Tips on Writing Your Resumé
A resume is a MARKETING TOOL that presents you in the best possible light for the purpose of getting invited to a job interview.
1. TIP: Know who will be reading your resume, an HR person or a hiring manager, and tailor it for the reader.
There are different types of resumes–Chronological, Functional, Combination.
2. TIP: Choose the best style for you at this stage in your career. Recruiters do not like to work with Functional resumes. Functional resumes are best when changing careers and with repetitive job titles and responsibility. The Chronological style is the norm for most resumes.
There are SEVEN things you should never include on a resume.
3. TIP: Never include your age, marital status, religion, a photograph, your height and weight and political affiliation.
There is a maximum page length and preferred font and type size to an alluring resume.
4. TIP: Two to three pages maximum, Times Roman font and type size of 11 or 12. Your name can be size 14 and bold. One page resumes are welcome as long as you don’t short change selling yourself to the reader.
A Profile or Highlights of Qualifications can be a challenge to write.
5. TIP: Use the formula for the 5 to 7 points, either as bullets or in paragraph form, to catch the reader’s attention straight away.
Remember generic resumes DO NOT SELL.
6. TIP: It is important to tailor the resume to correspond with the career objective or position sought.
All resumes should be accomplishment based.
7. TIP: As many bullet points as possible should have an ACTION + RESULT statement. You are hired for your results and what you can do for the company, not just your skills.
If you have gaps in your resume, due to unemployment, poor health or personal reasons.
8. TIP: Put in a one liner that says “Personal leave – 201?-201?”
Education and Professional Development
9. TIP: If your Education is more than five years old it goes at the end of the resume. Your degree always gets listed first, even if it is less current than certifications.
What about Interests
10. TIP: Interests are not mandatory, but they can be rapport building and they do tell the reader about you as a person.