Resume Rework: Tips to Impress in 15 Seconds or Less
The consensus by recruiters is that they spend 15 seconds or less glancing over resumes to make the first cut for an opening. Sucks, huh? Well, I’ve gathered some useful resume tips for you from several articles on Work Goes Strong that will hopefully help you catch recruiters’ eyes!
1. Say no to the Glamour Shot.
There’s really no good reason to put a picture of yourself on your resume, unless you’re an actor auditioning for a theatrical gig. Save your head shot for your social/business networking profiles — where it’s completely appropriate.
2. Keep formatting sleek and simple.
Use the same font throughout your resume, use consistent formatting and use white space to your advantage. The goal is not to overwhelm.
3. Make sure your email address is professional.
Yeahhhhh, better to leave QTBabyGirl007@yahoo.com strictly for close family and friends.
4. Keep it to 2 pages at most.
This is something I have yet to do. My resume is still a one-pager. However, recruiters say a two-page resume is fine if that’s what it takes for you to present your work history, talents and accomplishments in an easy-to-read and-scan way.
5. Keep your references out of it.
Your references’ contact information should be in a separate document and should only be given on request.
6. No fibbing.
Seriously, don’t lie on your resume.
7. Lose the jargon.
As a Work Goes Strong writer put it, just speak English. “Dense resumes filled with buzzwords, acronyms and corporate-speak are boring.”
8. It’s okay to include relevant personal information.
“A lot of people shy away from any kind of personal information, but that’s often the section on a resume that can give the reader an idea of who you are as a person.”
9. Think of your resume as a sales document and less like a chronological work history document.
I think this tip is particularly helpful because I’ve never thought of placing my work history in a more advantageous order! “Your resume is a brochure about you, and it needs to look good, read smoothly, and tell the reader why you are a great candidate for their specific position.”
10. Sell, sell, sell!
Being humble on your resume will not help you land an interview or a job. “You absolutely must be able to blow your own horn! As Muhammad Ali aid, ‘It ain’t braggin’ if you really did it’ and if you don’t tell them in shining terms about how great you are, who exactly do you think is going to do it?”
There are other great tips here, here and here.
Do you have any other tips for reworking your resume?