5 Resume Writing Tips

Penguin February 22nd, 2007

I had to weed through some resumes today, and here’s my suggestions on how to write good resumes from a hiring perspective.

Write a cover letter!
Most of the resumes were unremarkable. There were one or two that stood out, but the experience and background were totally wrong for the position. If they had included a cover letter explaining the desire to change careers, then I would have considered them.As is, they look like they’re spamming the job boards.Even if the hirer doesn’t read it, you might find someone who does, like me, and you’ll be thankful.
Tailor your resume to the job
There were certain key technologies I was looking for. If an applicant didn’t have it or have something close to it, I nixed them. Usually, this was coupled with a background that didn’t really fit the position.Also, try to include keywords from the job description. If they are looking for experience with certain technologies, like PHP or JavaScript, highlight that. There are some cases where the knowledge is transferable, but you have to know what those are.

Additionally, don’t include stupid part time jobs, like at Footlocker or something. Unless you were working for corporate. All the other part time stuff, nix from the resume.
Short, and bulleted
I don’t need to know your previous job description. I want to know what you DID, not what you were SUPPOSED to do. I also want quick points so I can glance over it quickly. Make a list of your responsibilities, your accomplishments, and successes. They don’t even have to be complete sentences.After the first few resumes, I just started skimming. Every word should matter. And I will judge your writing / communication skills based on this.

Be sure to be clear with what you’re writing.� Don’t use big words or make it sound more glamorous than it is.� Most of the time, we can tell if you’re BSing and we’ll just ignore it.
Check spelling and grammar
F7. That’s the hotkey in Office for your spellcheck and grammar. Use it. Then read over your stuff and check it manually. If your english isn’t good, then ask a friend to read it.If you can’t write well, you probably can’t speak well either. In most companies, you won’t be working by yourself, so those communication skills are important.

Nothing says, “I don’t really care about this job” like a simple typo like iob instead of job.
Don’t be cute
There was one resume I saw that used the Comic Sans font.� I can appreciate trying to stand out from the crowd, but choosing silly fonts or funky colors is not the way to do it.� What will make you stand out are your experiences and background.� Show me that you are right for this job and I will give you an interview.

Remember, the resume is just a quick introduction of yourself.� It should say enough to get me interested in bringing you in to the office.
BONUS!� Interests and Volunteer work
This may not be true for all companies, but I like to see a small section about what you do outside of work. I like to see applicants who volunteer, it shows that they have a heart for something bigger and outside of just themselves.