Most people spend too much time on their resumes. After all, the reader will probably spend only 8-10 seconds before moving on to the next one. At the same time, many resumes I see need serious help, so here are some general guidelines:
- Objective – Don’t list one. Your objective is whatever job you’re applying for.
- Summary – This should be the first major element of your resume that lists major strengths that would add value to an employer’s organization.
- The “Meat and Potatoes” – Give a brief description of your responsibilities and then describe how well you did your job (bullets are great here). If you can quantify those accomplishments with numbers, %, $, etc., it’s far better.
- Awards and Decorations – Don’t list them but do incorporate wording used in awards (and performance appraisals) into your work history accomplishments. Third party praise about you always carries more weight.
- The Basics – Don’t use colored or expensive paper, 1-2 pages, leave plenty of “white space”, and don’t crowd the margins (1/2” min., preferably ¾”-1”).
- Layout – Unless you recently graduated from college, your degree(s) should be at or near the end of your resume.
- References – Don’t list them; don’t even mention “available on request”. If asked for them, have a list ready and then contact your references to prep them and send them a copy of your resume to refresh their memory.
- ATS – Does your resume get past the “Applicant Tracking Systems” that most large and many medium size companies use? See http://bit.ly/15cLu7b
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