The Objective Your resume is a direct representation of yourself. A sales presentation or your front line if you will, with the sole purpose of getting you an interview. It’s not just meant to be a list of the jobs you’ve held over your career. It’s much more than that. You need to separate yourself from the masses and these days, the way to do that is with a solid, well-put together, aesthetically pleasing resume. The average resume gets 5 seconds to make an impression so it is imperative that you are clear and concise and you tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for. Peak the interest of the hiring manager Your primary objective is to peak the interest of the hiring manager. To do that you need to tailor your resume to the job you are applying for. Carefully read the job description and be sure to highlight your relevant experience and accomplishments. Be sure to list the name of the company with a brief description and the timeline in which you were employed there, including the year and month. The amount of information is critical. You want to make sure you have enough information to properly explain what you are/were doing however, some things to keep in mind are: Most hiring managers will already have a general idea of your responsibilities based on the company you work for and the job title. Provide only the core competencies and a few accomplishments. Too much information can be overwhelming. Remember, the purpose of a resume is to get you into the door, the rest of the information can be shared in an interview. The Content It is imperative that the content of the resume be clear and concise. Ensure that there is enough information to properly outline your background, while keeping in mind that the balance of information can be shared in an interview setting. Keep in mind that the first person to see your resume will likely be a computer. So include relevant Key Words. Often times resumes are placed directly into databases that are then searched and mined utilizing key words. Be sure to place your name and contact information in the body of document, not the header/footer section. When a resume gets automatically parsed or inputted into a database, the software that is used to do this automatically pulls the information from the body of the Word document. Any information that is in the “header” or “footer” will be overlooked. The result is a resume placed into the database without a name or contact information. At this stage cover letters and references are unnecessary. Opinions vary in this area but here are a few reasons why we recommend not sending a cover letter with your resume. First and foremost, when applying to a job via e-mail, the “parsing” software or “inputting” software that automatically places your resume into a database only recognizes the first attachment. For example, if you apply to a job posting via e-mail and you attach a cover letter as well as a resume, only the information on your cover letter will be placed into the database. Secondly, remember that the average resume has about 5 seconds to make an impression. Most recruiters and hiring managers don’t have time to read cover letters. Lastly, make sure you spell check and have a friend read it over to be safe. The last thing you want is to have a spelling or grammatical error on your resume. It will most certainly leave a negative impression with the reader. The Look Chronological vs. Functional Generally speaking, a chronological resume is preferred over a functional one. Reason being, a chronological resume outlines each job, each company and the individual responsibilities and accomplishments within those jobs. A functional resume, with the accomplishments and responsibilities grouped together, separate from each individual job, can leave some confusion as to what was done, at what time and in what role. A chronological resume makes for a more pleasant read and a clearer understanding of your background and experiences. Clean and aesthetically pleasing A clean and aesthetically pleasing resume will leave a positive impression and ultimately increase your odds at getting noticed. It implies organization, professionalism and strong presentation. Three highly regarded qualities in any employee. The layout should be consistent throughout the resume with adequate spacing and a font that is easy on the eyes. Company name and brief description of what they do below A brief, one line description of the company placed directly below the name will give the reader a clear understanding of what the company does. Dates, including months and years of employment Not including dates on your resume could be viewed by some as a cover up, and doesn’t reflect positively. The year and month should be noted on the resume to avoid any confusion. Don’t try and hide short gaps in the resume. It will ultimately come out and will reflect poorly. A few of the KEY responsibilities In point form, list only three to five of your key responsibilities. It is not necessary to list your entire job description on your resume unless you are doing work that is outside of what typically falls under the job title. The balance of information can be shared in an interview setting. Highlight two or three accomplishments List two or three of your greatest accomplishments in your time at each company. This is a great way to separate yourself form the masses and gives the reader an idea of your ability. Education If you are a recent graduate or if the education is relevant to the job, then it is recommended that it go closer to the beginning of the resume. If you have been out of school for more than ten years and/or the education has no real relevance to the job, then it should go at the end. Length In the past it was recommended that resumes should be one page in length however, if your background and experience requires a two to three page resume, then it’s best not to try and cram all of the information on to one page. If you follow the guidelines we have set out there should be no issues with the length of the resume.