Resume Help Blog

Archive for the ‘Write A Resume’ Category

Be sure to avoid major pitfalls by following these resume do’s and don’ts:

1. Poor or inappropriate formatting: The first impression a resume makes is generally the most lasting. Large blocks of uninterrupted text; small margins; text that is very small; or an abundance of bolding, italics, and “designer” fonts make documents difficult to read.
2. Lack of focus: An effective resume should indicate to the reader within seven seconds or less the candidate’s targeted position and qualifications that match the opening.
3. Use of self-serving objective statements: In today’s economy, hiring managers are not interested in what a candidate wants. Rather, they seek candidates that clearly state what they can do for the targeted company in terms of cutting costs, increasing profits, and enhancing productivity.
4. Poor data prioritization: A resume should reveal the candidate’s professional and academic background as it applies to the targeted position or program being sought, and in reverse-chronological order (the last job worked or school attended is listed first within that section).
5. Failure to showcase and quantify accomplishments: Hiring managers will not read every line of a resume to determine what a candidate has to offer, especially if it’s buried within dense blocks of text. Applicants must provide special sections indicating professional or academic achievements, and these must be quantified.
6. Including non-relevant data: Hobbies and interests should never be included unless directly related to the current job search.
7. Inappropriate length: There is no one correct length for a resume. The document is as long as it needs to be in order to provide a clear and effective picture of the candidate.
8. Personalizing the document and using casual language: Modern resumes are business documents and should never be personalized with use of “I,” “my,” “we,” or other personal pronouns.
9. Redundancy of data: Once information has been provided in a resume, do not repeat it elsewhere.
10. Spelling or grammatical errors and incorrect verb tense: Once a spelling or grammatical error is detected by an admissions director or hiring manager, they will stop reading the resume.

Suppose you had just one chance to advertise yourself on a billboard overlooking a busy highway, and that passing motorists had only a few seconds to glance at it. How would you make your advertisement meaningful and memorable?

Think of your resume as a portable version of that billboard. The motorists whizzing by? Human resources professionals and other hiring entities. They don’t have time to read a jobseeker’s biography, and they don’t want to read a description of your job. (They aren’t interested in knowing that you report to work and do what an employer expects of you—the daily tasks for which you are paid.) They want to know what makes you special, how you add value and that you achieve goals, and how you can, therefore, make a difference in their organizations. They want to glance at your resume and say, “Here’s someone I need to meet.”

It’s not always easy or comfortable for people to try to “sell” themselves. There’s a fine line between hollow bragging and effective advertising. Here are some real-life examples:

Before:
Daily processing of portfolio transactions in accordance with department policies and procedures
After:
Provide investment managers and clients with accurate, time-sensitive portfolio information through diligent processing, analysis, reporting, and dissemination of cash and transaction data

Before:
Inspected, marketed, and sold properties to first-time homebuyers
After:
Created home ownership opportunities for low – and moderate-income residents who might otherwise be excluded from the housing market; provided prospective buyers with inception-through-settlement financial consulting services and education

Before:
Presented PowerPoint presentations to civic, photography, and hiking clubs around the country with client endorsements
After:
Increased revenue and brand awareness by making sales presentations to clubs and associations countrywide, incorporating customer testimonials about tour experiences as marketing technique

Before:
Daily processing of portfolio transactions in accordance with department policies and procedures
After:
Increased revenue and brand awareness by making sales presentations to clubs and associations countrywide, incorporating customer testimonials about tour experiences as marketing technique

Before:
Organized profitable and charitable events
After:
Organized and ran for-profit and charity events attracting more than 45 musicians of regional, national, and international influence in the avant-garde genre, including two-time world DMC champion DJ Klever.

You’ve heard the hype about the economy—there aren’t any jobs to be had, and things are tough all over the country. But since when do you listen to the naysayers?

Sure, you’re not going to step out of college and into a CFO position, but you’re also not stepping into a part-time job selling hot dogs on the side of the road. Being realistic about your opportunities goes both ways, and the most fatal mistake job seekers make is selling themselves short.

Be confident

Congratulations, you have a college degree! Maybe you weren’t in the top of your class with a full academic scholarship, but you have a higher education, and that means something to hiring managers. What it means exactly is that you have the latest information about your field of study. You’ve most likely worked with cutting-edge technology. And, you’re not so set in your ways that you can’t be trained. This gives you a distinct advantage over people who aren’t fresh out of school. When you go to interviews, remember this.

Be enthusiastic

College graduates have something many other job applicants don’t have. Enthusiasm! All things being equal, someone with a positive attitude will get the job over someone who is jaded, indifferent, or world weary. It’s not all about what you know. It’s also about who you are. Show hiring managers that you’re someone other people would want to work with.

Be strategic

Employers are looking for long-term investments and are hopeful that you will be loyal to their company. When they ask you what your five-year plan is, don’t tell them that you hope to be traveling in Europe, nor should you point to the company president and say, “I want to be there.” Consider your audience.

Be persistent

Don’t be so confident that you think everyone should want you. Always tailor your resume and cover letter for each position. Follow up with a phone call. If you don’t hear from the employer in four weeks, send another letter with another resume. Call again. Don’t give up until you’ve heard a definitive answer. If it’s a “no,” send a thank you letter anyway to ask that they keep you in mind for any future positions. Repeat for each job search. If you want an employer to see you’re willing to go the extra mile, show them up front.

Being a realist when it comes to job searching is hard work. Sure, it takes work to get work. But landing a job and putting yourself on the road to a successful career is worth it.