Suggestions:
- Each of your resumes must be as perfect as you can possibly make it. No typos, erasures or smudges. Pay someone to prepare it perfectly on a word processor if you can't type well or don't have access to a computer. Or better yet, prepare it yourself on a word processor or computer and rework and correct it until the grammar and format are exactly the way you want them. (The ideal is to use a computer and to print a fresh resume for every application, to go with every letter, or to take to every interview.) As mentioned several times, you may need several different kinds and styles of resumes so that you can match your resume to the recipient.
- If you're planning a large mailing for a mail campaign (see the next chapter), you may want to have your resume typeset and printed on an offset press. Don't assume that typeset resumes will be without error. Proofread your resume carefully before paying for the service. Don't photocopy your resume unless the copy machine achieves quality near that of print (no dark lines or blurs) and can copy on good quality paper. Fortunately, some of the newer copiers can produce acceptable photocopies on good paper.
- Paper suggestions:
- Good quality bond paper in white, off white, ivory, eggshell, gray, pale yellow or soft gold. Blues, greens and pinks don't project an executive image and are an absolute "no- no."
- 8 1/2-by-11-inch standard paper is fine, although executive size paper (6 1/2 by 11 1/2) is a nice touch, and the resume stands out from the pack.
- Consider printing longer two-to-four-page resumes on both sides of 11 by 18 inch paper, and fold it instead of printing on two to four separate pieces and stapling. The folded resume looks like a brochure and gives a nice, not overpowering appearance. If you use the folded format, you might want to consider using your name, the job title, the thumbnail sketch and a "Career Summary" on the first page, then begin the Chronology/Achievements, etc. on the next page.
- A list of the organizations you worked for, including names, addresses, telephone numbers and the name of the person you reported to, if you have all of this information or can obtain it.
- A list, in descending order, of all of your job titles, and the salary ranges you earned for each. (This information is often checked. You do, however, have to give a potential employer written permission to do this.)
- A list of your references. Include names, job titles, organizational affiliation, address and telephone number.
- If you have listed publications in your resume, prepare a full bibliography which a potential employer may use to substantiate your claims, including coauthors, article or book name, publication or publisher (and city of publication), date of publication and page numbers or number of pages. (Incidentally, if this is an important part of your usefulness to an employer, plan to take along several examples to an interview as well as this "leave-behind" list of achievements.)
- If you have listed presentations in your resume, prepare a full listing of these, including dates, locations, the organization before which the presentation was made, and approximate number of attendees. If the presentation was summarized in a conference book or journal, include this information.
- A portfolio of representative work. You would need to prepare a portfolio if you are looking for a position in marketing, advertising, publishing, or in any other type of work where there is a visible work product. You might include copies of advertising campaigns, brochures, catalogs, sample plans, books, magazine and journal articles, etc. Do not include anything which might be proprietary.
