Resume Rhyme and Reason
By Angela Baerg
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| Photo: Sean Bolt |
Substituting Method for Madness in the Job-Hunt World
You give a resume to a prospective employer for one reason and one reason alone: to score an interview. If they don’t call, it might mean that your document needs a little polishing. To increase your odds of getting a reply, try these tips:
Make it all about them. When it comes to stating resume objectives, many novices make the mistake of explaining that they are searching for a job that fulfills their personal aspirations and makes them feel complete. Although very few employers are opposed to having their employees experience job satisfaction, an equally small number will hire an employee based solely on their personal needs. Rather than explaining why this employer would be perfect for you, explain to your employer why you would be perfect for them.
Make your modesty (momentarily) step aside. As much as your employer might cherish your humility once you’re on the job, it is unlikely that he will recognize it when it’s embedded in a resume. Keeping that in mind, rather than speaking in code, state your virtues straight-out.
Make your past come alive. Rather than blandly rehashing the mundane details of your work history, sift through them carefully to deliberately point out what you gained from each job and how those acquired skills make you exactly what your prospective employer is looking for.
Make much of the present. As interesting as your duties as a 14-year-old lifeguard might have been, it is unlikely that your prospective employer will care as much about that experience as he would about the internship you held last fall. Divvy up your space accordingly, setting aside the page’s majority for your most recent and relevant positions.
Make every word count. Shorter things are always sweeter, and when you’re writing your resume, this principle is doubly true. Considering that in most cases your resume will probably only receive a 15-second skim, keeping it slim, trim, and error-free should be your top priority. Shooting for one page of thrice-edited bliss is a good goal.
So, bite the bullet, grab a keyboard, and give your resume a makeover, following these simple principles. When you’re through, although you might hardly recognize your resume, potential employers will. Then when the phone finally rings, you’ll understand why.
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