Writing a resume

Writing a good resume is like telling a good story. If you leave out the details people will not understand your story. The same is true for the resumes. If you leave out the details they will not know you are qualified for the position.

Resume writers make the mistake of thinking that skills that took years to learn do not need to be included in their resume because everyone should know, “What I do.” The following is a brief explanation of how to dramatically increase the likelihood that the submission of your resume will result in an interview and hopefully employment.

Remember these are my opinions and only my opinions, so take them or leave them the choice is yours

The Hard Facts of Life

1. The person reading it knows nothing about your industry and could care less
2. The person reading it wants to see the same words in the resume as are in the job description
3. The person reading it will discard the resume if they do not see what they want in the first 5 to 10 seconds because there are plenty more where that one came from.
4. Resume writers do not set the rules, the employer does, so learn how the game is played.

Resume Myths
1. Resumes should not exceed one page
2. Resumes should contain only a brief outline of your skills and experience because you can tell them the rest during an interview

Resume Realities
1. The resume should be tailored to the job description and company
2. The resume should not exceed 4 pages with 1 – 3 pages being the norm
3. As much as is possible include only the information that is directly applicable to the job unless it shows some kind of accomplishment or achievement
4. The resume should be easy to read with plenty of white space
5. Get rid of un-need words
6. Each item in the resume should be easy to read and understand
7. Spelling, capitalization and punctuation matter

Resume writing tips:

Make your words count.

Your use of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to a committee quickly and efficiently.

Avoid large paragraphs (over six or seven lines).

Use action verbs such as "developed," "managed," and "designed" to emphasize your accomplishments.

Don't use declarative sentences like "I developed the..." or "I assisted in..."; leave out the "I."
Avoid passive constructions, such as "was responsible for managing." It's not only more efficient to say "Managed," it's stronger and more active.

Don't be vague.

Describe things that can be measured objectively. Telling someone that you "improved warehouse efficiency" doesn't say much. Telling them that you "cut requisition costs by 20%, saving the company $3800 for the fiscal year" does. Employers will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your accomplishments.

Don't neglect appearance
Your resume is the first impression you'll make on the committee, and a successful resume depends on more than what you say; how you say it counts as well.
Check your resume for proper grammar and correct spelling - evidence of good communication skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your chances of getting an admission more than submitting a resume filled with (easily preventable) mistakes.

Make your resume easy on the eyes.

Use normal margins (1" on the top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't cram your text onto the page. Allow for some breathing room between the different sections. Avoid unusual or exotic font styles; use simple fonts with a professional look.

Eliminate superfluous details
Unnecessary details can take up a lot of valuable space on your resume.
Don't mention personal characteristics such as age, height, and marital status on your resume. This information is either irrelevant or is taken care of in other parts of the application. List your hobbies and interests and extracurricular activities if these are not covered elsewhere.