- deciding on length,
- selecting the printing process,
- formatting the printed information,
- selecting the paper, and
- reproducing the finished resume.
Length
The length of your resume is an important consideration that is affected by the content. Many people say, very rigidly, "The resume must be one page long!" Others say, 'Two or three pages long!'* While still others say, "As long as necessary!" What, then, is the correct length for a resume? The answer is that there is no single length that is correct for everyone. The principle to follow in determining your proper resume length is "the most persuasive message in the most concise manner possible," or *'say what must be said in the fewest words possible." If your credentials can be effectively presented in one page, do so. If you possess sufficient credentials to fill up two pages, then use two pages. Furthermore, if you require a third page to display key accomplishments and relevant activities, then use a third page.
Undoubtedly you would not want to shortchange your presentation and mislead readers by clipping a well-justified two-page resume into an incomplete one-page resume, or a powerful three-page resume into a weaker two-page presentation. But at the same time, you don't want to waste the reader's time by going into a three-page resume if one or two pages would do the same job.
Remember: employment representatives often read hundreds and even thousands of job resumes when screening applicants for a job. Obviously time is of great value to such busy people. They are, indeed, impressed when a concise and powerful resume is placed on their desks. On the other hand, they are generally turned off when presented with long-winded, drawn-out presentations. Some people ignorantly believe that resume lengthiness impresses, and intentionally build in irrelevancies, extra-wide margins, and wasted blank space to create a bulky effect. Such bulky resumes have predictable results: low applicant evaluation.
You should be able to develop a one-to-three-page job resume. Generally, the less job and education you offer, the shorter the resume; and the more you offer, the longer the resume. Be very careful before exceeding three pages by making certain that the additional information is essential to your presentation. All resumes should be from one to three pages in length.
Printing
Handwritten job resumes are out of the question, even though you may have an easy-to-read handwriting. Unless you are applying for a job as a calligrapher (handwriting expert), you will make a very poor impression by handwriting your resume. Make sure you type your resume on a computer and print it out using a good quality printer.
Formatting
The formatting, or arrangement, of information on paper must be attractive, well-balanced, and make the message easy to follow. Most of the resumes use centered titles, centered headings, and centered job objectives. Each resume arranged in this manner uses centering consistently. Another popular format or arrangement of information is the block layout in which the titles, section headings, and section contents are all flush with the left-hand margin.
The skilled resume writer understands how black printed copy best fits onto a white paper background. Margins serve as a "picture frame". With this picture-frame concept in mind, sufficient white space should be provided; at least a one-inch margin all around is a good margin size.
Just as margin space serves as a frame to the entire page of copy, between-section white space serves to frame each section and thereby separate one from another. Too often this between-section space is four, five, or six lines of blank space. Such large areas of white space only add to the lengthiness of the resume and do not enhance eye appeal. As most of the resumes demonstrate, two or three lines of between-section space provide a sufficient border for separating and distinguishing sections.
The reader can move quickly down the resume page when each section is clearly separated from the next. Similarly, the reader must quickly discern the individual items within sections. The unskilled resume writer generally uses two or three lines of separation space between each item listing to help make each item stand out clearly. This technique is generally poor-within-section space means wasted paper and should not, in most cases, be used. Two to three lines of empty space used to separate only ten items on a page can result in twenty to thirty blank lines of wasted space.
You can successfully eliminate all this waste and still retain the distinctiveness of each resume item by using other mechanical means of item separation. These include
- preceding items in a list with asterisks, tiny spheres, or bars;
- underlining first words or phrases of section items;
- capitalizing first words or phrases of section items.
Most of the resumes use these mechanical means to distinguish one item from the next within a listing instead of using the within-section-space method. However, within-section space can be helpful when you want to completely fill up a page and thereby eliminate a major blank area at the end.
Paper
The stationery you select is important in helping to convey the professional image you desire. Generally, use a good-quality white stationery of standard business size, 8 by 11 inches.
The stationery should be of good quality. A paper composed of 25% cotton fiber (the rest composed of pulp) provides sufficiently high quality for the typed resume, although higher cotton fiber content papers are also available. The high quality of stationery is demonstrated through (1) high durability, (2) low deterioration, (3) greater crispiness, and (4) stronger fiber strength. In addition to good quality, your stationery should be of sufficient weight.
Reproduction
If you are sending your resume out to a very small number of companies, consider mailing each company an individually written resume; this adds the "personal touch." If, however, you plan to send many resumes out during your job search, you must be careful to reproduce your resume with as much quality as possible. You want a reproduction process that will give near-perfect copies at a reasonably low price.
Offset duplication gives you near-perfect copies at low costs. Most quick-copy printers, which may be found in commercial districts, use this fast, high-quality reproduction process to produce many copies from an original at very reasonable prices. You can expect to pay only a few pennies per copy if you produce 50-100 copies from an original. Also, the more copies you request, the lower the unit price becomes. Quick-copy stores usually have available a schedule of printing prices. Unless you pay a slight premium or supply your own 20-pound, 25% cotton (rag) content stationery, the printer will generally use a fairly good quality all-pulp, 20-pound copy paper.
If you need a small number of resumes quickly, you can use a photocopying machine for five cents to twenty five cents per copy, depending upon the area and location of the machine. The quality of copy produced from these types of machines, however, can vary greatly, with one copier producing almost perfect copies while another copier produces cheap-looking and faded copies. Therefore, be careful to choose a copying machine that produces resumes with dark, bold print on good quality paper. Finally, never send a typed carbon copy. This quality is far below that needed for an impressive resume and will surely be filed in the garbage without being read.
Employment representatives are serious and determined about finding highly qualified candidates to fill job openings. They, in turn, expect as much seriousness and determination from anyone wanting a position with their organizations. The neat, clearly printed, attractive, and well-organized resume clearly demonstrates to any reader that care and concern were involved in the preparation. A favorable first impression makes you a much more interesting prospect and is well worth the small extra effort put forth in effective resume packaging.
Although it is relatively easy to prepare an attractively packaged resume, many applicants still send poorly packaged resumes with the following typical errors: type-over's; poor erasures; spelling errors; grammatical errors; uneven margins; difficult-to-read, light, or inconsistent print; smearing; cheap paper; unbalanced headings and sections; cluttered pages; and unnecessary lengthiness. Avoid these common errors and follow the suggested packaging tips and examples presented. Then, what you have to say in your resume will be taken seriously, and you'll achieve a very favorable impression.
