Resume Pointers

R2

In order to write a great resume, it is important to understand what a resume is supposed to accomplish in the job search (or internship search) process. The resume is simply written communication between the two parties involved - the candidate/applicant and the person doing the hiring or initial screening of candidates. That is why there is no simple resume format - an outline that you can follow - because the parties involved are often very different. What is communicated about an applicant for teaching, management, public relations, theatre or music performance, graphic design, and scientific or technical positions varies because employers in those fields are looking for very different kinds of information. That is why you often get conflicting advice about how to write your resume. Evaluate that advice within the context of the two parties involved in your communication. The more you know about the types of positions you are seeking and the required as well as preferred characteristics of candidates for those positions, the more effective you can be in writing your resume.

In spite of these important differences, however, there are some general guidelines common to all resumes:

• Brief and Concise
  A one-page resume is preferred by many types of employers; it should not be more than two pages. (Candidates with a Ph.D. are exceptions.) In trying to communicate as much as possible with as few words as possible, provide specific examples instead of broad, general terms. Edit painstakingly!
• Easy to Read at a Glance
  Studies tell us that resumes are often skimmed in as few as 20 or 30 seconds in order to separate the ones that will be looked at more closely from the ones that will not be considered. You want yours to be in the first pile, of course. Try to use some of the following techniques to guide the reader's eye quickly down the page:
  • Phrases vs. Sentences
    Although our normal style of written communication is to write complete sentences and group them into paragraphs, complete sentences are not used on resumes. When describing your experiences, use phrases beginning with "action words" (past or present tense verbs). See Career Guide R6, Action Verbs.
  • Lists vs. Paragraphs
    For optimum skimming by the reader, these phrases should be listed one to a line, using a bullet or other visual marker to indicate the beginning of each phrase.
  • Priority Order
    Because most resume readers skim from top to bottom, it makes sense to organize your information from most important to least important, putting your most important sections first. An experienced candidate, therefore, may put an experience section first; while an entry-level candidate may put an education section first. This is true regardless of resume style, unless you use the chronological style (See Career Guide R4, Resume Styles).
  • Use of blank space
    The way you use blank space, in your margins, between sections, and within sections, will affect what the reader sees as he/she skims the page. The more blank space that surrounds a word or group of words, the more visible they are. That is why section headings are often placed by themselves along the left margin.
  • Highlighting
    Judicious use of highlighting techniques, such as boldfacing, using all capital letters, underlining and italics can call the attention of the reader to key words or sections.
  • Consistent layout patterns
    Within each section, place the same type of information consistently in the same position. This establishes a visual pattern that the reader quickly recognizes, and makes it easy to locate certain information. For example, always placing the job title first (or the name of the organization) in an experience section, placing the dates in the same location (after the job title, after the name of the organization, or in the left margin for a chronological style) provides a consistent pattern.
• Visual appeal
  The visual message you want your resume to communicate is, "I am a competent professional." That means that it should look attractive on the page (even margins, consistent spacing). Use good quality bond paper with a sharp, clear, easy-to-read font. If you are seeking a position that requires good design skills, make sure your resume demonstrates those skills. Colored paper is sometimes acceptable. Consider how conservative the organization/career field is when you select a color.
• Perfection
  Of course you don't want mistakes on your resume. They could communicate that you are not very careful about how you do your work. Carefully proofread your resume drafts. Be sure the resume is representative of your very best work.
• Multiple copies
  Because you may need to contact a large number of potential employers, you will need multiple copies of your resume. Each copy should look like an original; resumes that have obviously been photocopied do not present a professional image. There are two steps involved in reproducing your resume and several methods from which to choose:
  1. Creating the original
     • Use word processing software (Word, Word Perfect, etc.) and a laser or other letter quality printer.
     • Take your resume to a printer to have it typeset.
  2. Making the copies
     • Reproduce each copy by the same method you used to create the original.
     • Take your original to a printer and have it reproduced.
     • Photocopy only on quality bond paper, producing copies that look like originals.

For information about resume contents and styles, refer to Career Guide R3, Resumes: What to Include and Career Guide R4, Resume Styles.

CAREER GUIDES are provided by the Career Development Office,
Gregory Hall, 2nd floor, SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY 14063 (716) 673-3327