Resume Fundamentals, Summarized

Your resume must be interesting, easy to read, and user-friendly for digital (i.e. email) transmission and retrieval if you are to be considered a viable job candidate.  To be viewed as a savvy professional, pay attention to the details.  Put your recipient’s needs first.  The following bullet points will set you apart from the rest of the pack.

Make it easy to put into the recipient’s database and retrieve.

• Your resume file name should put your last name first, and then first name and date.
• Use File/Properties menu option to list keywords and other data to make it easy to find. 
• Use appropriate keywords in the body of the resume.

Make it easy for the recipient to read.

• Use header and footer function to retain continuity.
•  Use Table function to hold formatting for Employers, Job Titles, and Dates. 
• PDF is the best format for integrity in transmission. 
• Adjust typeface; larger for headers, 14 to 16 pt. 
• Use 12 pt typeface size for the body of the resume, larger for headers. 
• Use spacing to break up career experience and to transition from different formats. 
• Use underlining to separate Employers

Make your resume fun and interesting reading;

• Use an Executive Summary at the beginning to set the stage. 
• Use paragraph format for Career Summary, and Job responsibilities.
•  Italics font for job responsibilities will make the resume more interesting to read. 
•  Use bullet format for accomplishments and skill sets.
•  Use bold and underline functions to make headers stand out.Give a brief description of each employer and the purpose of each position.

Make your resume Professional:

• Leave off Personal interests and “references available upon request.” 
• Use industry specific terminology. 
• Accomplishments should be predominant 
• Executive/Career summary must address your  Functional discipline, the level of accomplishment; and industry/segment expertise. 
• Give a short, one-line explanation for employer changes.
  

Make it Easy to contact you:

• Cell phone and email addresses are required.  
• The home mailing address is unnecessary  
• Make it smart-phone friendly.

Failure to follow these basic principles will prevent you from getting out of the starting gate.  A great resume will not guarantee that you get the job.  It is, however, the price of Poker.  The ante, if you will.  Once you have a solid resume product to present it will become easier to create alternate versions to be used in more specialized situations.  Your resume will become the template for other documents you will need in your searches, such as a short biography, cover letters, and a key accomplishments handout.  This is a task where professional help is readily available.  You will have no trouble finding competent professionals to help you if needed.

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Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search