guided a staff of 67 direct reports and 1 supervisor for all weekend shifts operations. Scheduling
work crews, coordinating activities with maintenance and sanitation teams, receiving and handling
raw materials, quality assurance, and production reporting were primary duties. Employee relations
responsibilities included attendance, payroll, disciplinary actions, team development and
empowerment, and facilitating meetings in a team based, union-free facility.
• Increased tortilla chip line efficiencies by an average of 5% by establishing operator training
programs.
• Received the Division Safety Award for zero accidents in over 126,000 hours worked by three
teams.
• Reduced sanitation labor costs by 16% and sanitation related downtime by 9% by
restructuring the work schedules and expectations for both sanitation teams and implementing
improved cleaning procedures.
• Improved facility A.I.B. audit scores by over 88% by instituting regularly scheduled in-house
audits involving operations technicians, Resources, Managers, Maintenance personnel and Quality
Assurance technicians.
• Assisted in the development and implementation of a division-wide team, tasked with
eliminating foreign material based customer complaints.
TYSON FOODS, INC., Sanford, NC February 1988 - April 1994
The Mexican Original Division of the world-wide poultry producer specialized in flour and corn
products for restaurants.
Occupational Safety and Health Manager (08/92 - 04/94)
Reported to the Plant Manager in a team based, union-free facility with staff responsibility for 1
inspector, 3 nurses, 9 security guards, and the administration of 33 written compliance programs.
Accident prevention, confined space entry, ergonomics, hazard communication, fire safety,
HAZMAT, emissions control, and accident reporting were assigned duties.
• Reduced reportable injuries by 11% and related costs by 19% by increasing employee
training and awareness programs.
• Realized a 16% drop in lost time accidents and 15% reduction in related costs by efforts
noted above.
• Achieved 98% success rate while representing Tyson Foods regarding unemployment
compensation claims.
Production Supervisor (2/88 - 08/92)
Controlled all operations on 1 high capacity tortilla chip line, 2 taco shell lines and 2 Hayssen form
and fill bagging machines supervising up to 26 employees. Reported to the Shift Manager in a team
based, union-free facility.
• Increased processing efficiency 18% by establishing processing goals, increasing operator
training, streamlining operational procedures, and eliminating waste.
• Improved packaging machine efficiency by 19% by promoting and training a packaging lead
and writing programs. Attending a Hayssen Operator Training Course was instrumental in this
achievement.
MILITARY
US Army, Ft Knox, KY Captain, Ordnance Corps (Maintenance Management) September
1984 - February 1988
