So to start this article on résumé writing: I scoured the Internet to compare a few notes from different regions around the country, and guess what I found? Résumé writing is not all that much fun! A Google search on “résumé writing” produced 32,300,000 results, whereas a search for Paris Hilton came out to over 51,000,000! I guess this goes to show that following someone famous (and what exactly is she famous for?) can be more fun than suffering through the headache of preparing your résumé.
In the interest of not boring you to death, I am leaving the technical crap alone, and just putting together as a list of tips to help you put together your next résumé.
Have a little OCD: Many experts give many different tips for the formatting, so there is no perfect format. Getting the format “right” means getting bullet points lined up and eliminate wacky spacing. Crazy and uneven formatting will get you questioned about skills that have nothing to do with what you can do on the job. Tip: If you copy and paste your Word (or similar program) formatted résumé into most online sites, the formatting will go all screwy. Don’t be lazy, just fix it.
When did you do that? If you’ve got a bad gap, explain it in your cover letter (we will look at cover letters in another blog). So, unless you were a super secret spy and it’s one of those “I could tell you, but I’d have to kill you” situations go ahead and put in the dates of past jobs and degrees. The truth is, when you don’t put dates employers start thinking you are being sneaky and/or exaggerating your true experience and education.
1993 – 1995 Bad Burger Barn: You shouldn’t have more information for the job you had 10 years ago at the local fast food joint, than you do for your last position as an accounting clerk, especially when you are applying for a job in accounting. The information you put on the older positions should only be what pertains to the particular job you are submitting it for.
Gobbledygook: Experts say buzzwords or industry jargon is bad and in some ways it is – you can easily over use it. However, you want this job right? Then use the terminology that they put in their job description. Exploit the vocabulary they are acquainted with and are requesting from you…(Use the terms they know and are asking for…but don’t go overboard!). It’ll show you were paying attention rather than just ramming a bunch of crap together to sound nifty.
Save the trees: Let’s be honest with each other shall we? Why do you need a four-page resume to get an entry-level position at Wal-Mart? The answer — You don’t. Employers really do prefer shorter and to the point. If you are applying for an upper level or management position, then maybe (if you actually have experience in those positions) you might be justified in a multi-page resume.
Custom Tailored Fit: Do you really want a job? If the answer is yes, then put in the effort to rewrite your résumé for each job position. Besides, if you’re claiming you can type 80 words per minute, then it shouldn’t take you very long anyways! Look at what we said above, and consider making adjustments for each employer that you send it to. Think about it from his or her point of view – Would you hire someone who puts in only a minimal effort?
Spel thngs ryte! I read something, somewhere that said your résumé is like the restroom in a restaurant; it is the one room everyone will see. And, hey, if you can’t keep that clean, what’s it like in the kitchen? What do you think a résumé filled with grammar and typing errors says about yourself? Computers have spell check for a reason…go ahead! Give it a whirl!
Playing Dress Up: I know all the books say to use heavy bond white or off-white resume paper but I have talked to numerous employers in our area, and the paper choice is a lot like the number of pages choice. Employers looking at many one-page résumés are more concerned about it being easy to read, without errors, and that the job seeker is actually paying attention to detail. Let’s face it; pink scented résumés are only going to work for Reese Witherspoon. Fancy colors can really hurt you, and heavy bond paper only becomes important when looking at those higher-level positions. It doesn’t hurt to use that better paper, but it doesn’t help as much as you might think.