About That Resume
About That Resume
Resumes are an important part of any job search and often represent a potential employer’s first impression of you. With this in mind, here are some important tips to keep in mind in developing your resume:
1. Remember that no one ever hired a resume. A resume is not a deal maker, but it can be a deal breaker. A good resume is not a substitute for solid credentials and accomplishments and having a good resume is not a substitute for effective job search strategies, like networking. The purpose of the resume is to get an interview… period.
2. A resume should never be more that 2 pages (even for senior executives). A single page resume is fine, provided the font is not squeezed and hard to read (figure the typical hiring manager is 45-50 and wears bifocals).
3. Use different fonts, different sizes and symbols to make the resume more visually appealing. They are easier on the human eye and more likely to be read. Also, always use a symbol where you can instead of words (e.g. 5%, not five percent).
4. Stress accomplishments where you can instead of just listing responsibilities. Being ‘responsible for’ something doesn’t really mean anything.
5. Use action verbs to describe positions, duties and achievements (e.g. created, developed, organized, managed).
6. The typical resume is reviewed, not read, the first time for only about 30 seconds and it is often not read first by the decision maker. And so….
7. Keep jargon out of your resume. If the term or acronym is not commonly known, do not use it. Use the generic terminology or you might get screened out for the wrong reason.
8. The resume should flow from most important to least important. If your degree is not the most important item on your resume, then don’t put it first.
9. We suggest having someone else review your resume for typos and clarity. Do a spell check. Most employers will screen out resumes with typos and grammar errors.
10.A resume should have an objective or at least a summary so the reader is clear about what you are pursuing (remember, the #1 job search mistake is lack of focus). In larger firms, there may be multiple openings and the reviewer may not be clear which job you are seeking.
11.List dates of employment in years and list them on the right side of the page. Go about 20 years and it is ok to simply summarize earlier positions without dates
12. There are 3 kinds of resumes: Chronological, Functional and Hybrid or Combination. The Chronological resume stresses career history, starting with the most recent position. This is used most commonly when a job seeker is pursuing the same type of work or similar work. The Functional resume highlights particular strengths that may not be apparent in a career history. This is used most commonly when a job seeker is changing fields or has been with one organization a long time. The Hybrid or Combination resume combines elements of both the Chronological and Functional resumes and is often a nice format for stressing strengths without minimizing career history. Samples of all 3 types are shown elsewhere in the resource section for job seekers.
Dick Cipoletti, MPA, PMC
RCC Associates
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