When writing a resume, it is important to keep in mind that resumes are a reflection of you, the job candidate: sloppy resume = careless candidate; professional resume = polished candidate. Writing a solid resume takes time and effort. Consider hitting your computer keyboard today instead of the gym. The mental workout will bring you one step closer to achieving your goal of a place to call your own.
What to include on your resume
Basic Contact information-You may find this hard to believe, but some people actually send out resumes without any contact information. They then wonder why no one has called. Make it easy for the recruiter to contact you. Place your personal information front and center and remember to include your phone number and e-mail address.
Objective-Employers seek candidates that are focused. The best way to show an employer that you know what you are looking for is to include a specific objective on your resume. For example, rather than writing, Looking for an entry-level position that will enable me to use my accounting skills considering saying Seeking a staff accountant position with a public accounting firm.
Before you say, Hey, this is way too limiting! remember that you can change your objective with a click of a mouse. In fact it is a good idea to have several variations of your resume ready to send, particularly if you are seeking opportunities in different fields.
Emphasize your education-You spent four years (and lots of money) earning your degree, so why hide it? Recent grads should place their education before work experience. Add a list of related courses in your education section so employers see your solid academic background. List academic honors such as Dean's list and scholarships. Include your GPA if is at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Highlight educational experiences-When evaluating resumes, hiring managers are trying to determine what type of an employee you would be. Put yourself in the hiring manager's shoes and ask Why should I hire this person when I have resumes from 50 other college grads?
Differentiate yourself from the pack by emphasizing your unique background. For example, if you studied abroad, provide details about that experience. State what you learned by studying abroad and how you would apply that to your work situation. Include information about internships or volunteer programs you participated in. Give examples of the job duties, your contribution and the benefits and results your employer received.
Work experience-Employers actively seek candidates who possess a strong work ethic. On your resume, include all jobs that you held throughout college. Provide detailed information about jobs that are related to your major and career path. Keep descriptions to a minimum when describing unrelated work. For example, if you took a job as a nanny to pay for college expenses, you don't need to provide a detailed description of your daily interaction with the childrenunless, of course, you're applying for a job as a kindergarten teacher.
Use of keywords- Many companies manage their applicant flow through the use of technology. Resumes are received electronically or are scanned into a database. Hiring managers then retrieve resumes through the use of keywords or buzzwords. Keywords are the nouns and noun phrases used by recruiters searching through applicant databases and Web job sites for resumes meeting the requirements on job descriptions. If you want your resume to be easily retrieved, then you must include the right keywords.
To determine the right keywords search online for job descriptions that appear to be a good fit. Look for commonly used words that are used to describe job requirements or necessary skills. Make sure your resume includes as many of these words as is appropriate.
Common mistakes to avoid when putting together your first resume
Avoid typos and grammatical errors-Spell check is great but mistakes can slip by. For example, if you type the name of your university incorrectly, this error will get missed. Recruiters may assume that you don't have command of the English language if your resume contains incorrect spelling and grammatical errors. Have at least two other people proof your resume to ensure perfection.
Listing a personal website that contains inappropriate information-Your blog may be interesting to your friends and family, but it may appear offensive to people who don't know you. Many personal websites also contain photos that may be considered risqu. This is a quick way to let employers know that you lack judgment and maturity.
Avoid using fonts that are too small-Hiring managers are typically reading many resumes. Hard-to-read resumes are quickly tossed aside. As a general rule, don't go smaller than a 10-point font. Remember that font sizes are not sized equally. For example a 10-point Papyrus font is smaller than a 10-point Verdana.
Keep your resume to one page-Unless you are a returning student with extensive work experience, it is unnecessary to have more than a one-page resume. Keep it to one page even if it means leaving off the details of summer lifeguard job.
Using a complicated format and going overboard on the creativity-Employers are more interested in content then in fancy footwork. Unless you are applying for a job as a graphic designer, stick to a basic format. Remember that formats may appear differently when transmitted electronically.
If you are sending your resume to large or even medium-sized organizations that tend to receive a high volume of resumes, it helps to have a version of your resume that is scannable.
To avoid some of the formatting errors that could be misread by scanners do the following:
- Avoid enhancements like italics, underlining, or shading.
- Don't use vertical or horizontal lines, graphics or boxes.
- Print your resume using a laser printer. Use quality stock paper.
- When sending your resume, avoid folding or stapling your resume.
Scanning technology is continually changing and improving. Be alert for articles that contain up-to-date information on this topic.
Current Issue - May 2024