Posted: May 19, 08 3:32am
Previously published by me on another site and a magazine. This is the full article in rough draft. Mine was 2,000 words too long.
Resume writing for the right audience, recruiters, has become more complex due mostly to the Internet and companies scanning resumes for keywords. Recruiters pass bad resumes in the trash even if the candidate is exceptional talented and/or educated. Almost all companies scan resumes into a computer system for keywords, education requirements, and accomplishments. Companies also want personalized resumes not generic ones sent to dozens or hundreds of companies at once, but, you can, with some effort, personalize a generic resume. A rule of thumb is that if a recruiter doesn't find your resume interesting in thirty seconds, you won't even be considered. Sell yourself. A resume is just that-selling yourself to a prospective employer. With this guide, you should avoid all the mistakes people make in resumes.
Your formatting should be Times New Roman or Garamond fonts. Times New Roman is best since everyone uses it. Don't mix fonts. It just makes it look disjointed not professional. Using the word "I" is actually frowned upon. Also, you better use paper other than copy paper. Colored paper is no-no. Parchment is fine. 25-pound white paper is also fine. Parchment makes a statement without making a joke like say Pink. Each section really should be all capitalized. Don't put employers, you name, your college, etc. in all capital letters. Check your spelling. Nothing is like a first impression. A spelling error isn't selling you it is selling the others that applied.
At the beginning of your resume, your name and contact information should always be first. Your "objective" should be the job you are applying for not "I am seeking a position to utilize my education and experience, etc., etc., etc." Just put the job title you are applying for and be done with it. Waxing poetic in an objective is a waste of time and is impersonal to the company you are sending it to. If someone says do it, don't. If you are paying them to write your resume, get someone else.
Work history should be called "Professional Experience" and nothing else. Experienced professionals should include a skills summary of their accomplishments under "Skills Summary" that precedes professional experience. Just include highlights at all your jobs withing the last ten years. Recruiters and company human resource personnel don't care about jobs over ten years ago. You can always put those down on an application, which they will want. Don't include jobs you did during high school or college unless it was an internship. Summaries should never contain "I did..." but action verbs with the accomplishment. Employee of the month is nice, but include what you did to get it since that is what they want to know about it.
Recent college graduates should list education first. Your education is your experience. Always include projects you did in college that mean something. Being a chess champion or similar nonsense isn't one of them. A major project is excellent to list. If you have a lot of projects in college, list them in a summary. Recruiters like college graduates that did work in college not just partied. If in college, find projects to do in your field of study. Even detailed papers could be considered projects if substantial to your future career. If you wrote about management techniques or the history of art, it doesn't hurt to include it and offer a copy by request. They will ask for it.
Except for recent college graduates, your employment history is valuable. Just put the name of the company, job title, and the years you worked there. Only put highlights of your career for each company like "Increased sales by 30% in one year", "Cut costs in my department by 20%", or "Created a computer program to analyze productivity that increase it by 25%." Use numbers for accomplishments like that. Use simple verbs to sell your accomplishments.
Education should always be mentioned for professionals by College, years attended, and degree obtained. You already have jobs so unless you did some great project don't list it. Recent college graduates should always list awards. Everyone should list Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude if achieved. If none, list those projects you did if you are a recent college graduate.
Accreditations and Certificates is the next title. If you have them, list them. Company provided training should be listed here. That says, "My company (or companies) spent money on my employment. They valued me as an employee or why bother?" Any other training should be listed here.
Special skills should only be used if you have any. List computer skills in your summary. If a recent college graduate, list them under "special skills" too. List the skills the job you are applying for desires. Hobbies should be omitted. No one cares how well you golf, play video games, or build models. They want skills not meaningless drivel.
Reference should not be listed nor should "References furnished upon request" be anywhere in your resume. If they want to hire or interview you, they will ask for them. References should be professional references like colleagues, professors, and successful people you know. Ask first so they know they will get a call. If you can get them to write a letter of reference, all the better. They will be confirmed but you can save colleagues some time and aggravation. Also, networking with your colleagues will help you find those hidden jobs.
Resumes today are all about selling yourself to a potential employer; there are no such thing as different resumes except for the job you are applying for so this format works for anyone. They want it personalized and perfect with those action verb keywords. Don't be poetic just be concise and to the point. Don't use "my" or "I" since your accomplishments should speak for themselves. Companies want team players not rogues. If you find difficulty writing your resume, the bookstore or your college career center will assist you. Look at the resume books to see if they have examples and copy them. Your career center should certainly help you since graduates being employed looks good for them when future students decide or not decide on them as their college. After all, you paid for that degree.
Lastly, one thing companies don't like is jumping around in jobs, and, unless you have tons of experience, one page should be your resume. You should only leave a company if it is a promotion or the same job. Most employers understand three years at one company is usual so no problem when it is a better job or better company. If you switch companies every six months, employers will think you are a bad investment. You are selling them on you and they are considering you as a future investment. Therefore, you resume, and cover letter, should be as good as it gets. Now they only thing you need is a good cover letter. It sells your resume so resumes should be perfect. It is only your job we are talking about here so do it the best you possible can, and sell yourself. The old adage is true: either your sell or you get sold. Make sure you sell yourself and not your competition.
