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Your résumé makes your first impression for you. In fact, without a good résumé, you will not get a chance to make a true first impression at an interview. Make sure that your résumé is as close to perfect as you can make it before you send it out the door. This is one time when sweating the small stuff is a really good idea.
- This should include name, phone number, and email address. Include up to two phone numbers, but avoid using your phone number at your existing job. Make sure that your email address sounds professional. An ideal email address would be relatively short, easy to spell, and based on your real name.
- Start with white or ivory paper. Resist the temptation to choose a bright color so that your résumé will stand out. You can use paper specifically labeled as résumé paper or choose a linen paper with a higher weight (16 to 25 lbs). The weight will be listed on the packaging.
- Make sure that your résumé uses the same font throughout and a consistent style for headings and bullets. It is better to use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial in 10, or preferably 12 point.
- Revise your résumé for each job application. Start with a master résumé with all of your employment history and then tailor it to fit the industry and job description. Emphasize your management experience with management jobs and technical experience with technical jobs.
- Use as many exact words from the job advertisement as you can while still being accurate. Many employers use computers for the first level of screening. This also shows the hiring manager that you are interested in the specific job being offered rather than sending out résumés at random.
- These precise verbs will help you to avoid passive voice (See Resource 1). Review lists of action verbs to help you recall different aspects of your former jobs and put them in terms which employers will understand.
- Wherever possible, list the specific amounts of money saved, sales made, or year over year improvements. This draws attention to your accomplishments and helps employers to visualize them.
- Spelling and grammar errors stand out very clearly on a résumé. Use the spelling and grammar check which came with your computer -- but only as a beginning. Read your résumé carefully from beginning to end and then again from the end to the beginning.
- A second set of eyes can be invaluable when it comes to proofreading, but also ask for honest feedback on the contents of the résumé. Make sure that industry specific terms are understandable and that there is a clear relationship between your experience and the requirements of the job you are seeking.
- It may be tempting to exaggerate your job responsibilities or add an extra degree to your résumé. Don't do it. The lies will make your legitimate experience seem suspicious, trip you up at the interview, or cause you to be fired later.
