Resume Writing Basics

Keep it brief!
Your resume is an overview of your qualifications--not your life story. It is a "preview of coming attractions" which creates the desire to see the rest of the show. One to two pages is the standard for a resume read by the human eye, and up to three pages for a scannable resume. If your resume is more than one page, the first page must capture the reader’s attention. If it fails to do so, the remaining pages will not be read.

Focus
Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Target your job search and your resume to your specific occupational goals.

Multiple Resumes
Generally, you should concentrate first on one well-written resume that targets your immediate job search. Make sure this resume represents you well to a wide range of employers, and is suitable for scanning. If you have more than one objective, additional resumes may be required. For example, if you are planning to pursue two distinct occupations you would need two resumes. If you only use the targeted resume approach, you would also write a unique resume to each employer.

Visual Impact
A piece of sales literature has only about two seconds to attract the reader’s attention. Similarly, the resume must attract the employer even before it is read. Many advertising techniques apply, including the use of white space, bullets, indentation and varied type style. Professional printing produces high quality, but can be expensive. Laser quality printing is an excellent alternative.

Insure Integrity
Your resume is specifically designed to paint the best picture possible of you. Place the emphasis on the positive, not the negative. It should be an honest statement of your best qualities. Your resume should hold up under scrutiny. Facts and numbers must be believable. The content of the resume should be in harmony. Dates should be consistent while experience and related activities should support your qualifications.

Scannable Resumes
Many employers and employment agencies are using electronic resume scanning systems to screen resumes, a trend that will increase in the future. When writing any resume, consider its scannability. Generally, there is little difference between a good scannable resume and one that is effective for the human eye. Ultimately, all resumes will be looked at by a person, so your resume must work for both.

Overqualified
If you consistently hear that you are overqualified or are concerned that you will be perceived as such, then you have not effectively targeted your resume. When writing your resume, target it to the level of employment and to the occupation or employer. If you are pursuing more than one distinct level of employment, then consider a separate resume for each. Present the information that you believe is important. You don’t have to tell everything. If you have an advanced degree in a field unrelated to your goal, leave it off.

Resume Content

Name Block - Use your full first name. Your address should not contain abbreviations. Your phone number should include the area code. Provide a phone number where you can be reached at all times, either by an answering machine or an alternate message number. Include an e-mail address in which you feel comfortable receiving and sending job search correspondence

ROBERT SHARP
1443 Jackson Stree
t Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
(317) 555-5555
RobSharp@aol.com

Employment or Career Objective
Include an objective when you are pursuing a specific job goal, or when you know the exact title of the position you are applying for. The objective targets your resume, but also limits its use to those jobs that match your goal. Objectives may be considered optional on your resume. You can also use a short summary of your skills and qualifications. If your objective is not included in your resume, state it in your cover letter.

Summary Statements
The summary or qualification statement documents your work experience, achievement, and skills. This statement is a summary of the experience and qualifications that are the most pertinent to the job for which you are applying. This is recommended for all job seekers as a way to get the employer’s attention. The summary should be three or four lines or a series of phrases that may be used in place of the employment objective or just following it. To be effective, the summary or qualification statement must indicate that you are qualified for the position you are seeking. It is often read first, and if it catches the reader’s attention, chances are the rest of the resume will be read.

Summary example:
Resourceful Planner/Coordinator with extensive knowledge of inventory control and on-line inventory systems. Recognized by management for innovation and initiative in implementing JIT techniques, as well as interdepartmental communications and supervisory skills.

Employment History
List your most recent employment first. A general standard is to list the last three jobs, or the last ten years, whichever comes first. Focus on recent jobs and those that are most appropriate to your goals. If you have large gaps in employment or have changed jobs frequently, consider using a functional resume. How you use your resume and the make-up of your experience will determine the amount of information to include. Many job seekers and employers use the resume as a substitute application (this is very useful if the application works against your qualifications). As a substitute application, the resume should include employer contact information. Many resumes list employer name, city and state. Contact information is provided through an employment application or reference sheet. One advantage in limiting this information is to keep the resume focused on your qualifications. Also, some people may not want a prospective employer to be able to easily reach a previous employer. The choice is yours. There is no one standard that fits all situations.

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