There is a plethora of information available on how to write an effective resume. Having spent over a decade in a Corporate Recruiter and HR Professional role I have seen many different types. Here is some information that you should find helpful.
Let’s start with what I call the ABCs of resume writing. The A should stand for Accuracy. Be sure that all the information you place on your resume and application is accurate because it may be verified during the reference checking process. The B should stand for Be thorough but brief. And the C should stand for Careful. You should always be careful when you are creating a written communication that to sell yourself. Be careful about the format, the grammar, the keywords and the length.
If you are struggling with trying to find ways to describe what you did in your current and previous jobs start by reviewing job descriptions or job postings of similar positions. I don’t recommend that you copy them verbatim but this can help to give your ideas.
Be careful not to sell yourself short by leaving out valuable experience, skills and education. If you have used specific software, especially software that is not commonly used, such as Costpoint or Sharepoint then you should definitely place it in a noticeable place on your resume.
Although I just cautioned you to be sure to include all of your important skills and experience you should be careful not to make your resume too long. Recruiters juggle several job openings at a time and each job opening can yield over 300 resumes. The simple truth is that they just don’t have time to go through all of the resumes they receive.
Although finding a job requires that you apply to several job postings it is always a good idea to make sure your resume adequately reflects the requirements on each job posting. In many cases a resume does not even show up on a recruiter’s radar unless keywords from the job description are in the person’s resume. This is due to technological advances which allow recruiters to dwindle their 300 applicants down to 10 by simply conducting a keyword search. I have seen candidates include a separate category, towards the top of their resume where they list keywords to help ensure that their resume is searchable.
Be mindful of the format you use on your resume. The information should be presented in a manner that makes finding information easy. After a long day of reviewing resumes my eyes are often tired. I always appreciate when applicants place the pertinent information in a simple format. Many times I see resumes that read like a book. It is simply not feasible to assume that recruiters will have time to read through every single detail. You can always elaborate on your experience during your interview.
Make sure your contact information is in an easy to find place on your resume and that it is accurate. The most disappointing thing for me is when I finally find a great applicant but the contact information is wrong so I can’t reach them. I believe that is a lose-lose situation for the recruiter and the candidate.
Finally, use this advice in conjunction with the advice of others to create your own, effective style.
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Coach Kenya 