I really didn’t think there was a need for another article on resume’ writing. However, after spending the past month reviewing executive-level resume’s, I now know that too many of you don’t know some important resume’ basics.
What follows is a random list — in no particular order of importance — of considerations for your resume’. Use it as a check-list before submitting your document for consideration by a hiring authority.
As reminder, “ATS” stands for Applicant Tracking System. It is a computer program used by most employers to pre-qualify applicants. Your resume’ will first be subjected to the ATS. If the computer program doesn’t choose you, neither will a human. So, preparing your resume’ to be “ATS friendly” is imperative.
1) With only rare exception, your resume’ should be organized as follows:
- Header: name, address, phone numbers, email address.
- Title: For ATS purposes, state that it is a resume’.
- Objective: A statement of your intention.
Sample: Seeking a Directorship or C-level position in Operations, Communications, and/or Program Management with a superior and established nonprofit organization that is committed to excellence. Offering broad skill-set, traditional work ethic, and achievement of expert status with multi-industry experience.
- Key Competencies: A relatively short bulleted list of your BEST achievements. Nothing vague here! Don’t say “Professional and effective leadership skills.” Say, “Catalyst for a 75% reduction in attrition after assuming leadership role for support staff.”
- Alternative names: Executive Summary, Key Achievements, Summary
- Education: From highest to lowest degrees earned, followed by additional certifications. Spell out the degree, “Masters in Business Administration”, “Bachelors of Arts,” and so on.
- Professional Experience: In reverse chronological order, list your work experience that is relevant to the particular job submission. Title of your position, Employer’s Name, Employer’s City, State, Zip Code, Month and Year of start and end dates, followed by ACHIEVEMENTS, not job duties.
-
Director of Operations | ABC Co., St. Louis, MO. 63017 | Aug. 2008 – Present
- Additional Relevant Experience: depending on the topic, this is where you would put volunteer service, committee memberships, and so forth.
- Awards & Recognitions and/or Publications & Presentations: If you have ‘em, list ‘em.
- Computer Skills: For some submissions, this is an important area. List your software skills, including the name of the program and your level of proficiency.
2) NEVER end a resume’ with “References Available Upon Request.” That sentence does not belong on your resume’ at all.
3) Keep fancy formatting to a minimum. No photos unless you are applying for a art-related position.
4) Your personal data (gender, birth date, social security number, marital status, religious or political affiliations) should NEVER be on your resume’.
5) Achievements, achievements, achievements!
That’s what matters. Job duties and a job description are rarely needed. If you are convinced that your audience won’t know what you were responsible for as “Director of Programs,” then keep your description short, pointed, and impressive: “Responsible for a staff of 200 and the direction of more than 500 programs in a 2 year time span.”
Examples of genuine achievements –
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6) Less is more. If you say all there is to say, not only will your document be too long, you limit your ability to sing your own praises in an interview.
7) If you create your resume’ using a table, it will not lose its formatting when transmitted. Just hide the lines of the table after you’re done creating the document!
8) A pdf version of your resume’ is best, if there is not a restriction regarding the type of document you can email.
The pdf document cannot be accidentally manipulated by the receiver, and it maintains its appearance.
9) Do not use “full justification” for any of the resume’ text.
If you do, it leaves awkward spacing. Instead, using a table for the foundation, either use left-justification or centering, depending on the item.
10) Color will not print well in black and white. If you use colors, such as to shade a heading block, make sure it is light enough that a b&w printing will not distort the text.
11) Never use colored text. (exception: artsy type jobs)
12) Achievements, achievements, achievements!
It bears repeating because it’s so important. A hiring authority wants to know how you stand out from everyone else. What makes you better than the other guy? Your past achievements are the best way to demonstrate that you ARE better than your competition.
13) When choosing your achievements:
Think of things that demonstrate a) a problem, b) your identification of that problem, c) your answer to that problem, d) how you carried out that resolution, and e) the result.
Example: Solved an emergent trademark issue in 24 hours by creating a new program overnight, saving an organization from complete shut-down.
14) Proper use of the backslash:
When you use the backslash or forward-slash key, put a space before and after the keystroke. In some instances, the divider key ” | ” is a better choice.
CEO/President — will read as one word by a computer.
CEO / President — each word will be found by ATS
15) Spell it out!
With the exception of chief officer titles ( CEO / CCO / COO / etc.), spell out abbreviations and acronyms. “Mngmt” or “mgmt” or some other version will not be read as “management” by an ATS.
16) Consistency is a sign of your ability to pay attention to detail.
Thus, if you capitalize the first word in a list, make sure that each first word is capitalized. Ending punctuation must likewise be consistent. Here are examples:
Wrong Way
- Microsoft Word
- power point;
- adobe photo shop.
Right Way
- Microsoft Word;
- Power Point;
- Adobe Photo Shop.
17) Read your resume’ out loud.
It’s the ONLY way to properly proof read it and find the small mistakes most of us inevitably make.
18) Tailor your resume’ to the job description!
Yes, it takes work — but you either want the job, or you don’t. Those who go the extra mile tend to find employment sooner than later.
19) Paying a professional to write your resume’ does not guarantee perfection.
Yesterday, I read someone’s resume’ who apparently obtained a “Bachelor of Psychology”. On inquiry, I discovered that this was an error made by the resume’ writer, and not caught by the candidate. It should have said, “Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.”
20) Ad nauseum?
Though you may be sick to death of reading, revising, and considering your resume’, you need to look it over EACH time you intend to submit it to an employer. Tailor it, proof read it, revise it as needed — and only hit “send” when you believe it is perfected.
~ Lynda C. Watts
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Great article — worth reviewing.