Resume Writing Tips

Your resume is your sales tool, and it is without doubt the most important document you will probably ever write. Think about it – you are asking a prospective employer to judge your qualifications and experience based on a single sheet (or two) of paper. Poor resumes get trashed. Great resumes get interviews. Use your resume to advertise your accomplishments and to demonstrate your potential as an employee. The key to your resume is presenting yourself favorably as well as truthfully in the clearest, neatest and most concise way possible.

Be sensitive to the fact that the person who reviews your resume probably receives and reviews dozens (if not more) resumes each day. It is critically important that you spend lots of thought in designing and writing your resume. You need to pack useful information into as few words as possible. Employers are generally in agreement – one page resumes are best. Put the most important information at the top. Resumes are like any other document – they are read or scanned from the top down. Use a format that is structured and easy to read. Highlight key information, but use different formatting such as bold, italics or underlining with caution – overuse can make a resume hard to read.

A resume template, such as the templates from Great Resumes is a great way to start so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Put your time and effort into writing and editing. Have a friend or coworker proof read your resume before you send it out. And as with any written document, check it carefully for typos, grammatical problems, and spelling errors.

Here are a few tips related to resume writing:

Should I bypass the Human Resource Office? The advice to skip HR or Personnel and get your resume to a decision maker, such as the VP of Marketing or Finance has become almost a “mantra”. The panel agreed that while they don’t like it much, the suggestion is well founded. If a senior manager wants to hire a specific candidate, it will probably happen. But you should also have your resume or application on file with the Personnel Office as well.

Should I send two resumes? With job computers reading resumes, should you send two copies – one a plain “vanilla” for scanning, and one more attractively formatted? The panel said “no”. It creates too much paperwork for the HR department. Send only a plain version if you are not sure if a resume will be scanned. You can call a company in advance to see if they scan resumes.

Must a cover letter be attached? Yes. Cover letters are essential. Be sure to sign it and have your name typed below the signature. Do not staple the pages; staples can rip the paper!

Must you reveal salary history? When your salary requirement is requested in a recruitment ad, what happens when you duck the issue? All the panelists agreed that if you appear qualified for the position, they would try to interview you despite the fact that you didn’t name your price. One strategy is to list “negotiable” or a broad ($5000) range for salary. And don’t forget benefits!