Your resume should not be an epic document
Your resume should not be an epic document
If you have a few minutes, do yourself a favor. Rework your resume. It has a few problems and if you don’t fix them, your search is going to have a few problems, too. There’s no way to say this nicely, so I’ll just put it out there: Your resume is too long, too vague and too boring.
How long is too long? That’s determined by the time it takes to skim through it. The average reader dedicates about 30 seconds to the task. If it takes longer to make sense of it, it’s too long. If it’s more than two pages, it’s too long. If it’s one page, single-spaced using small type, and it has no margins, it’s too long. When you take too long to say too much and leave the employer wondering “what exactly is your point?” you’ve uncovered another problem.
What is your point? The reader wants to know the name of the job you’re looking for and they don’t want to play “Where’s Waldo?” to find it. Give them the answer where it’s easiest to find: at the top of your resume in the section called “Objective.”
You’ve said it. Now prove it. You’re writing a resume, not creating a docu-drama. You need to list competencies and accomplishments that are applicable, quantifiable and have a direct connection to the job you seek.
Say it simply. A picture is worth a thousand words if you don’t have time to read a thousand words. Describe your abilities in easy-to-understand language. Stay away from jargon, acronyms and abbreviations that most people don’t understand and don’t have time to decipher. Say it with strength, conviction and without personal pronouns. Write in an active voice and use action verbs that result in positive outcomes.
For example: Successfully accomplished/led/initiated/created/manufactured/produced/ authorized/organized/aligned/coordinated (fill in the blank) that resulted in (fill in the blank). Be mindful that the employer is interested in results that increased the company’s revenue or protected its bottom line. Anything more is excessive and anything less is inadequate. Get over yourself. If you’re writing your name and address in mega letters and the body of your resume in mini letters, stop doing it. Believe it or not, the reader will find you in 12-point type as easily as in 48-point type, as long as you have your name, address, telephone number and e-mail at the top of the page.
Don’t use italics. And while you’re at it, stay away from any typeface that looks trendy but takes time to decipher. Stick with one font that’s easy to read. The old standbys: Times New Roman, Tahoma and Arial. Summaries are redundant. Your resume is a summary. It you have to summarize your resume, you know you’re in trouble.
Stick with an objective. It’s the headline that announces what’s to follow. It tells the name of the job you want. It encourages the reader to continue reading. It suggests a benefit that’s likely to result.
Style is important. Of the two standard formats from which to choose — reverse chronological and functional — resume readers overwhelmingly prefer the former to the latter. The reverse chronological lets them know where you’ve been, how long you stayed, what you did and why they should care.
Yes, we live in a world of impatient, demanding people who want to hear (and read) the truth in as few words as possible. They want to read the headline, not search for it. They want to know if you can make an immediate and sustainable difference for them or just take up space. Put your resume to the same test.
Joyce Richman is a speaker and career coach conducting seminars and workshops throughout the United States, and the author of "Roads, Routes & Ruts: A Guidebook for Career Success." You can reach her at 288-1799 or JERichman@aol.com. Watch Joyce Richman's latest career advice Wednesdays at 6:35 a.m. during "The Good Morning Show" on WFMY News 2 or visit http://www.digtriad.com/business/columnists/career_minute/
