What makes a good resume? Talk to 50 people and you’ll probably get 50 differing responses.
So how do you take all that and create something convincing on paper?
Consider what you are dealing with: human nature. We want things to be easy:
- Make your resume easy to understand and easy to read.
- Make it easy to contact you.
- Tell people why they want to hire you by listing your skills and strengths.
What you put on paper makes a statement about you. Ask yourself what image you want to create through your fonts, use of white space, and most importantly, with clear, accurate, straightforward language. People perceive all these things just as though you were speaking.
Don't worry about that rule you've heard about keeping your resume to one page, but don’t stretch it out, either. A resume doesn't have to say it all, just enough to get them to call you for an interview. Above all, it must be honest and accurate.
Here's what
Joe Grimm has to say about resumes, followed by some of my own comments:
Joe: Generally an "objective" line is not helpful. However if you are changing directions in your career, a good objective line can help the reader look at your work experience from your point of view.
Colleen: I agree. Objectives can limit the hiring manager's view of you. If they don't have an opening that matches your objective, they may not read further. Instead of an objective, use a summary heading that makes a statement about why you're worth hiring.
Joe: Use verbs that show action, such as: founded, directed, initiated, created, led or advocated.
Colleen: Action verbs show performance -- you actually did or are doing something. That's what we need to achieve goals.
Joe: Use concrete nouns. They can help your resume show up in database searches. Useful nouns include software programs, languages, job titles and fields of study.
Colleen: What's important here is "concrete." Such nouns anchor to reality the actions described in the resume.
Joe: A resume works on multiple levels. It is not just a professional summary; it is also a sample of your work. Make it a persuasive piece of evidence that you are professional and competent.
Colleen: Amen. Like the attire you wear to the interview, the resume is your first impression -- on paper.
Joe: A well-organized resume is built in a grid format with two or three columns. Use the left margin, an indented column and a right column. Use one for employers and schools, another for dates, and the center area for longer descriptions.
Always have a good editor -- not your best friend -- edit your resume before you submit it.
Colleen: The pain of a typo on a resume cuts deep. It may cut you right out of the picture.
And we both agree that there is never any need to write "references available upon request." Instead, when you are asked for your references –- which will happen if the company is interested in hiring you –- then submit a list of references with contact information.
