Resume Writing 101
Resume Writing Tips to Always Remember, by Brian Alden
Don't Miss These Resume Tips
The thought of writing or re-writing your resume can seem like an overwhelming task, and sometimes even intimidating. Where do you start and what should you include or not include? The good news is that most word processing programs have resume templates for you to use. However, we have provided the following tips to help you write a resume that’s as professional as you are.
Your Contact Information
Your name should be the first thing you enter at the top, center of your resume. Use your complete name, beneath your name; position your mailing address, home phone and cell phone numbers, and e-mail address. This information is critically important because it enables employers and recruiters to contact you for additional details and, potentially, to schedule an interview.
Where to Put Your Education
There are differing thoughts on where you should list your educational background on your resume, some experts feel as though it should be before your career history and others feel as though it should be after your career history.
A good rule of thumb is that if you have advanced degrees, such as a Masters or Doctorate, you should list your education credentials before your career history is detailed. Also if you are in a field of study such as Law or Medicine, listing your education at the top is considered the norm. Otherwise your education should be listed after your career history.
For new graduates or students about to graduate who don’t have a substantial amount of work experience, listing your education before your career history is acceptable.
Avoid 3rd Person References
All too often when people write their own resumes, they write themselves in the 3rd person. While this is considered acceptable for an executive bio on a website or industry trade magazine, it is considered an unacceptable format for a resume.
For example, if you are John Smith, don’t write your resume with sentences that lead off like this “Mr. Smith is an accomplished Resume Writer,” or “Mr. Smith developed an application that increased the efficiency of a widget by 3%.” This same rule applies to cover letters as well.
One Page or Two
Trying to get your resume onto a single page isn’t easy; two pages are OK if your career history and accomplishments warrant it. Anything beyond two pages may overwhelm or even bore the reader. When detailing out your accomplishments and responsibilities, ensure that your two most recent positions have the most information listed, and are on the front page. No one really cares about what you did in your first job out of high school 20 years ago.
Your Resume is Your Marketing Brochure.
Think of yourself as a product with unique features and benefits, and the employer or recruiter is a customer who needs this product. Your resume should be like a sales tool, telling the reader why they should want to meet you for a demonstration of who you are. Your resume should WOW the reader into wanting to learn more about you through an interview.
Use Your Resume to Get Interviews
Don't go into detail about every item on your resume. The purpose of your resume is to generate enough interest in you to have an employer contact you for an interview. Again, think sales brochure. No one has ever been hired because they had a really detailed resume.
The 2-minute Rule
A reader reads the average 2-page resume in about 2 to 3 minutes. This means your resume has to grab their attention in the first 30 to 45 seconds, otherwise they won’t even make it to the second page. If you have included a career summary or executive summary section on your resume, make sure it’s concise and directly to the point about who you are, as this is frequently the first place an accomplished resume screener will read.
Use a Font that is Easy to Read
A 10 or 12 point font in Arial or Times New Roman are the best choices for your resume and cover letter. They are easy to read and consistent with most business writings of all types. In addition, if the company receiving your resume uses scanning software, these formats are easily read by most scanners.
Adding a Keyword Section
With the advent of Internet based searchable resume databases and resume scanning software, the keyword section is becoming more and more prevalent on resumes. A keyword section is a separate section in a resume where a person would list certain keywords that a recruiter or employer would be using to search a resume database.
Typically you should only have a keyword section on your resume if you are in a technical field where you can list your software and hardware backgrounds. Your keyword section should be near the end of your resume, after your career history and education credentials.
Use Bullet Points
In the body of your resume, use bullets with short sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs. Resumes are read quickly. This bulleted sentence format makes it easier for someone to quickly scan your resume and still absorb the contents.
Use Power or Action Words
Use words in your resume that are descriptive as the first word in your bullet points. Words to consider using are: Supervised, Led, Developed, Mastered, Coordinated,
and Managed. These words convey to the reader confidence in one’s own abilities.
Lead With Your Strengths.
Since resumes are typically reviewed quickly, take the time to determine which bullet points most strongly support the type of job you are applying for. Put those strong points first where they are more apt to be read.
Stick To The Positive Points
Leave negative and irrelevant points off of your resume. Your responsibilities and accomplishments related to your career history are what the reader is looking for. Irrelevant personal information is not. You will not get an interview because you are a champion clog dancer.
Add Numbers to Your Accomplishments
Employers and Recruiters look for people with measurable accomplishments. Numbers, dollars, and percentages stand out in the body of a resume and grab the reader's attention.
Some examples of bullet points where you can highlight your accomplishments are in the areas of people, sales and controllable costs.
Here are some example bullet points that highlight the accomplishments of the applicant to potential employers:
• Increased sales 36% over last year and 15% over budget.
• Developed a new sales concept division that increased profits by over 48%
• Supervised over 20 sales managers and 200 sales associates.
• Recruited and trained 3 new sales leads increasing revenue by $1 million dollars
• Reduced payroll expenditures by 10%
So make sure your resume includes the numbers. These numbers give a potential employer a framework of reference on what you can do for them when you’re hired!
Proofread Your Resume
The last thing you should do before submitting your resume to a company for review is to have it proofread. Your word processor’s spelling and grammer check is a great tool but you can’t always rely on it to catch every error. Have at least two other people review your resume to identify any additional mistakes you may have missed.
Post Your Resume Online
Once your resume has been approved and finalized, be sure to post it on several online resume databases. This will allow you to advertise your skills and accomplishments to employers hiring in your industry and location, letting them know that you’re eagerly looking to be hired.
Make Sure Your Resume is as Professional as You Are
If you need more help with writing or re-writing you resume, visit Job.com’s Awesome Resume writing service at http://www.job.com/awesomeresume . The professionals at AwesomeResume will make your resume as professional as you are!