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When you begin the process of writing your resume, there are a few key things you need to keep in mind. Knowing what you should before you begin will help you to write a clear, focused, goal-oriented resume.

Before you begin to write, you need to know:

 What You Want

Knowing what you want is crucial to writing a strong resume, as well as carrying out a productive job search. Take time to assess your goals. What type of job are you interested in? What companies would you like to work for? What benefits and salary are required for you to take a job? Knowing what you want from a job will help you to apply to the best possible fits, and weed out those that don’t make the cut.

What They Want

You need to know what the potential interviewers in your field want, as well. This is where researching the available position, company, and work situation come in handy. You’ll also need to know how to build a strong resume tailored to the individual company that you’re applying for. Knowing what they want is crucial to getting the right job for you, so be sure to do your research.

What You Want in Five Years 

If you’re interested in building a career, not just a job, then you’ll want to know where you’d like to be in five years, as well. Taking time to set longer term goals will help you to see if the company you’re applying for is a good match. If there’s no future in the job, you may not want to invest your time and energy.

Take time to assess what you want, what they want, and where you’re headed in five years before you write a word of your resume. Doing so will give you an edge over the competition, and help you to clarify your goals.