Don’t Doom Your Resume for the Trash : Resume Tips

Resume Writing Tips

Before you are able to dazzle a hiring manager with your in-depth knowledge of Lean Six Sigma procedures or your expertise in QuickBooks, you need to be invited to interview. A sharp, well-written resume is necessary to receive that invitation! Here are a few tips to help:

• Spelling and grammar matter! Be sure to spellcheck your resume. Run it through Grammarly.com. Have a trusted friend or family member look it over. A spelling error or glaring grammar mistake could easily get your resume transferred to the “no” pile.

• Be concise. Resumes for most positions should not run longer than two pages and, if you are newer to the workforce, it shouldn’t be more than a page. 4-5 bullets are sufficient in describing your job responsibilities. Include only the last 10-15 years’ experience. The hiring manager is extremely busy and, more than likely has received a slew of resumes for the position. They simply don’t have the time to read lengthy resumes so they will not do so.

• Do not include references, letters of recommendations, salary history/requirements, a photograph, marital status/children, or personal info beyond your name, address, email address and phone number. I would also avoid including hobbies/interests unless you are a student applying for an internship. Including these bits of info could open you up to subtle discrimination.

• Unless you are applying for an artistic role, avoid adding graphics, watermarks, or different colors. The “look” of your resume is very important. White space within the document allows for easier reading. Use one font throughout. You have 4-6 seconds to grab the reader’s attention. A wordy, dense resume makes it much harder for your experience to stand out.

• Be sure to include keywords for the position you are applying to in your resume. This will help if your resume is being fed into an automated applicant tracking system. It will also help if human eyes are reading it first. Hiring managers want to know that you have the basic qualifications at a quick glance.

A resume is your sales sheet. It gets your foot in the door and provides recruiters and hiring managers with their first impression of you. Make sure it represents who you are and what you can offer! If you would like more tips, please feel free to email Stephanie at Stephanie@Moorestaffing.com.