Resume Tips
Write it yourself.
It's okay to look at other resumes for ideas, but write your own yourself. It will force you to organize you thoughts and background.
Make it error-free.
One spelling or grammar error will create a negative impressionist. (See what I mean?) Get someone else to review your final draft for any errors. Then review it again, because these rascals have a way of slipping in.
Make it look good.
Poor copy quality, cheap paper, bad type quality, or anything else that creates a poor appearance will turn off employers to even the best resume content. Get professional help with design and printing if necessary. Many resume writers and print shops have desktop publishing services and can do design for you.
Be brief, be relevant.
Many good resumes fit on one page, and few justify more than two. Include only the most important points. Use short sentences and action words. If it doesn't relate to and support the job objective, cut it!
Be honest.
Don't overstate your qualifications. If you end up getting a job you can't handle, it will not be to your advantage. Most employers will see right through a lie anyway.
Be positive.
Emphasize your accomplishments and results. This is no place to be humble or to display your faults.
Be specific.
Rather than saying, "I'm good with people," say, "I supervised four people in the warehouse and increase productivity by 30 percent." Use numbers whenever possible, such as the number of people served, percentage sales increase, or dollars saved.
This concludes the Resume Tips section of the workshop.
For individual use only. Pages are excerpts from The Very Quick Job Search, Third Edition, ISBN: 9781593570074. For permissions requests, please contact the Copyright Clearance Center at www.copyright.com or (978) 750-8400.
