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| Resume writing (and layout) tips for 2003:
- Faced with increasing numbers of resumes, many reviewers will
briefly scan the first page of your resume. What
they see at first glance will influence their decision
to read or not. Make your 10 seconds count.
- Use space effectively to give the eye a rest
and draw attention to key elements of the text. Let the text breathe
on the page. Beware trapped
white space.
- Use one inch or more margins at top/bottom
and left/right.
- Minimize and simplify font choices. Use at
most two typefaces and one font size (10, 11, or 12 pt). Identify
headings with a bold typeface.
- Avoid color. Use black as the font color for
all of the text.
- Avoid graphics because they can't be saved
and sent in TXT format.
- On the first page, use scannable tables to
highlight your technical skills, language competencies, education,
and security clearance level. Compel the reader to Page Two!
- Watch job boards for trends in desirable skill sets.
Lead your resume with the ones that you already have.
- Identify all of your proven strengths and focus
on results. Use as many pages as you need.
- When in doubt, leave it out! This tip has broad
applications and applies to unusual hobbies and personal information
like marital status.
- Focus on action. Use "ing" verbs for tasks
in progress. Use past-tense verbs (like wrote, developed, or managed)
for tasks completed in the past.
- Minimize or completely avoid direct references to yourself in
the third person (for example, Ms. Walsh) to make it clear that
you are the author of your resume and intimately
familiar with its content.
- If you held multiple roles with one employer,
group your tasks into roles, and use subheadings to identify the
various roles. For example, keep tasks related to project management
together, even if it was not your primary role.
- Put contact information including at least
your name and phone number on every page. Make sure your e-mail
address speaks to your professionalism and is not offensive
in any way.
- To help the reader navigate a printed version of your document
on a desk potentially cluttered with hundreds of other resumes,
indicate page count and total number
of pages on every page.
- Offer your resume in a variety of electronic formats:
PDF, DOC, and TXT. Some employers may indicate a preference. Respect
it.
- Have a second pair of eyes look over your resume
before you send it to any employer. Otherwise, take 24 hours away
from it and look it over again yourself before sending it out.
- Before you post to ott.jobs, read the newsgroup Charter. Don't post your resume to ott.jobs!
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