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As a rule, a resume will not guarantee that you'll get in the door of a prospective employer, but it will keep you from entering if not well done. A resume needs to be effective to get the desired result.
Here's the simple truth: when hiring managers, human resource departments, and yes, even recruiters, review a resume they are looking for reasons to exclude you, not include you. Resumes are plentiful and their time is limited. People who have positions to fill have a short period of time to review yours. They scan it looking for "red flags", forming an instant judgment of whether you need attention (ahhh, that first impression adage) or instead, your paper ought to be placed in the round filing cabinet on the floor near their desk. That round filing cabinet gets full quickly and easily, so let's look at ways to avoid that downfall.
I offer three words: Simple…Readable…Logical.
SIMPLE
A resume should be one page if at all possible or two at the most. It serves as the appetizer which gets you invited to the meal. There are different types of resume formats such as the functional and chronological which will be covered in detail in the member's area, but regardless of format, a brief summary is most effective. Your life story in novel form is not. A resume is, in short, a snapshot of your qualifications.
Contact information should always be at the top of the resume. That would seem to be common sense, but over the years I have received resumes–believe it or not–with a phone number omitted, an address missing, no email contact information included, and even once or twice with no name. I have never seen am employer hire an anonymous candidate and they aren't going to track you down because your possible identity is just so very intriguing. Make sure they can reach you in a number of ways.
In today's world of technology, email access is essential. One word to the wise: have a "normal" email address. If your email address says that you are a "snowbunnyforfun" or a "speedracersupreme", I can guarantee a trip to the round file will happen.
READABLE
Be conservative in your choices when structuring your resume. "Flamboyant" is not a plus unless interviewing for a Broadway show. Good quality white bond paper and plain black font are always best. Flashy colors, neon colored paper, unusual fonts, pictures, graphics, etc., all detract rather than add. What you bring to the table in attitude, education, training, experience and accomplishment are far more important that having a pretty, eye-catching resume.
Easy readability is so important. As an example, a simple statement of fact with a bullet point when detailing an achievement is far more effective than a full sentence. "Exceeded sales plan by 100% in 2008″ preceded by a bullet is far more effective than a dissertation of how you achieved it. Remember, a resume isn't a novel or a short story; it's the liner notes that make the reader want to open the book.
Don't be ambiguous. Bold and brash, even flowery statements with no facts to substantiate them are pointless. For example, a sales rep who says in a resume he or she "significantly improved" or "substantially increased" sales is rendering statements that may be true, but the phrases themselves are meaningless. My first question would be, "Compared to what?" I'd rather see details of a specific goal met being met opposed to a sentence that is not definitive. Believe me, I am not alone in this sentiment.
While keeping readability in mind, what you leave out is just as important as what you leave in. Extraneous information can be cut. Listing your personal interests, hobbies, things you do for fun, etc. will not impress if they in no way relate to the task at hand. They have no bearing on your ability to do the job. Being in "excellent health", though a good thing, is generally considered a throwaway on a resume. "References upon request" is also an unnecessary phrase. It should be understood that references will be provided. If you can't provide references you either have terrible people skills or you don't exist. They will ask for references when appropriate.
LOGICAL
Employers only hire when they have a problem they need solved. They don't hire because they like having employees or need more people at the company picnic. A resume that follows a logical order will help them see what you offer to solve that problem at a glance. Remember, if they can't reach you it's pointless, so contact information is always at the top. This should be followed by an "objective" or "summary statement". The objective needs to reflect the exact position you seek and also the reason you are the solution to the employers problem. A word of caution here: don't be too specific, but don't be oblique either. I will use a sales example again. "Healthcare sales professional with a record of achievement seeks…" followed by the kind of position you are seeking and what you bring to the table is appealing. A paragraph detailing how your grandpa told you sales was for you, why you love people, how they love you, and how you like making then happy by calling on them will guarantee a fast trip into that round filing cabinet.
Assuming I'm still looking at and reading your resume at this point, next I look to "career history" or "professional experience". Always use reverse chronological order. List your most recent position first and work backwards from there. BE ACCURATE! Provide dates of employment (i.e.: 5-02 to 8-07, not 2002-2007). List all positions/jobs since college with the company name, your position, and a brief description of what your functions and responsibilities were. Always include accomplishments. Bullet points with quantifiable numbers are preferred as we covered earlier.
You may have had a sketchy work history due to a number of factors and perhaps you fear that listing everything will make you look like a job hopper. You will hear different advice in this situation. Some people will tell you that you need not include anything more than ten or some other number of years old. Some people will also tell you to leave out short-term situations. Here is my advice: DO NOT LIE OR OMIT. There are ways to structure a resume which take the focus off that particular problem but regardless of how you position it, you will be in worse shape if the omission get's you in the door and is later discovered
Companies today do check backgrounds more than they did years ago and in much more detail with greater scrutiny. It's easy today with the internet, and many companies hire firms that specialize in detailed background checks as well. If you lie, fudge or omit, they will find it and you'll be dead in the water. I have seen it all: the degree that doesn't exist; the dates of employment which are false or fudged; the gaps in employment covered up or unexplained; the short term position omitted because "I was only there two months"; etc. I have seen people lose the position they wanted because of these reasons and have even seen people terminated after hire. Is it worth it? It isn't.
The final section of the resume is the educational history. List the college/university attended and years attended including the year you graduated. Your major and a GPA are always helpful. If college wasn't your route, detail the trade school you attended with the same information. If a high school grad only, do the same. In addition, specialized career training can be listed under educational credentials.
In summary, your resume is the passport which allows you to enter through the portal of a future employer. Beyond the portal is the place where you can shine and be the solution to their problem, thereby contributing to their success and yours. Getting in the door requires the right passport. By keeping it simple, readable, and logical you will greatly increase the possibility that your resume will grant you that entry and ensure your future career success.
Copyright 2009
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