Resume Tips #2

Thank you for coming back, here is the second portion of our article on Resume Tips. This is the last 3 steps of our 6 step process to making a successful and impressive Resume. The point of a Resume is to show a potential employer what you are capable of doing, but most importantly to impress this person. Hiring Managers look at hundreds of resumes for each position that they are hiring for, therefore in order for your resume to stick out above the rest, you have to be different from the rest. Enjoy!

Things You Should Do With Your Resume

• Use 8-1/2″ X 11″ paper.
• Include both a permanent contact and present address and phone number. You may be contacted through a permanent address or phone, even after you have moved from your present address.
• Make your resume legible.
• Include your job discipline(s) near your name at the top of page one of your resume and as a title to each assignment.
• Make your resume visually appealing, keeping your format consistent throughout.
• Try to keep to a maximum of two pages.
• Avoid font changes, columns, italics, bolding, underlining, and graphics.
• Keep records of where and to whom your resume is being sent.

Things You Should Not Do With Your Resume

• Don’t include hobbies.
• Don’t include your Social Security Number.
• Don’t use a “Job Objective.” A “Job Objective” tells what you want from a firm whereas a “Summary” tells what you can do for them.
• Don’t exaggerate your experience.
• Don’t show salary or pay information.
• Don’t offer explanations for leaving prior employers.
• Don’t include your photograph.
• Don’t use abbreviations (except those that are acceptable in the engineering/technical fields, such as IBM, CAD, etc.).

Many Firms Use Resume Scanners

Most firms utilize scanners to input resumes into their computer databases. To make your resume “scanner ready”:

• Use white paper and black ink.
• Don’t underline words
• Don’t use script or other fancy typefaces.
• Be sure all letters are of the same quality (no light or broken letters, no smudgy or filled-in letters, etc.).
• Use adequate margins (at least 1/2″ on all sides).
• Don’t hand-write anything on your resume.
• If using a dot matrix printer, utilize the best quality of type the printer provides (i.e. letter quality, dark copy, etc.).
• Avoid boxes or unusual configurations.

NOTE: If you transmit your resume by using a FAX card in your personal computer, make sure you see what you transmit. Many resumes received in this manner have problems (extraneous characters, missing copy, strange lines, etc.). Also, the format of the received resume is often different than what you think you are transmitting. Try faxing to a friend or local fax number so you can physically see what everyone else sees!

Thank you for reading, and come back next week for more! We will be releasing articles consistently which will provide more useful information for potential employees. Feel free to sign up for our free newsletter! This will provide up to date information on our up-coming articles, new releases, updates, and promotional events. See you soon!