Resumes

A resume is a brief account of one’s professional or work experience and qualifications, often submitted with an employment application.   It is a selling tool that outlines your skills and experiences so an employer can see, at a glance, how you can contribute to their company.

Facts

• A job often attracts between 100 and 1000 resumes.
• 1 interview for every 200 resumes is granted.
• Each resume is quickly scanned rather than read – 10 to 20 seconds is all you have to persuade a prospective employer to read further.

Before you begin

Think of your resume as an advertisement.  A great resume doesn’t simply tell them what you have done, but makes the same assertion that all ads do: If you buy this product, you will get these specific, direct benefits.  There is no need to hard sell or make any claims that are not true, but you will need to be willing to boast about yourself.

Focus on the employer’s needs, not yours

• Put yourself in the shoes of the person doing the hiring.
• Be clear on what the employer is looking for and what you have to offer.
• Look for connections between what you have done and what the employer is looking for.
• Ask yourself these questions:

1. What would make someone the perfect candidate?
2. What special abilities would this person have?
3. What would set a truly exceptional candidate apart from a merely good one?
4. What does the employer really want?

Brainstorm about why you are the person who best fulfills the employer’s needs.  Write down everything you have ever done that demonstrates how you fit perfectly with what is wanted and needed by the prospective employer.

Choose a format

• Chronological – the most traditional format.  The Experience section is the focus of the resume; each job is described with some detail following.  Primarily used when staying in the same profession.  An objective or summary is recommended with this format.  Advantages: May appeal to more traditional readers.  Is easy to understand what was done in previous jobs.
• Functional – highlights major skills and accomplishments from the beginning.  Company names and positions are in a subordinate position with no description.  Highly recommended for those changing careers.  Advantages: Extremely helpful in reaching for a new goal or direction.  Helps the reader see clearly what you can do for them.
• Combination – includes elements of both chronological and functional formats and is becoming the most widely used format.  Follows the basic form of the chronological resume, but highlights skills and abilities, line by line under each job listing.  Uses a summary to accent qualifications and marketable skills.  Advantages: Maximizes the advantages of both kinds of resumes.

Your resume must contain

• Name – make it the biggest, boldest print on the page and easy to read.
• Contact information – include your complete permanent address and temporary address (if applicable) along with phone numbers and e-mail address. 
• Professional Experience – list employment in reverse chronological order.  In addition to paid work history, you can include internships, volunteer work, and military experience.  Avoid naming this section “Employment” or “Work History”, which sound lower level.
• Education – list education in reverse chronological order.  Be sure to include advanced training only if it is relevant to the job desired.

• Objective – A brief statement that targets your professional goals, it can be the most powerful statement in your resume.  All other elements should support this statement.  Helps employers determine whether your goals are compatible with their needs.  Your objective should state:

1. I want exactly the job you are offering.
2. I am a superior candidate because I have the qualities that are most important to you.
3. I want to make a contribution to your company.

• Summary – This is the spiciest part of the resume.  Go back to your list of questions and look for the qualities the employer will care about most.  The qualities you choose should be the most compelling demonstrations of why they should hire you instead of other candidates.  This is the one place to include professional characteristics, for example: extremely energetic, a natural salesperson, exceptional interpersonal skills, committed to excellence.  Gear every word of your summary to your targeted goal.  Guideline to follow when writing your summary:

1. A short phrase describing your profession.
2. Followed by a statement of broad or specialized expertise.
3. Followed by two or three statements related to any of the following:
   • Depth of skills
   • Unique mix of skills
   • Range of environments in which you have experience
   • A special or well-documented accomplishments
   • A history of awards, promotions, or superior performance commendations
4. One or more professional or appropriate personal characteristics.
5. A sentence describing professional objective or interest.

• Skills – Basically, you do exactly what you did in the previous section, except you go into more detail.  Let them know what you produced, what happened as a result of your efforts, what you are especially gifted at doing.   Draw from your paid or unpaid work experience and education, keeping in mind the needs of the position you are hoping to fill.
• Associations – You may include memberships in trade associations, professional societies, alumni and volunteer groups.
• Hobbies and Activities – Advantages: Can indicate a skill or area of knowledge that is related to the goal.  Can create common ground or spark conversation in an interview.  May reveal talents or personality traits an employer finds desirable.  Disadvantages: May be irrelevant to the job goal and resume purpose or meaningless to the prospective employer.

Hints for a great presentation

Visually enticing

• Make sure your resume is symmetrical, balance, uncrowded, and easy to read.
• Sections of writing should not be longer than six lines.
• Provide as much white space between sections of writing as possible.
• Check for consistency, uniformity, and parallelism in design.

No errors

• Typographical
• Spelling
• Grammar
• Syntax
• Punctuation
• Errors of fact

Strengths highlighted, weaknesses de-emphasized

• Focus on what is strongest and most impressive.
• Make careful and strategic choices as to how to organize and convey your skills and background.

Concise writing

• Keep writing short and direct.
• Use power words liberally. 
• Use phrases rather than full sentences when possible.
• Remain consistent in writing – use of capitalization, abbreviations, and punctuation.
• Spell out numbers under and including 10; use numerical form for numbers over 10.

Production

• Use a laser printer or one that produces high-quality results.
• Use a standard conservative font.
• Use 10 to 12 point font.
• Use white, off-white, or cream quality bond paper. (Matching sheets for cover letter and references.)

Review the finished product and ask yourself the following questions

• Does it present you in the best light?
• Does it convince the employer that you have what it takes to be successful in this new position or career?
• Is it so pleasing to the eye that the reader is enticed to pick it up and read it?
• Does it stimulate interest in meeting you and learning more about you?
• Does it inspire the prospective employer to pick up the phone and ask you to come in for an interview?