| If you’re looking for a job, now is not the time | | | | how does this description convey my worth to the |
| to be slacking where your resume is concerned. But | | | | organization? Does “putting files away at the end |
| first off, if you have not done so already: file for | | | | of the day” really convey my value? How about: |
| unemployment. Also, if you’re currently job | | | | “Systematically reorganized files to increase |
| hunting, understand that you’re competing with | | | | organizational productivity and efficiency.” This is |
| literally hundreds to maybe thousands for one | | | | only truthful but also sounds much more professional. |
| position. If you’re looking for work, take a | | | | …Apply for jobs that are best suited for your skills |
| second look at your resume and make sure your | | | | and experience. Skip the long shot positions where |
| resume and cover letter at least falls within the | | | | your experience can’t possibly match with the |
| following guidelines: | | | | requirements. Look at your resume and scan the job |
| Do not: | | | | post, how can you honestly and ethically marry up |
| … Ask how much the position pays within the | | | | what they are looking for and what you have to |
| cover letter until you’re on the interview and/or | | | | offer. |
| sure that you will be offered the position. HR | | | | …Maintain a consistent theme. If you’re a jack |
| managers and recruiters don’t have time for | | | | of all trades then it’s time to settle down on one |
| that, it’s rude and unprofessional. Don’t do it. | | | | career area. When you have too many degrees and |
| … Use an email user name that isn’t related to | | | | you’re not working in your field of study then |
| your government name. Avoid email such as: , etc. | | | | most likely you are a risk to hire. Why? Because |
| Most likely, the recruiter will move on to the next | | | | employers are looking for people that are career |
| person if you don’t know these basic principles | | | | driven and not job driven. Pick an area and stick with |
| of resume writing because it will be questionable as | | | | it or create different resumes for each area. |
| to whether or not you’ll conduct yourself | | | | Employers want to know that once hired, you’ll |
| professionally. Your email address should be some | | | | be committed to the job and organization, not |
| combination of your first and/or last name. | | | | planning for your the next jump 3 months in. |
| … Use different fonts throughout your resume. | | | | …Have a friend, preferably someone in a managerial |
| Using different fonts makes your resume hard to | | | | position, review your resume for errors. Sometimes |
| read and it shows that you’re not as detail | | | | having another set of eyes review your resume |
| oriented as you need to be. Set the view on your | | | | helps because they might see things you won’t |
| resume to 70% and make sure everything is uniform | | | | after looking at it day in day out. Everything starts to |
| and in line, especially bullets and indentation. | | | | look the same after a while. |
| … Extend your resume beyond one page. Unless | | | | …Make your resume skimmable. Recruiters and HR |
| you have 5-10+ years of relevant experience, you | | | | Managers spend 3-5 seconds tops skimming resumes. |
| don’t need a 2-3-4-5 page resume, especially if | | | | If your resume is hard to read or the important |
| some of your experience has nothing to do with the | | | | information is lost in the layout then you put yourself |
| position. Try to keep the positions listed relevant to | | | | at a disadvantage. |
| the job. | | | | …Take a second look at your resume and make a |
| Do: | | | | few edits if needed or revamp it for a bold and fresh |
| …List your achievements throughout your resume. | | | | look. Focus on your strengths and make them |
| Time and time again applicants literally copy and | | | | apparent throughout your resume. Recruiters are |
| paste their job description without any consideration | | | | bogged down with countless resumes, make sure |
| to how their actual work contributed to the | | | | yours makes the first cut. |
| organization’s goals. You need to ask yourself: | | | | |