Tips on Writing a Resume

Here’s a conglomeration of some tips on writing a resume:

1)      Try to keep your sentences to a medium length; this is one area where you don’t want to stand out.  Think 10-20 words.  Beef up the shorten ones, chop the long ones.

2)      Use short paragraphs.  Three sentences is the sweet spot, but a little shorter or longer is fine too.  Prefer shorter.

3)      Utilize action words whenever possible.  They stand out in your resume and give it more impact.

4)      List specific examples in your resume of how you accomplished things.  Give your prospective employer something concrete that you’ve done for them to reference.

5)      Focus on information that is relevant to the job you are applying for.  Pull in any data you wouldn’t normally include that may relate, and eliminate those things you might normally have in your resume that do not bear on the current job.

6)      Do not include references in your resume.  There’s no need for it, and employers will ask if they need to speak to someone about you.

7)      Keep it real #1 – do not exaggerate or lie on your resume.  Keep things as accurate as you can; it’ll help you during the interview process as well as if you get the job.

8)      Keep it real #2 – keep your language and content as down to earth and realistic as possible.  Gimmicks are just that, and unlikely to garner favor with an employer.

9)      Do not include reasons for leaving a job, reasons for taking a job, or pretty much a reason for anything.  If someone asks you in an interview why you left a job, it’s fine to give them an answer (avoid negative comments), but do not include this in your resume.

10)   Include a cover letter whenever you submit your resume.  This gives you a chance to sell yourself to your employer, and also lets you target the specific job and organization more specifically.  Make sure to clarify why you are a good choice for the resume.

Check out the rest of the site for more tips on writing a resume.  After all, your resume is your ticket into a new job or new career.  Making it as effective as possible is of paramount importance.