Description: Resume Rules
Header: Resume Rules
Date: Friday, September 27, 1996

So, you want a job? Let's just suppose ... I've run an advertisement for a computer programmer, a systems analyst, a chemical engineer or a Chief Information Officer. And now, only one week later, I have 429 resumes on my desk and at least 100 phone messages from interested applicants. It would be easier to just do the job myself (if I knew how!) than to try to work my way through this tosk. So, I spend th6 next week sifting through resumes that all say the same thing. Programmers tell me they write code, systems analyst tell me they design new systems and applications, chemical engineers write that they develop process for chemical manufacture, and
ClOs tell me that direct the corporate information management organization. I know
THESE THINGSI That's what the job is. Looking at what I think is resume #388,
something is different! This resume "says" something. It highlights projects
achievements, special task forces, and a host of other interesting ohd distinctive
activities. I want to meet this applicant! Now, is that applicant you? It
certainly can be if you learn the tricks and techniques to effectively market
yourself through your resume.

STRATEGY:
The Sales & Marketing Game

The resume is a great tool.
There are really no rules, no definitive procedures that dictate how you prepare
your resume. The choice is yours. The opportunity is there to sell your achievements creatively and aggressively, to effectively position yourself qbove the competing applicants, and get in the door for an interview. Just remember the purpose of your resume is to get interviews. Resumes don't get jobs. Let's su@pose you designed an innovative new product line. You're ready to begin selling this product, so you develop marketing plans, sales literature and other campaigns that highlight the features and benefits of the product. In essence, what makes it so great. Well, the concept is the some when you prepare your resume -- highlight the features and the benefits. Yes, of course, you need to include the "typical" resume information -- professional work experience, educational backgrouhd, teaching experience, technical qualifications and professional affiliations, Equally important is the emphasis you place on selling your career success -- special projects, new systems development, productivity improvements, quality improvements, reduction in operating expenses, and more. The list go6s on. Afew examples may include:

*Directed the development and implementation of a new corporate Information Management Systems to replace obsolete technology. Managed project from initial conceptualization and systems specification through the entire programming, configuration planning, installation and technical training cycle.

*Redesigned internal project scheduling procedures and redwced net days per project by 32.

*Redesigned engineering processes and ekpedited daily production by 18%. *Identified cost overrides in contracting data processing fees, renegotiated vendor agreements, and saved over $2.3 million annually.

*Wrote and implemented a series of customized programs (e.g., accounting, inventory control, purchasing, order entry) to support UNtX-based operations for a multi-million dollar global distributor.

By including this type of specific information, you are "teasing" the prospective
employer. It is important that you provide detailed information to substantiate
not only your qualifications but also your ability to contribute to the corpordtion
and effectuate positive change. In today's economy, everyone is suffering -- from
the large corporate giants of yesterday to the small, high-tech companies. Money
is tight, competition is fierce and economics are forcing massive change, Companies
need expertise ond the ability to produce. Your job is to use your resume os an
effective sales tool that will demonstrate your knowledge, achievements and capabilities. As your prospective employer, "tell" not only what you have dooe,
but tell me how well. Be careful, however, about "overkill," Achievements most
also be within the realm of reality (and documentable)l

FORMAT:
Capture Attention & Win

A recommended format for high-tech resumes for engineering, data processing
and other technical and management personnel, is as follows: Technical Qualifications
Brief, hard-hitting summary of your significant technical, and if appropriate, management qualifications. Also include any professional credentials or certifications, along with your technical proficienties (e.g., equipment, computer hardware, programming languages, network protocols, operating systems, electronic test instrumentation). The summary can be presented either in a parogragh form or as a bulleted listing. For example:

"PC SPECIALIST offers strong background in customized software
applications, systems/needs evaluation, user training ahd systems
support services. Seeking a technical services position offering
opportunities for career training and enhancement."
* Comprehensive knowledge of government regulations and industrial
hygiene standards.
* Substantial experience in project planning, implementation and
management.
* Ability to independently manage government affairs.
* Solid field and site investigation skills.
* Strong planning, analytical, writing and negotiation skills.
* Proven record of achievement in responding to/managing environmental
clean-up programs.
Professional Experience
Include job titles, employers, locations and dates of employment in
addition to a short, yet comprehensive summary of responsibilities with
special emphasis on project highlights and achievements.
Professional Activities
Broad category to include teaching experience, research projects, public
speaking/presentations, writing experience, conference attendance and
any other activities related to your career.
Education
Include college degrees, attendance at college courses, seminars,
workshops, conferences and any other professional development activities.
Be sure to include distinguished academic achievements. Coll ge
activities may or may not be appropiate based largely upon dotes of
graduation and amount of professional experience.
Professional Affiliations
Include membership in professional association and societies, and of
course, any specific leadership roles.

Please note that this is a recommended format that may not be appropriate to vou particular circumstance. Remember, there are no rules to resome writing,,,tprep
a resume that will sell your talents, technical qualifications, career hi ory a d
achievements.

VISUAL PRESENTATION:
The "Make It Look Good" Game

Yes, visual presentation matters! In order to sell yourself as a professioncil,
must "look" like a professional. With the advent of word processing, desktop
publishing and loser printers, there is no excuse for a non-professional presentation.
A few helpful hints:

* Use bold and italics to highlight specific items on your resume.
* Right hand justify the text for a "clearer" appearance.
* Use high-quality paper (24 Ib., 25% cotton). Ivory, light blue and
light gray are distinctive and attractive, yet conservative.
* Use matching stationary and envelopes for your cover letters.
* Proofread and double proofread. Errors are unacceptable.
* Leave lots of white space. Readability is as important as content.
If no one reads the resume, it doesn't matter what you've said or
how well you've said it.
* Stay away from long paragraphs of more than 6-7 sentences. Break
paragraphs with blank lines in b6tween and/or use bullets to enhance
reading ease. The one verses two page dilemma is a constant point of
concern.

Years ago, the "Resume God" said "Let your resume be one page." And it was low, but times have changed, the competition is fierce, and you must make every attempt to aggressively "sell" your qualifications. If two pages is required, so be it. You will find that your response to your job search campaign will be directly dependent upon how well you've marketed your qualifications and achievement; not on number of pages.

Written by Wendy Enelow of "The Advantage"
Phone: (804) 525-2771 E-Mail: 72624,541

Make Your Résumé Stand Out

J. Michael Worthington, Jr.
ResumeDoctor.com

Special from Bottom Line/Personal


In today's ultracompetitive job market, a single opening might draw more than 1,000 responses. Most résumés receive only a 10-second skim. That's why yours has to make a great impression.

We recently surveyed more than 2,500 recruiters and headhunters, asking them for their résumé pet peeves. Some responses, such as lies and typographical errors, come as no surprise. Others are not so obvious. Don't be surprised if one or two of these mistakes are lurking in your résumé...

CONTENT

Missing industry specifics. Recruiters hate it when résumés don't mention the field in which prior employers are engaged. Unless a past employer is a household name, such as IBM or Wal-Mart, always include industry, company size and whether the firm was public or privately held.

Meaningless objective statements. Some résumés include objective statements that are so generic, they're worthless.

Example: My objective is to find a challenging position in the advertising field.

Instead, put a "headline" right under your contact information to focus the recruiter's attention. It should be customized to match the job description.

Example: Senior-Level Health and Safety Manager with Extensive Experience Working with FDA Regulations in the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Arena.

Unnecessary personal information. Recruiters don't care that your hobby is golf -- unless you're applying for a job at a company that makes golf clubs.

Employment gaps. It is better to address gaps in employment directly than to leave recruiters wondering.

Examples: August 2000-November 2000, took personal sabbatical to travel in Europe... October 2002-present, looking for suitable position in field.

Too duty-oriented. Many résumés focus on job titles and day-to-day responsibilities. Employers want to know what you have accomplished.

Example: If you write "project manager," your résumé will be like hundreds of others. Instead, write "project manager who oversaw rollout of new product line generating $50 million in annual sales," and you'll get their attention.

Functional résumés. Some applicants arrange their experience into skill groups. Recruiters strongly prefer a chronological résumé, starting with the most recent job and working backward.

FORMAT

Résumés longer than two pages. Shorten your résumé by summarizing jobs from more than a decade ago in a "Previous Employment" section that includes titles, companies and dates. Elaborate only if an earlier job seems relevant to the position for which you're applying.

Long paragraphs. Write in a fast-paced, bullet-point style. Think of a résumé as a newspaper ad selling you.

Example: Don't say, I spent three years as a marketing manager, where I oversaw a staff of 12. Instead say, Three years as senior marketing manager. Oversaw staff of 12. Developed marketing plan that increased sales by 25%.

Résumés that look good on paper but not on a computer screen. Even if you don't submit your résumé on-line, today's recruiters and employers are likely to scan it into their computers. The scanning process can make an attractive résumé look messy.

To avoid problems: Don't use tables, templates, boxes or graphs... don't expand margins beyond six inches in width... and don't use tab stops more than absolutely necessary.

For an approximation of how your résumé will look on-line, highlight the text, copy it and paste it into your computer's "Notepad" program.

Odd fonts. Unusual fonts, small font sizes or italicized text might be difficult or impossible for recruiters to read on computer screens.

Use 10-point Arial for text, 12-point bold Arial for headings. Also acceptable is 11- or 12-point Times New Roman, with 14-point bold headings.

Résumés not sent as Microsoft Word files. Recruiters generally won't even open non-Word files.

Helpful: Name your résumé file using your own name, such as Smith, John Resume. About 90% of on-line résumés are simply titled Resume.

No E-mail address. On more than 27% of résumés, contact information doesn't include E-mail addresses. This inconveniences the recruiter and raises concerns about the applicant's familiarity with technology.

Also: Don't use an E-mail address with an inappropriate nickname or one that's likely to change in the coming year. Even if you don't get this job, the employer might contact you at a later date.

Caution: Don't use your corporate E-mail account -- your employer might be monitoring your E-mails. Create a free E-mail account at Yahoo! or Hotmail.
Omit Photos. A picture may let employers form misleading impressions.
Omit Salary requirements. Why should applicants price themselves out of a job or show that they are a bargain?
Omit Reasons for leaving jobs. These are better explained in interviews.
Omit Date of resume preparation or date available to begin work. Both indicate how long you have been looking for a job. Exception: When looking for seasonal work.
Omit References or a statement that references are available on request. Instead: List them on a separate sheet and adapt them to each individual employment situation.
Omit Empty assurances. All applicants think they are good, honest, loyal and healthy workers. Demonstrate these qualities through concrete examples during interviews.
Omit Vague references to time gaps. Employers look for holes. Explain them in terms of accomplishments. Example; Travel to improve a language capability or research a specific project.
Omit Hobbies and outside interests. Exception; Those that relate to professional interests or show traits that an emplyer wants.

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