First, formatting your resume correctly is very important. If your resume isn’t neat and lined properly, the majority of employers will not take a second look. When creating a resume, your margins should be: Top 1″ Left 1″ Bottom 1″ and Right 1″. This keeps the resume neat and in order.
Second, when writing a resume, you want to make sure you are focusing on your past and present accomplishments and achievements. Employers do not want to read a job description. They are looking for results! What did you do in your previous position that got results? Did you increase sales? How? Did the company experience some kind of growth? How did you contribute to management satisfaction? Were you promoted? Turn your job duties and responsibilities into achievements! Focusing on this will peak the employers’ attention and they are going to want more. This means you may be getting a call for that interview!
Third, make sure your information is accurate and correct. Please, Please, Please do not exaggerate or lie on your resume! This happens often because, let’s face it, everyone wants to sound important. But the reality is you are misrepresenting yourself and it will catch up with you! If you do not have a B.A. degree… DO NOT PUT THAT ON YOUR RESUME! Some employers will actually ask you for a copy of your degree and if you can’t supply it, then what?? You just lost that opportunity. So please tell the truth! It will save you embarrassment and it will save the employer time!
Fourth, if you have spell check… USE IT!! If you want a job interview, you must make sure the spelling and grammar on your resume are correct. TRIPLE check your resume if you have to in order to make sure there are no spelling or punctuation errors. Periods need to go after each sentence and insert commas where they need to be. NO RUN ON SENTENCES! Remember, your resume is an introduction of who you are. If the employer sees lots of mistakes, your resume is getting tossed!
Fifth, you want to make sure your resume is no longer than a page long. If it goes over, it shouldn’t be any longer than a page and a half. This may shock you, but employers only take about 15-20 seconds to review a resume. They have too many resumes to go through to focus on a resume that’s 5 pages long!
And last but not least…. DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!
Sixth, a finished resume always needs to be printed on quality resume paper using a laser printer. This gives the resume a professional and polished look. Remember, you only have 15-20 seconds to impress an employer enough to call you in for an interview. You need to make each second count! Employers can’t take the time to review a resume for 5-10 minutes. They look for what they need and keep going!
Good luck with your job hunting and I hope you take these six simple steps and apply them to your next resume creation! I wish you much success!
