Etiquette for Resume Writing
If you need to find a job, you need the right resume. A resume introduces you to prospective employers and allows them to consider whether you might be a good fit for any available positions. A well written resume allows you to get your foot in the door for an interview. A poorly written resume will end up in the trash, no matter how qualified you may be for the position.
Other People Are Reading
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Paper And Printing
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Type your resume on plain paper, white or cream in color. Do not use colored paper or paper with designs on it. Type in a standard font, such as Ariel or Times New Roman, and print in black ink. Using colored paper or fancy fonts to make your resume stand out makes you look unprofessional. Make sure your resume is easy to read. If you send your resume by postal service instead of by fax or email, use a matching standard sized envelope.
Length
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Your resume should be one or two pages long, no longer. Include information about your last three jobs or what you have done for the last ten years, whichever comes first. Don't try to include everything you've ever done on your resume. Stick to the most important items.
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Format
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Put your name, address, telephone number and email address at the top of each page of your resume. Don't use a cutesy email address like sexygirl@email.com or bigelvisfan@email.com. Use a professional-sounding address. Include an objective, explaining what type of job you seek. Include information about your job history, such as the name of the company you worked for, your job title and a brief description of your job duties. Include the dates when you worked at each job. You do not need to include contact information for those companies on your resume. Include any degrees or certifications that you hold. Also include a short list of any special skills you have, such as computer software programs you can operate or foreign languages you speak.
Proofread
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Always proofread your resume carefully before sending it to a prospective employer. Grammar and spelling errors make you look unprofessional and if you apply for a job that requires attention to detail, it indicates that you don't pay attention well. If you apply for a job that requires good communication skills, especially written communication skills, or good typing skills, a resume with typos or other errors suggests you might not perform the job well.
Cover Letter
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Always send a cover letter with your resume, unless you reply to an advertisement for a job that specifically says not to send a cover letter. Proper resume writing etiquette says to send a cover letter, which provides an opportunity to mention details your resume may not convey or draw attention to details included on your resume that are particularly relevant to the job in question. Address the cover letter to the person that can hire you; do not address it "To Whom It May Concern."
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit job image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com
