12
Resume Tips
Don
Schmitz/Human Resource Staffing
Your
resume is a picture of you. This is what the interviewer will
see when they review your resume. It's worth the time to make
it the best you can.
1
.
Develop
a summary to begin your resume
This
summary should include your top 3 or 4 best traits. Keep it
simple and share what are your best skills and get into your
experience quickly.
2.
White space
You
must have white space on your resume. By white space I mean
space to breathe. If you include too much information on any
one page, no one will want to read it. Your font should be
simple 10-point-font using Times New Roman or Arial. Your
resume has to be clean, neat and consistent to be noticed.
Everything should line up; dates, companies, years worked
and company information.
3.
Forget the cover letter
Some
employees still believe a cover letter is important but employers
do not. Spend your time networking, reviewing company research,
and making phone calls instead. Resume reviewers spend an
average of 15 seconds reviewing resumes; they just don't have
time to review your cover letter.
4.
Buzz words
Today
more than in the past you must include the right buzz words
because of the ability to scan for keywords. These are the
specific skills vital to your position. They may include software
programs, licenses, accreditation, education, etc.
5.
Too many years of experience
No
one is asking you to lie about your experience but having
more than 15 years of experience is only going to make it
more difficult to find the right job. If you feel you must
include previous experience, do so briefly.
6.
Quantify whenever possible
Employers
like to see numbers and percentages. Think money and always
consider what the employer wants; cutting costs, increasing
sales, reducing employees etc.
7.
Action words
Start
each bullet with a different action word and never repeat
the action word. Good words include; created, led, recruited,
hired, trained, measured, reduced, reorganized etc. The emphasis
should be on your achievements not company duties.
8.
Size of companies
Don't
assume people know the size of the companies where you worked.
Add this information immediately after the company name. Use
the annual sales or number of employees.
9.
Dates of employment
Inaccurate
dates of employment could eliminate you from consideration.
If you can't remember the specific month and year, call your
former employer and verify your start and end date. More people
lie or don't tell the whole truth about the dates of employment
than anything else.
10.
Keep it simple
Too
much information is a turn off. Use bullets and provide enough
information to inspire questions but simple enough to want
them to read on. As far as length is concerned, the best advice
would be to “keep it simple” but if you need to use two or
three pages, don't panic. Avoid the use of headers, footers
and tables.
11.
Spelling errors, typos and poor grammar
Spelling
errors, typos and poor grammar are some of the first things
potential employers notice on a resume. Make sure you check
and recheck each time you revise your resume for errors. Have
several people read through your resume and invite them to
ask you questions based on the information. Google the software
to be sure you spell the names correctly.
12.
More than one resume
You
may want to have more than one resume but always have a standard
resume. Customize your standard resume when you know more
about what the client is seeking for a particular position.
