Most people do not know that a position advertised on
the internet can receive over 300 resumes per advertised position!! That
number doesn't even include the hoards of unsolicited resumes received
weekly. That's a lot of competition. Getting in the door is today's
toughest challenge.In addition to very
powerful verbiage and eye-catching design, there are a few resume basics
that must be followed to generate employer attention. While these are not
the only practices that apply, they are general enough to help ensure that
you're on the right track.
Presentation:
Proof your resume carefully for errors and have others proof it too. There
should be no typos, misspellings or grammatical mistakes. Take the extra
step by printing your resume on quality bond paper to give it substance.
Focus: While objective statements are usually unnecessary (either too
vague or very limiting), it’s important that your resume maintain a focus.
This can be done via powerful profile/summary statement and by
concentrating on the relevant experiences, skills and accomplishments that
relate to the industry you wish to pursue.
Focus: While
objective statements are usually unnecessary (either too vague or very
limiting), it's important that your resume maintain a focus. This can be
done via powerful profile/summary statement and by concentrating on the
relevant experiences, skills and accomplishments that relate to the
industry you wish to pursue.
Experience:
Listing your experience is a given, but take your experience to the next
level by adding accomplishments to your daily duties. Example, if one of
your responsibilities is "customer service," provide the results of
particular customer service activities using action-oriented statements.
Information: Limit
your information to professional relevance only. Do not include personal
information (age, marital status, sex) and don't mention why you left your
other positions. Employers do not care if you were let go or if the
company went out of business. That's interviewing material. And NEVER
mention salary information on a resume. Period.
Education: Provide
the name and location of the school and type of degree/major. High school
is not necessary, but internships may be helpful if relevant. Don't forget
to include any professional development activities such as seminars or
specialized training. If you've been in the workforce for 5 years or more,
the actual date is not necessary, nor is your GPA…your experience is what
matters at this point in your career.
Page Length: No
longer is it considered mandatory to have a one-page resume. As long as
the information provides VALUE to the reader (not fluff), is relevant to
your career goal and you have at least 5 years of experience under your
belt, don't worry about length. Naturally, you don't need to write a book
if you have a 30-year career, so focus on the most recent 10-12 years or
so.
References: The
standard statement of "References Available upon Request"is not necessary.
However, if the placement of the comment balances out the resume
presentation, feel free to include it. Don't, however, incorporate
references on the resume itself or send a reference list with the resume.
Employers aren't ready for that at this stage of the game.
Project List: if
you have any sort of project list or portfolio of your work, feel free to
add it as an attachment. These additional Materials always helps to
evaluate your skill level and qualifications
