If possible, adhere to these formatting guidelines:
- Don't expect readers to struggle through 10 to
15 line paragraphs.
Substitute two or three shorter paragraphs or use bullets to offset new
sentences and sections.
- Don't overdo bold and italic type. Excessive use of either defeats the
purpose of these enhancements. For example, if half the type on a page is
bold, nothing will stand out.
- Use nothing smaller than 10-point type. If you want employers to review
your resume, make sure they don't need a magnifying glass!
- Don't clutter your resume. Everything you've heard about "white
space" is true. Let your document "breathe" so readers won't
have to struggle through it.
- Use an excellent printer. Smudged, faint, heavy or otherwise poor quality
print will discourage red-eyed readers.
When preparing your electronic resume, use these formatting rules:
- Type all your information starting on the left-hand side of the page.
Don't center or justify any text. These formatting commands don't transmit
well electronically.
- Length isn't as critical for electronic resumes as it is for electronic
documents. Instead of typing your technical skills in paragraph form, cite
them in a list. Also type your key words in a list instead of in column
format. They will be easier to read.
3. Spelling, Grammar and Syntax
Typographical errors signal job-search death. Your resume serve as your introduction to employers, and
indicate the quality and caliber of work you'll produce. An imperfect document
isn't acceptable.
Write your document in the active first-person tense, never the third person,
and choose language that's appropriate to the type of position you're seeking.
If you're a mid-level manager, don't use "Ph.D." language. If you're
in line for CEO, COO or other top operating slots, use words appropriate to that
level.
Proofread your resume not just once or twice, but repeatedly for
typographical and wording errors. Then ask three to five others to review it,
paying attention to your terminology and tone.
4. Content
Resumes aren't job descriptions. Still, you may have find the need to do a
bit of it. When defining your responsibilities, you must also reference it
to the size of the employer. Listing your duties as office manager may be
impressive if you managed several hundred people. Not so impressive if you
only managed yourself. If you list
responsibilities, include their scope and your contributions.
Listing all your past employment isn't necessary or helpful. It won't help
you a bit to talk about the job that you had for a week back in 1994.
Neither is it necessary to list the first job that you had at Waffle House when
you were 15 years old... nobody cares! There are no firm rules on this however, and each resume
will require different elements in varying degree.
Generalizations aren't impressive either. A resume must include
specifics -- numbers, percentages, details -- that communicate how well you
performed in the workplace."
To highlight your strengths, develop strong, results-driven position
summaries. For instance, a logistics manager might write:
Directed the planning, staffing, budgeting and operations of a four-site
logistics and warehousing operation for this $650 million automotive products
distributor. Scope of responsibility was diverse and included all purchasing,
vendor management, materials handling, inventory control, distribution
planning and field delivery operations. Managed a staff of 55 through six
supervisors. Controlled a $6.5 million annual operating budget.
- Introduced continuous improvement and quality management programs
throughout the organization. Results included a 25% increase in daily
productivity and 64% increase in customer satisfaction.
- Spearheaded cost-reduction initiatives that reduced labor costs by 18%,
overtime by 34% and material waste by 42%.
- Renegotiated key vendor contracts for a 28% reduction over previous-year
costs.
Prospective employers who read this description can sense the scope and
results of the manager's experience. Remember, recruiters won't read
between the lines for relevant information if you don't spell it out.
And if positions you held 15, 20 or 30 years ago aren't relevant to
your current career path, delete or briefly summarize them at the end. For
example, "Previous professional employment includes several
increasingly responsible management positions with the ABC Co. and XYZ
Corp." Whether you include your dates of employment depends on your
circumstances.
