The RIGHT Resume

This information is as published in the Job Seeker Survival Guide from The Employment Guide.

Your resume provides a snapshot of who you are to a potential employer. Along with your cover letter, it is their first impression of you. It must stand out in a competitive job market. To ensure you have the right resume, let's start at the top. Here's what your resume should include:

1. Pertinent Contact Information
• Resumes should start with your full name, address, phone numbers(s), and email address (if you have one).
• You should always use a font size of 10-12 for your text in an easy-to-read font style such as Arial or Times New Roman.
• Microsoft Word offers resume templates.

2. State Your Objective
• The objective should be one sentence only.
• State the job you are seeking and what you hope to accomplish long term.

3. Highlight Your Skills with a Functional Resume
• The functional resume focuses on acquired skills and accomplishments, rather than just straight work history. This is the best route to go for the veteran with many skill sets.

4. List Your Experience and Accomplishments
• Start by listing the skill that best satisfies the job listing. Site three or four examples of skills usage with the successful outcomes. You do not need to list your skills in chronological order of jobs, but rather your strongest skill on down.
• Be concise - use short, bulleted phrases (complete sentences are not necessary). State your achievements and accomplishments, not just duties.
• Use action verbs and industry keywords to enhance the body of your resume.

5. Catalogue Your Education
• List your highest degree first. Leave out your high school degree if you have a college degree. Academic honors should be listed, but degree dates are not important.

6. "Red Flags" to Avoid in Your Resume
• Overall messy appearance: Make sure your resume is typed on resume-quality paper (or formatted correctly for an online application) and proofread carefully.
• Spelling errors: Use spell check and have a friend proofread.
• Grammatical errors: Use grammar check and have a friend proofread.
• Too much information: Keep resume to a maximum of two pages.
• Outdated skills listed: Avoid listing skills that date your resume. For example, listing "typewriter proficiency" would not be appropriate unless it is pertinent to the job opportunity.