Writing a Customized Resume: Dos and Don’ts

NEW YORK - July 24, 2013 - PRLog -- “It’s simple arithmetic. If your resume doesn’t sell you it’s not doing its job”

With so much information on the internet in regards to resume writing, it is easy to get overwhelmed and confused as to what exact approach you should take into crafting your own resume. You can find all sorts of tips and tricks and what you should or shouldn’t be doing, but you never get a clear idea. You’ve probably heard someone tell you to stand out by making your resume dynamic and pretty, and then have someone else tell you to do the complete opposite. You can sometimes feel like you’re bouncing from wall to wall. It can be a very difficult task to try to compose a basic resume.

Well, take a deep breath and clear your mind, because we are going to make it very easy for you.

Start with the understanding that “the devil is in the details”. You need to know how your resume is going to get read. Seems like a simple question but it has many hidden pitfalls. For example, did you know that a company’s CRS [character recognition system] will not be able to read and enter your information because of the style and fonts you used? Also consider this, will a manager pull up your resume and eliminate it without reading through it because it fails to give them the information they need quickly, clearly, immediately?  The vieReady 15SecondResume training course (http://www.vieready.com/15secondresume/) goes into depth all the pitfalls you may encounter and much more.

What seems so basic is important in more ways than most job candidates realize, like basic arithmetic.
This is the most basic simple template you can reuse over and over, because as long as you are answering the opportunity directly, it will come across as a direct fit.

Paper Resume:
Do use plain copy paper.
Don’t use fancy resume or specialty paper.

Digital Resume:
Do use a common document file type, preferably MSWord of PDF and attach it to your correspondence.
Don’t use uncommon file types, and don’t just include a link to its online location if using an online document service.

Margins:
Do use more than half of inch on each side, and keep it consistent on each side.
Don’t go smaller or have different margins for each side of the page or for different pages.

Fonts:
Do use a clear font type with a book or newspaper type size.
Don’t use fancy fonts or font sizes too big or too small.

Contact Information:
Do supply as much information as necessary and keep it consistent in appearance to the rest of the resume.
Do not undersupply or oversupply information or use a different font type or size.

Introduction:
Do write a summary that promotes your experience answering the opportunity.
Don’t write an objective or summary that isn’t focused.

Experience:
Do focus on mentioning your experience and accomplishments as how they helped the company. Include evidence if possible.
Don’t simply list duties and results.

Education:
Do list your college degree, certifications that align to the opportunity.
Do not list every school including high school or every certification you have, and leave off the dates.

References:
Do have references available that you can use if requested.
Do not include the “references upon request” line or list actual reference information (unless required on an online form).

Additional Items:
Do include additional items like a list of skills or publications or links to portfolios if it will further assist promoting your experience to the opportunity.
Do not include additional items if they are not related or needed.

Grammar and Spelling:
Do have someone or two available to proofread and edit your resume for mistakes and errors.
Do not rely on spell-check or yourself.

Now that you got an understanding of the purpose of your resume and where your focus should be as well as these basic dos and don’ts, you should be ready to jump into drafting that first new resume.

Remember the purpose of the resume is to sell both you into a job interview and continue selling you throughout the process to people you have yet to meet.
If yours isn’t doing that, then no matter how good it looks it’s not doing its job.
Many people “think” they write a powerful resume as they are very impressed with their own background. But you are not your audience. If it isn’t working, change gears.
Stop wasting your time as it’s costing you money. Stop losing out on job opportunities.

About the Author:
Hal Eskenazi - http://www.linkedin.com/in/haleskenazi
A veteran Recruiting Specialist, National Accounts Manager and Trainer with extensive experience recruiting for Top Tier Corporations, Management Consulting  organizations and mid to small companies across all lines of business. Expansive experience in advising clients on effective recruiting, hiring techniques and retention practices over the last 25 years. Dedicated to helping candidates and clients achieve success through developed methodologies, processes, and techniques.

About vieReady:
vie (French) – Life, Career; Ready – To be fully prepared
The goal of vieReady is to empower you to be self sufficient, to move   your career and job opportunities forward, by providing the tools and knowledge necessary to be competitive in an ever changing job marketplace starting with:
A resume that sells you, clearly, concisely, professionally.
An interview skill set  that gets you the job offer
Find out more at http://www.vieready.com

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net