A resume can either open doors or keep them closed. Never assume that people are going to read your resume because the fact is that most resumes get only a passing glance. You must do everything possible to spark immediate interest during that moment.
Constructing a resume that earns interviews is remarkably simple.
Here are six do"s and don"ts to follow when composing your document.
1. Begin with a summary.
Showcase two or three of your most exciting accomplishments. Bullet these items and use numbers to illustrate their extent.
By starting out this way, you"ll be showing people how good you are, not just telling them that you"re good. As a plus, you"ll distinguish yourself from job seekers who begin by listing their functional specialties and a brief discussion of their strengths.
2. Use a chronological format.
The next section of your resume relates to your experience.Always list your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job.
3. Tailor your resume to the job you"re seeking.
Because the goal of your resume is to gain interviews for a particular position,
always cite your activities in order of their importance to that job. Omit information that"s unrelated. The less you say about your unrelated experience, the more impact the related activities will have.
If you"re seeking two or three different positions, prepare two or three separate resumes, each tailored to the job you"re after.
4. Focus on your accomplishments.
Next, discuss your accomplishments, not your responsibilities. Recruiters and prospective employers are primarily interested in the value you"ve brought to your past employers. Most important are improvements you made and their benefit to the department or organization, especially in increasing revenues or reducing costs.
5. Use descriptive verbs
Describe your experiences in phrases that start with a past-tense action word
. Bullet each item. Bullets and verbs in the past tense produce statements that are more vivid and illustrative. These verbs are particularly effective:
- directed, led, managed, supervised;
- achieved, delivered, drove, generated, grew, increased, initiated, instituted and launched;
6. Make your resume inviting to read.
After deciding on what you want to say about yourself, be sure your resume has sufficient white space
. The top and bottom margins should be at least a half-inchlong, and the left and right margins should measure at least seven-tenths of an inch wide.
Insert white space between your section headings, names of employers, job titles and discussions about your experience. Use bold-faced type for section headings, employer names and job titles. If the document lacks eye appeal, few people will review it.
Now, the Don"ts
What you shouldn"t do when writing a resume is nearly as important as what you should do.
1. Don"t organize your resume by accomplishments.
Listing a string of accomplishments on the first page of your resume presents the same problems for employers as the functional resume format. If you want to showcase your accomplishments, use the introductory summary.
2. Don"t use the same words to begin sentences or use the words "I" and "my."
Make your writing fresh and exciting by varying the verbs that begin each statement. Omit "I" and "my" because they can make you seem weak and immature.
3. Avoid clichés.
Don"t describe yourself as "dynamic," "people-oriented," "results-oriented" or "self-motivated," or state what a great "out-of-the-box thinker," "hands-on leader" or "visionary" you are. These clichés lack originality and typecast you as a follower instead of a leader.
4. Don"t use underlining or italics to add emphasis.
These devices cheapen a résumé"s appearance. Additionally, some computer scanners can"t read underlined or italicized copy.
5. Avoid using a fancy font to gain readers" attention.
Fancy fonts aren"t inviting to read , and many people discard resumes that use them. Play it safe by choosing Arial, Garamond, Helvetica, Tahoma or Times Roman.
6. Don"t state the reasons for your job changes.
Explaining why you"ve changed jobs seems defensive or indicates that you think you have a troubled work history
