For People Who Want to Write Resumes Good
Writing a resume or CV today can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially for those who are out of practice or starting from scratch. As our tongue-in-cheek title suggests, it is easy to stumble in this area. We have seen brilliant marketers and salespeople struggle for days to put together a one or 2-page sheet of their own career experiences and qualifications, which is essentially about selling themselves. They are not alone. There are thousands of articles and tip sheets on how to write a resume, and more are written every day. Our goal here is to provide you with a recruiter’s perspective on resume writing, which has evolved significantly from the traditional career objective to the experience and education model of 20 years ago. A resume has one primary purpose: to highlight your qualifications and experiences sufficiently to secure an interview and initiate the process of securing your next position. Thus, your resume needs to be focused, clear, consistent, and impactful. It also needs to be true and real. Who could forget Darryl the Paper Warehouse Foreman on the TV show “The Office,” when he put on his resume, “Coordinated and implemented receipt, storage, and delivery of 2.5 billion units of inventory.” When questioned about what the units were, his sheepish response was, “pieces of paper.” Hilarious, but also an example of what not to do on resumes. For most recruiters today, candidate resumes are “parsed,” meaning imported into an ATS (Applicant Tracking System), which extracts the key data in a way that makes sense to them and allows for better organization and matching to an open position. Thus, resumes today need to be more keyword-driven and focused on qualifications and behaviors that align with the position that is being sought. There is no longer a need for that opening “Objective” paragraph (we know what your objective is—to get the job), nor is there a need for descriptive detail about the company you used to work at (that can be easily found online). Resumes today need to be less about your responsibilities and more about the impact you made. The Basics There are two primary types of resumes that we typically encounter: chronological and functional. A chronological resume is the typical “chronological” order of experiences that build on each other and is consistent with a candidate seeking a position in their current field. A functional resume is a great choice for those seeking a career change, as it focuses more on demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities of those wishing to access different channels. For our purposes, we will focus on chronological resumes since they are the most common. The chronological resume layout we recommend includes: Font and Size: We recommend a clear, sans-serif typeface that is easily readable and legible (for example, Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica). A good rule of thumb on font size is 10-11 pt. Possibly 12 pt. for a smaller one. For your name and section headlines, consider using a serif font, such as Times New Roman. Maintain consistent font and sizing throughout the document. Heading and Address Information: The heading is your name. Then follow it on the next line with your home address (city and state only are fine), mobile number, personal email address (not your work email), and a link to your LinkedIn profile (especially if you have a more common name). LinkedIn is a valuable tool used by most recruiters, and it should also highlight the key aspects of your resume. Profile: If you are a Director of IT who manages people, then your profile headline should read, “Professional IT Executive & Business Leader” (Note that we said “leader” and not manager). Then follow with three bullets that focus on what the prospective recruiter or employer is seeking in the position and how you would be a good fit. NOTE: This section is about what you will contribute to the company, not your personal objective. Save that for the interview. Summary of Qualifications: Although often considered optional, we prefer to see this section because it allows you to focus on specific keywords. State in bullet-point form the abilities, skills, and qualifications that would make you ideal for the position. Experience: The most important section! (See Below) Skills: If the position you are applying to requires necessary skills (for example, proficiency in MS Office and CRM programs or various other software programs), then include this section. However, for many sales and middle to upper management positions, these skills may be commonplace and, therefore, not necessary to include since they are assumed. Education: List degrees earned, with the most recent degree first. For those new to the workforce, more details (such as GPA, Dean’s List, and Awards) will be necessary, as you may have more education than experience. For those who have more experience, simply state the school, location, and degree earned. High school is not necessary. Continuing Education, Professional Designations, and/or Certifications: Important to show any certifications, especially if critical to the position, and that you’re a continual learner. Awards & Accomplishments: Recognition for your achievements is always important, and your resume is not a place for you to be modest. This section can often make a big difference if two candidates are similar in qualifications and skill set. Volunteer Work: Many recruiters and employers will say this section is not that important, and we disagree. Be it volunteer work in your community, school, or church, we find this to say a lot about a candidate’s character and helpful in assessing a candidate’s honesty, integrity, and giving nature. We also recommend you take the time to research resumes and review examples. There are hundreds of thousands of examples and templates online, and many are targeted for the position you are seeking. These samples will provide you with a good guideline of what type of information to include. Also, and this is very important, do not submit a Word file of your resume (unless specifically requested) because you never know how it will
