THE RESUME:
Nearly all corporations and executive recruiters use resumes to
determine whom to interview. 95% of the candidates for most positions are screened out on
the basis of the resume alone. A good resume is an essential part of your job search. If
you already have one, check it to see that It’s up to date and that it does the best
possible job of presenting your talents and experience.
THE FIRST 10 SECONDS ARE VITAL
Your resume will be one of dozens on the recruiter’s desk. Of course, it should be
well typed and as professional looking as possible. But right at the top, in the heading
or the first paragraph, it must identify what you do, at what level; it must identify your
career goals. The reader should not have to look halfway down the page to see whether you
are an architect or an accountant.
PREPARING THE INFORMATION
The first step is to assemble all the factual information about your
career, companies, dates, duties and responsibilities. For each position, list your
achievements and accomplishments. State how well you did the things expected of you and
any way in which you exceeded expectations. Wherever possible, be specific. How your idea
saved several thousand dollars, or cut production rejects by a certain percent. Last, list
details of your education and any other relevant information.
HOW TO WRITE A RESUME
A resume has to do two different jobs. First, it must give an accurate and reasonably
detailed summary of your career. Second, it must sell your background; it must stand out
from the crowd. So use selling language and selling techniques. Be specific. Use active
verbs to say what you have done. Use short, uncomplicated sentences. The idea is not to
tell the entire story, but to impress the reader enough to want to know all about you.
THE CHRONOLOGIAL RESUME
This is the most usual format, listing all the positions you have held, working back
from the current/most recent. It allows you to show progressive growth and responsibility.
THE FUNCTIONAL RESUME
This format emphasizes experience, skills and accomplishments, not necessarily in
chronological order. It is divided by topics, for example: Management, Administrative,
Training, etc. Pertinent job experience is listed under each topic. For most individuals,
the optimum resume starts with a functional summary of experience, and follows with a
chronological list of employment by date.
LISTEN TO ADVICE
Show a draft of your resume to a trusted colleague. Discuss it with your Roth Young
Account Executive. Ask for honest advice, and act on it.
IS ONE RESUME ENOUGH?
That depends on whether your are seeking only one kind of position. If, for example,
you’re in Production but have some Training experience, you might have two different
editions of your resume, one to send for Production-only positions, the other for
Training-oriented ones. If you have access to a word processor, it’s a good idea to
customize each resume you send out.
HOW LONG SHOUD A RESUME BE?
The only answer is – Long enough to say everything but not too long. As a rule of
thumb, a resume for an entry-level position should be 1-2, pages, 2-3 pages for a
mid-level one. If there is a lot of technical or detailed information that must be
included, consider keeping your actual resume to 2 pages and put the details into an
appendix.
WHAT TO LEAVE OUT OF A RESUME?
Your resume should contain nothing that isn’t relevant or that the prospective
employer is not entitled to know. Don’t disclose salary history, names of references
or your reasons for leaving any position. Don’t make any reference to race, religion,
national origin, age, health or weight – do not include a photograph.
PRODUCING YOUR RESUME
At the very least, your resume should be properly typed, well spaced
and laid out on the page. If you xerox this typed resume, make sure the copies are good
quality. Using a PC or word processor, don’t go overboard on fancy types or design. A
resume is a business document, not an advertising flyer.
THE BEST ADVICE OF ALL
However you produce your resume, it should be proofread more carefully than anything
else you have ever written. Mistakes in spelling or grammar make you look foolish. A
factual error on a resume is very serious – it looks like an attempt to mislead and
could even be reason to termination in your new position. Triple check the final version
of your resume. Your Roth Young Account Executive has the skill and experience to assist
you in proofing the final version.
