"You only get one chance to make a first impression." In the professional world, that first chance is your resume. I have seen hundreds of resumes and it is still shocking to me, that most resumes look like some dreaded homework essay that no one wants to write or read. Resumes are an important tool for landing the job you deserve. They are easy to write and easy to make stand out. Here are some tips to help you with your resume writing process.
List things backwards - An important thing you should keep in mind is to start from the latest information and then move backwards. Start from your recent education and mention the subjects studied at your college, school, courses, etc. Similarly, start from the latest job responsibilities you are holding.
Employment history - Don't stress out over exact dates. It is far more important to tell a quick sentence about what you learned while working there. You can even do a short bullet list for each job. I like to list 2 or 3 items for each position. These items can be responsibilities, skills learned, accomplishments, or other factors about the work environment.
Get focused - Nothing kills a resume like being to general. Showcase the skills that apply to a specific job role. If you want to apply for multiple positions, then make multiple resumes. Do NOT make a resume that you want to try to use across multiple industries and jobs.
Consistency - You must be consistent with your number usage (dates, money, numbers), plurals, and abbreviations. For example, don't list one date as 8/2004 and then list another date as 3/15/2004. Also, be aware of listing software consistently (abbreviation use). MS Word and Microsoft Outlook are both correct, but not consistent.
Ampersands - Ampersands (&) do not belong on a resume. There are a few exceptions. One exception is a well-known company name (AT&T). Another exception is well-known industry terms (P&L).
Whatever you do, don't blend in to the rest of the resumes on the stack. Use powerful language, color, and stories to stand out. Trust me, the person reading it does not care too much about exact dates and section headings. Tell them a story and appeal to their senses, interests, or whatever you can. Strike a chord with them and they will strike a deal with you.
List things backwards - An important thing you should keep in mind is to start from the latest information and then move backwards. Start from your recent education and mention the subjects studied at your college, school, courses, etc. Similarly, start from the latest job responsibilities you are holding.
Employment history - Don't stress out over exact dates. It is far more important to tell a quick sentence about what you learned while working there. You can even do a short bullet list for each job. I like to list 2 or 3 items for each position. These items can be responsibilities, skills learned, accomplishments, or other factors about the work environment.
Get focused - Nothing kills a resume like being to general. Showcase the skills that apply to a specific job role. If you want to apply for multiple positions, then make multiple resumes. Do NOT make a resume that you want to try to use across multiple industries and jobs.
Consistency - You must be consistent with your number usage (dates, money, numbers), plurals, and abbreviations. For example, don't list one date as 8/2004 and then list another date as 3/15/2004. Also, be aware of listing software consistently (abbreviation use). MS Word and Microsoft Outlook are both correct, but not consistent.
Ampersands - Ampersands (&) do not belong on a resume. There are a few exceptions. One exception is a well-known company name (AT&T). Another exception is well-known industry terms (P&L).
Whatever you do, don't blend in to the rest of the resumes on the stack. Use powerful language, color, and stories to stand out. Trust me, the person reading it does not care too much about exact dates and section headings. Tell them a story and appeal to their senses, interests, or whatever you can. Strike a chord with them and they will strike a deal with you.
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