| In the current slumping economy, managers who are hiring tend to receive dozens of applications for every job they post. Muddling through this pool of anonymous applications can be time-consuming, so managers often sort through and screen resumes based on some very superficial criteria. In order to keep an application in the pile, it's important to write a resume that avoids common pitfalls and also creates a positive impression for the reader. Most of these tips are very easy to incorporate into any job application.
The Professional Look of a Resume
It might seem obvious that a resume should appear professional, but "professional" has a different meaning for many people. A professional appearance means contact information is at the top of the page and easily visible, resume content is aligned consistently on the page, and the resume is on white paper with no elaborate graphics or pictures.
An employer must be able to find all contact information at a glance; this includes address, phone number, and email address at the very least. This information should be located at the beginning of the resume (some applicants put it on the last page where it's hard to find). An employer should not be prevented from contacting an applicant because contact information can't be located. Employers will not hunt through an application looking for a phone number and are more likely to reject the application.
All information in the resume should be aligned and formatted the same throughout, with absolutely zero errors. If an employer reads a resume where the applicant has stated he "pays attention to detail" and then finds a spelling error or misaligned content, the application is likely to be rejected. The resume is the first impression for most job candidates, so it must look absolutely perfect.
Some applicants believe their application will receive more attention if it is printed on colored paper, but this practice does not enhance professionalism. Similarly, most employers do not need to see a picture of the applicant (with the exception of some jobs, such as acting jobs, where appearance does matter). Fancy graphics take away from the content of a resume and may be seen as a method for the applicant to camouflage his or her lack of experience.
Resume Organization
The content of a resume should be logically organized so employers can easily find the information they are looking for. In most cases, Education and Work Experience should be separate sections with the information arranged chronologically from most recent to oldest.
A resume should begin with a summary, or highlights section, that outlines the applicant's major accomplishments in a few bullet points. It can conclude with a brief line on the applicant's personal interests or hobbies; this information can sometimes tip the scale if an employer is trying to choose between two equally qualified candidates.
A final tip on organization is to include page numbers if the resume is longer than one page. Even when resumes are submitted electronically, employers will often print them out in order to organize them more easily. This means additional pages can be lost or misplaced in a pile of applications. The format "1/2, 2/2" is best because it tells the employer how many pages to look for when reading the application.
There are countless online resources for resume writing; Workopolis has a good introduction to resume writing, and a Google search will bring up thousands more. By giving a resume a simple, professional look and organizing it well, the chances of being contacted for an interview are easily increased. The suggestions above are a great start to creating a great job application and will ensure that your resume does not get lost in the shuffle.
order dissertation |
Article Details
