75-80% of all
resumes received by company executives are discarded! Why? Sometimes
it's because the company doesn't have a need, but all too often it's
because the applicants have not described themselves effectively.
Many candidates are not rejected because they lack the qualifications
required, but rather because they haven't presented themselves well.
Employers are much more likely to favor an applicant who submits a
succinct and well-organized resume.
Brevity is a must! Personnel managers
are bombarded by stacks of resumes every day. At best, you'll have
about 30 seconds to convey your message. As an example of what not
to do, consider the following story: When learning how to prepare
resumes, a college business writing class was handed the resume of
a 47 year-old male. It was eight pages long! This guy went all the
way back to his childhood paper route. A resume is a profile - not
a biography.
Remember, your resume is designed to peak an employer's interest in
you. While eight pages certainly might get you noticed, it lacks appeal.
Who in their right mind would read it? Stick to relevant experiences
that show-off your most valuable assets. Wow the employer with information
that demonstrates your skills and abilities, and shows why the employer
can't afford to be without you. Prove that you are worth interviewing.
Focus on the experiences that make you right for the job.
When writing about past experiences look for activities and events
that clearly highlight your qualities. What have you done that shows
responsibility? Have you had any leadership experience? Are you a
team player? To demonstrate your skills, cite specific examples of
things you have done that prove you have the skills you claim. Point
to as many tangible and meaningful accomplishments as possible.
Avoid information that does not relate to your career goals. No matter
how fascinating your experiences might be, they waste valuable space
if they don't show-off your credentials. The interview will provide
you with ample time to tell the employer what an interesting person
you are. It's good to show diversity and demonstrate that you're "well-rounded,"
but don't get carried away. Emphasize those
experiences that would be of interest to a potential employer.
Exclude all negative information from your
resume. You must be honest, but there is no point in airing
dirty laundry. Your resume is designed to be a selling tool. There
is no need to point out potential problems to the employer. However,
be prepared to answer questions about all your past experiences, good
and bad, during your interview. The interview gives you the opportunity
to explain why something less than wonderful may have occurred in
your past. Often you can use the interview to turn a negative into
a positive!
Do not include your photograph. Because the federal government has
ruled that pictures on resumes are discriminatory, all photographs
must be removed by the prospective employer. So even if you are the
best looking person on the block, skip the photo. Your picture may
lead a prospective employer to ignore your resume, or it may give
the impression that you don't understand the business world. Remember,
in your resume, you are selling your experience, knowledge and abilities.
Let these speak for themselves.
The appearance
of your resume is critical. If it looks sloppy or is hard to read,
it will probably be thrown out! If it sets the wrong tone, it won't
make a good impression. No matter how wonderful your background might
be, if your resume lacks style, it won't attract an employer's attention.
The resume is your career portrait - you want it to be neat and attractive.
Make an extra effort to prepare a carefully typed presentation on
good quality paper. Most of today's word processing software makes
it easy to create a document with tremendous visual appeal.
Make the most of white space. A resume that says too much is almost
as bad as one that says too little. White space, or the area on the
page without type, can be used to enhance the appearance of the text.
For example, which of the following boxes appears more attractive:
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Use
White Space Effectively.
Use areas without text to make the most of a document's
appearance. Use white or blank areas to offset the text
that you really want to emphasize. White space makes
such a difference.
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Use
White Space Effectively
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Use
areas without text to make the most
of a document's appearance.
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Use
white or blank areas to offset the
text that you really want to emphasize.
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White
space makes such a difference!
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As you can see, white space enhances the eye-appeal of the written
text. While you should not substitute style for substance, use white
space to make your resume as attractive as possible.
The tone of your
writing is also important, so be careful not to appear arrogant in
your resume. Although you may have had some great experiences in your
life, you're probably not the only one who has had them. You never
know who will be reading your resume, so avoid statements that sound
like you think you're "better" than others. Let your readers decide
for themselves what an outstanding person you are.
Even if you're the most qualified person in the world, you will not
get the job if the employer does not like, or at least respect you.
For this reason, you must not cross the line between "putting your
best foot forward" and bragging. If you stick to writing about your
specific accomplishments in a positive and professional tone, the
quality of your experience will come shining through.
When determining the layout of your resume, stick with an accepted
resume format. There are many opportunities in life to show-off your
individuality, but this is not one of them! While the content of the
resume should make you stand out from the crowd, the layout should
follow common standards. Employers have to read thousands of resumes.
They become very proficient at quickly scanning a resume and pulling
out the important information. By blazing your own trail, you may
wind up annoying your reader. Look professional by demonstrating that
you know how to properly prepare a resume.
Every rule seems to have an exception. Such is the case with resume
formatting. If you are looking for a position in a field where creativity
is essential (e.g., graphic arts, advertising), you can and should
be creative in your resume formatting. In creative fields, the appearance
of the resume can have as great an effect on the reader as the content.
Also take care to use proper spelling and grammar. No matter what
type of position you seek, you must still communicate effectively.
If you demonstrate poor command of the English language, you are not
likely to get hired. You're an educated individual - prove it!
If you use a word processor, be sure to use the spell-checker. But
do not rely on it! Spell checking programs are great, but they do
not edit content. It's easy to make a typo, or leave a blank space
that totally changes the meaning of a sentence. Too often the spell-checker
misses key errors. Be sure to proofread your text carefully. In addition,
have one or more friends critique your resume to review both your
use of English and your content. You will be surprised at what great
advice people can give you just by adding their perspective to your
writing.
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Resume
Writing Do's and Don'ts
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Do
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Be concise.
Use powerful action verbs to maximize the impact of your words.
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Write
about experiences demonstrating skills and abilities relevant
to the job.
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Use
concrete examples to show you have the skills the employer
needs.
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Be neat.
Stick with an accepted resume format, and use white space
effectively.
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Be honest.
Don't stretch the truth.
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Be complete.
Don't leave time gaps.
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Check
spelling. Proofread carefully.
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Don't
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Use
more than two pages for your resume; one page can be ideal.
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Overburden
your resume with too much detail or irrelevant anecdotes.
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Draw
your own conclusions about past experiences, stick with the
facts.
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Sound
like a braggart or appear arrogant. Be straightforward and
factual.
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Include
negative information.
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Include
your photograph.
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Rely
on you word processor.
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