Resumé Pointers

Resumes are sales documents.

Your objective in preparing a resume and cover letter is to create a professional first impression that results in an interview. Below are some pointers for preparing a powerful, succinct document. However, don't overlook the basics of performing a spelling/grammar check and thoroughly proofreading the document. Nothing will turn off the reader faster than spelling or grammatical errors.

To construct a powerful, succinct resume, you first need to put on your sales hat. To be an effective salesperson, you need to know your audience. It is reasonably safe to assume that your resume will be processed in one of two ways:

1. Either a financial or IT professional or someone familiar with the functional subject matter will perform the initial screening by reviewing all resumes and prioritizing those who will be interviewed. Due to time constraints, screeners seldom read every word on your resume. They want to know what you've done, when you've done it and for what type of organization.

2. Today many companies screen resumes electronically into a database program. Therefore, your resume:

• Should reflect key words found in the company's job description if they accurately reflect your background. Customizing your resume to focus on your specific skills and qualifications that relate to the job opening is worth the extra effort.
• Is likely to be imported into the company's database in a text format. Avoid using a lot of font sizes, font types, bold face, italics, underlines and tables, which do not transfer in many electronic media.

Although your resume is a sales document, don't be too fancy with your format. Your experience and accomplishments should stand out, not the odd-colored paper or unusual font.

Resumé order and substance

• Be accurate and honest. Don't omit jobs from your resume to hide them.
• Prepare a reverse-chronological resume, with the most recent employment at the top. Functional resumes are desirable for consultants.
• Do not list your work phone number unless you are willing to take the risk that someone will call you at work and announce that he or she has received your resume. The same is true about your work e-mail address.
• If you include an objective on your resume, make sure it is written specifically for the job opening. An inappropriate objective actually can rule you out of a job.
• For each employer on your resume, provide a one-sentence description of the company including its location and size, what it does, and whether it is a corporation, division, branch, plant, service center, etc.
• If you have been promoted while working for a company, list each job to show the accomplishment implied by the progression. Provide dates for each position.
• If you have worked for a company both before and after a change in ownership, generally you will not list both companies separately, but will indicate the corporate change.
• Use action verbs whenever possible.
• Many companies have their own jargon for reports and activities. Instead of using terms that others will not understand on your resume, use terms that are more widely used and understood.
• A section on your resume called "Computer skills" or "Software skills" is a good place to summarize the software technologies with which you are proficient.
• If you are a college graduate, do not list your high school education.
• Include activities with professional and trade associations, special skills and recent courses taken if they relate to the job opportunity.
• Exclude personal information such as marital status, age, social activities, and personal or religious philosophies.
• Do not list references on your resume or state: "References available on request." If interviewers want your references they know to ask you for them.
• If an ad requests a salary range, include it in the cover letter. Do not give salary information on your resume.

Resumé Format

• Most people center their name, address, phone numbers and e-mail addresses at the top of the resume.
• It's great if your resume is one page long. If you have several years of experience or have had several jobs, two pages probably will be necessary, and that is fine. However, try to avoid listing on the second page anything that you want to make sure is noticed, because many people don't read the second page very carefully.
• Keep sentences and paragraphs short. Use bullet point statements, not paragraphs, to describe your job duties and accomplishments. Bullet points are easier to read.
• When listing dates, the preferred level of detail is months and years. Right- or left-justify all dates on your resume such as: dates of employment, dates of each position held and dates of education, as this creates a clearer timeline for the reader and is a better use of space. If you have held only one position within a company, list the dates on the company line only. If you have had two or more positions within a company, list the dates on both the company line and each line where you list a title. Omitting dates suggests that you are trying to hide something.
• Don't use "I," the first person pronoun, in any part of the resume.
• Use white or ivory bond paper, and black ink. While colored paper may stand out, it scans poorly.

Cover letters

• Cover letters sent in response to print advertisements or online postings are seldom read, sometimes scanned. In spite of this, always send a cover letter.
• Customize the cover letter to the position for which you are applying. Do not say, "The position appears to fit my skills and experience," unless you also tell them why.
• Keep the letter brief and to the point.