You cannot underestimate the importance of a well written resume. A good or bad resume can mean the difference between getting or not getting an interview and the job you want.

You have to remember that a typical recruiter can look at 100 resumes per job posting. Not only do you need yours to stand out but with just a few sentences you have to show the recruiter that you are the right person for the job. The best way of doing that is having a well written resume that clearly states your qualifications and skills.

What recruiters look for in a resume

The most important thing is that your resume is clear and written well. Nothing makes it easier for a recruiter than to be able to read your resume and understand where you worked, when you worked there, and what you did while you were there. I have looked at thousands of resumes that looked more like grocery lists then resumes.

Keep it short. Recruiters don’t have time to read a novel for a resume. The cover letter should be a quick overview of your experiences and be no longer than one page. It is suppose to entice the recruiter to want to read more and head straight to the meat and potatoes- your resume. Your resume can be longer and should be around two, three and even four pages long depending on how long you have been working.

Do’s and Dont’s

• Do properly format your resume. You should have a heading that is centered on the top of the page.

• Don’t use very large letters for your name or try to be fancy and use a crazy font that makes your name hard to read.

• Do have your email address, home and or cell phone numbers in the heading.

• Don’t include your office phone number unless you have privacy at work and don’t have to whisper when a potential employer calls.

• Don’t add an objective if you’re not applying for a specific job. General applications to companies with objectives like “looking to improve sales” is boring and lacks creativity.

• Do keep it short. The best looking resumes are two or three pages long.

• Do NOT forget to indicate the dates on your employment history I.e 2001-2005 or Summer 2009. This is a common mistake.

• Do proof read. You do not want any spelling mistakes or have the cover letter directed to the wrong company.

• Don’t state salary on your resume. If the recruiter knows what you are making then the recruiter has the upper hand during salary negotiations.

• Do NOT state why you left your previous job. This subject is more appropriate for the interview and not the resume.

• Don’t put your photo, age, how many children you have or if you’re married or divorced on your resume.

Now you can write an amazing resume and get the interview for the job you want or you can contact me and I can write one for you 🙂

photo by SOCIALisBETTER

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