Making It Readable
Since resumes are often scanned the first time through, it must be easy for the reader to pick up key pieces of information quickly. Long paragraphs of over ten lines or narrow margins with heavy blocks of text, can make reading the resume seem daunting, with the result that it will often be cast aside.
Honesty
Throughout your resume you should be honest and accurate-but positive. Whatever is stated should be true, but you do not need to tell everything. Both in resumes and in interviews you have a right to withhold certain information.
Multiple Resumes
In order to sell you, a resume must demonstrate focus. If you are considering more than one type of job, you may need two or more resumes. In this case you may want to write only one resume, but give it more flexibility by using more than one objective, leaving everything else the same. This is easy to do with a word processor or a memory typewriter.
An example will help. Jim is a very good computer salesperson with no desire to change fields, but we created three different objectives for him to use in three different versions of his resume: "OBJECTIVE: Computer Sales;" "OBJECTIVE: Electronics Sales;" and "OBJECTIVE: Sales." Nothing else in the resume was changed. Computer companies got one resume, electronics companies got another, and if Jim saw something interesting outside those two industries, he sent the one that said "Sales."
Changing the objective, however, may not be adequate if the types of jobs you are seeking are considerably different from each other. Writing a new qualifications section for each objective will often do the trick. Far less frequently, you may need to make small changes in the employment section. Typically that consists of adding an area of experience which was a very small part of your job, but one which will help sell you with that particular objective. You would also look for ways to get the right buzz words in.
Using Cover Letters for Flexibility
A cover letter should accompany each resume you mail out and should be individually typed. The cover letter provides an excellent opportunity to mention points you know are important to that particular employer, but are not mentioned in the resume.
Answering Want Ads
When a want ad provides specific job requirements, there are a number of ways to respond.
You can :
- Send your resume with a standardized cover letter;
- Send your resume with a custom-written cover letter discussing key points mentioned in the ad; or
- Customize your resume to hit all the important points in the ad and write a creative cover letter.
As you customize your resume, you may find that the job descriptions require few if any changes, while the qualifications section might require substantial changes. The entire process of rewriting might take one to two hours. If you are really interested in the position and know you could handle it, consider the time as an investment. Taking time to redo the resume will not guarantee you an interview, but it can double your chances. If you lack certain desired skills or experience that was mentioned in the ad, simply ignore those points and really sell what you do have.
What to Call It
It's not necessary to type Resume, Qualifications Brief Profile, or any other such title at the top of your resume. Everyone will know it's a resume just by glancing at it.
Color and Type of Paper
While paper is available in a variety of colors, textures, weights, and sizes, there are some standard guidelines you should follow. The color of paper you choose can definitely make a difference in the number of interviews you get. White is always a safe color, but the latest studies reveal that buff or off-white paper provides even better results.
Good papers have a watermark, so make sure it is right side up if you copy it yourself. Photocopy shops usually check for this, but it's wise to double check this yourself.
Typing Your Resume
My studies show that clean, crisp typing is one of the most important factors in getting your resume read. While using a computer and a printer, you can "bold" your name and the various resume categories such as objective, education, and employment.
One danger of using laser printers is that people are tempted to overuse such features as different fonts, holding, underlining, and italics. This produces a resume which looks busy and is overdone.
As a rule of thumb regarding the use of such features - keep it simple.
Size of Type
There are two sizes of type which are typically used for resumes: 12 point, which is also known as 10 pitch or pica; and 10 point, which is also known as 12 pitch or elite. Employers recommend using 12 point, which is a little larger and more readable than 10 point. If you are using 12 point and your resume just barely goes over a page long, you may want to make minor adjustments to make it all fit on one page. Widening the length of the lines may be all you need, or you could go to a smaller type. With a laser printer, 11 point may do the trick.
Reproduction
Reproduction quality will have a lot to do with the visual impact of your resume. There are a number of advantages to having your resume reproduced at a professional photocopy shop. For one thing, the top-of-the-line copying equipment used in such shops will produce high-quality copies that are crisp, clear, and almost as good as the originals. The quality of photocopiers most have at home or in the office cannot compete with the equipment at a copy shop.
For another thing, copy shops have a variety of high-quality papers to choose from. You can produce your original resume on a plain white bond and have it copied on your choice of paper. And finally, copy shops are fast-you can usually be in and out in about ten minutes. They are inexpensive as well. Photocopying will cost you five to eight cents per copy plus eight to eleven cents per sheet for special paper. Many people buy extra paper so their cover letter paper will match their resumes.
Mailing
Traditionally resumes are folded in thirds and sent in a standard number ten envelope. That is still perfectly acceptable, but consider spending a little more and sending the resume in a 9 x 12 envelope so the resume does not need to be folded. It is not a big thing, but if it is not folded it will look nicer in the stack. If it weighs less than one ounce you'll need to add ten cents for a surcharge that the Postal Service charges for oversized envelopes. If it weighs over one ounce, it will cost you the regular price for the first ounce plus the reduced price for the second ounce..
For a really hot job consider having it delivered by an overnight delivery service. For a super hot local job, consider having a messenger service deliver it. The extra effort is one way of saying you want the job.
Photographs
Photographs should rarely be submitted with resumes, although they may be appropriate for models, flight attendants, performers, and media personalities. Many organizations are leery of receiving photo graphs with resumes because it increases the likelihood of age and race discrimination charges. Employers are nearly unanimous in preferring not to receive photographs.
