| When it comes to resume writing, everyone has | | | | Duty-oriented resumes won't impress. Resumes |
| an opinion. But, here you are, faced with the | | | | that read like a job descriptions are viewed by |
| daunting task of writing your resume. Think of | | | | recruiters and employers as "obituaries." To |
| your resume as your ticket to interviews-to | | | | attract and keep their attention show them what |
| introduce your qualifications and open doors. In | | | | you can do. Concentrate on your success |
| today's highly competitive job market, employers | | | | stories-the goals you have achieved and |
| and search firms are not settling for the average | | | | contributions you have made to employers-and |
| candidate. Therefore, your resume should present | | | | quantify wherever applicable. Use the |
| you as the most qualified candidate. If you're not | | | | Challenge-Context-Action-Results formula to help |
| sure where to start, the following points from | | | | you identify and highlight your relevant successes |
| employers and recruiters will provide the guidance | | | | on your resume. Include noteworthy awards. |
| you need to make sure your resume makes the | | | | Choose the right format for your background and |
| cut. | | | | goal. A chronological format will work best for |
| Generic objectives and introductions are | | | | those who have had a progressive employment |
| meaningless. Employers and recruiters will spend | | | | history with increasingly responsible positions and |
| no more than 15-30 seconds to take a glance at | | | | are aiming for a similar position or the next step in |
| your resume. Therefore, if your resume begins | | | | their career path. The modified chronological or |
| with a general objective such as "Seeking a | | | | hybrid style resume will be more appropriate for |
| position where I may use my financial, analytical | | | | those who experience has been varied or have |
| and communication skills...," you have lost your | | | | held diverse positions in different industries. In |
| opportunity to make an impact. Instead, skip the | | | | addition, such a format will be particular helpful if |
| vague objectives and write a targeted Career | | | | you want to emphasize accomplishments from |
| Profile that focuses on your signature skills, areas | | | | positions prior to your present. To create a hybrid |
| of expertise, certifications and specific | | | | style format, include a profile or introduction |
| achievements you have acquired in your career | | | | section at the beginning of your resume that |
| that are relevant to your next career move. | | | | focuses on the relevant skills and expertise for |
| Forget the tired phrases such as "hard worker," | | | | your target position, followed by a section |
| "team player" or "excellent communication skills. | | | | highlighting the best of your prior, more relevant |
| A "one-size fits all" resume won't work. If you are | | | | accomplishments along with the name of the |
| searching for different types of positions that | | | | employer. Then, your employment section can be |
| require different skill sets, even though they may | | | | developed in chronology-without repeating the |
| be within your field, develop two versions of your | | | | selected achievements highlighted. |
| resume. Craft targeted employer-focused | | | | Partial or missing contact information may prevent |
| resumes that show that you are a match for the | | | | you from being contacted. Your full contact |
| specific positions. Begin each resume with a | | | | information should be listed on both your resume |
| focused profile or summary introduction that | | | | (all pages) and cover letter in the same point size |
| quickly summarizes your relevant background. | | | | as the rest of your documents. Faxed documents |
| Then present the experience and quantifiable | | | | are typically reduced. If you use a small point size, |
| accomplishments that illustrate your expertise and | | | | it may not be legible when faxed. Make sure to |
| support your target position(s) in your | | | | include your personal-not office-email address. It |
| employment history. Remember to include your | | | | could risk your position, and employers will view it |
| industry certifications and licenses, if applicable. | | | | as misuse of company property. |
| Bland, outdated formats will fall flat. Visual | | | | Misleading information can be dangerous. |
| appearance is important. Create your Microsoft | | | | Employers may verify educational credentials and |
| Word resume so that it is reader-friendly and | | | | will conduct background and reference checks. |
| professional-stick with basic fonts such as Times, | | | | Choose your words carefully to avoid possible |
| Tahoma, Arial, Palatino, Garamond or Book | | | | confusion. For example, if you had an active role |
| Antiqua in a legible point size (10 or 11 typically for | | | | on the negotiations team, say so. However, if |
| the content and headings, and 14 or 16 point for | | | | your role was as an observer, be clear about it. |
| your name). Avoid the undergraduate style with | | | | Regarding education, if you are 3 credits shy of a |
| employment dates prominently on the left side of | | | | degree or your certification is underway, don't |
| your page, taking up excessive space. Use clear | | | | indicate completion. Instead list it as follows: MBA |
| headings and bullets to accentuate each | | | | in progress, anticipated graduation in May 2005. If |
| accomplishment rather than a long row of bullets | | | | your certifications/licenses and memberships have |
| that extends from top to bottom of each page | | | | expired, don't list them. |
| for all content-or nothing will stand out. Stay away | | | | Inaccurate or no dates will be a red flag. Missing |
| from flamboyant designs, the telltale Microsoft | | | | dates or employment gaps that stretch for a few |
| Word or other resume templates commonly used | | | | years could send your resume to the circular file. |
| by job seekers, colors (black only) or fancy | | | | If you have employment gaps, use starting and |
| graphics-which are inappropriate for professional | | | | ending years only. Don't draw attention to the |
| resumes. Use bold lines sparingly. Avoid the | | | | gaps by listing months. You can use the cover |
| hard-to-decipher italic typeface. | | | | letter to explain any gaps in your employment |
| Too little or too much information isn't effective. | | | | history. To close the gap on your resume, you |
| Resume length will vary based on your | | | | can also list on your resume the years related to |
| experience and level. Lengthy, rambling resumes | | | | getting another degree, a sabbatical or volunteer |
| won't be read. Resumes presenting two or three | | | | work if you were raising a family. |
| lines of per position are no likely to communicate | | | | Don't include personal information. Personal |
| enough key information. The general rule of | | | | information or photos do not belong on resumes |
| thumb is to include 10-15 years of relevant | | | | for U.S. employers. Do not include your age, |
| experience and minimize your early, entry level | | | | marital status, race, hobbies, political affiliation or |
| positions to a few lines at most-eliminate | | | | anything else that could be controversial on your |
| altogether if those positions are not related to | | | | resume. However, if you are creating a CV for |
| your current career. If you are a seasoned | | | | application to a non-U.S. employer overseas, then |
| professional or executive with 15+ years of | | | | including personal data will be expected by some |
| experience, you are likely to need two | | | | countries. |
| pages-even three is sometimes acceptable-but | | | | No relevant experience is a liability. Employers and |
| only if you have relevant accomplishments from | | | | recruiters today are flooded with resumes of |
| your earlier career that is related to your new | | | | candidates who lack the required qualifications for |
| goal. As a recent graduate or professional with | | | | the positions. Today's competitive employment |
| one or two positions, a one-page resume will | | | | market can bring hundreds of applicants per |
| suffice. | | | | opening. You have to be a close fit to warrant a |
| Typos, poor grammar and spelling errors may be | | | | call for an interview-especially with companies that |
| cause for instant rejection. Keep in mind that the | | | | use applicant tracking systems and keyword |
| grammar and spell check feature on your word | | | | search resumes to identify those that match their |
| processing program isn't foolproof. So, proofread, | | | | needs. A popular notion is to send your resume |
| proofread and proofread again-or have someone | | | | because you have "nothing to lose" or that they |
| else review it for you. Errors make a statement | | | | may have another opening for which you may be |
| about your attention to detail and could cost you | | | | appropriate. However, if you don't meet the |
| the interview. | | | | requirements, it's usually better to look elsewhere. |