Before the Tour Begins
Resumania can be a dangerous place, especially after 2 a.m., but if you promise to do the following we assure you no harm will come.
- Stay close to your escort throughout the tour and heed his instructions in case of emergency.
- Grab a pencil and some paper.
- Review your personal history inventory and keep it handy.
- Reacquaint yourself with the various resume format options presented in chapter 3 and decide which one is best for you.
- Buckle up your seatbelt and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. You're about to start writing your resume.
Your name is the very first thing an employer should see on your resume. Do not place the word ''resume" at the top of your resume or any other inane introduction like ''Qualifications of Mortimer Jones.” If the employer can't tell it's a resume from looking at it, then you need to go back to the drawing board.
If presented properly, your name should make a positive and lasting impression. The way your name appears on the page says a great deal about your self image, and employers can often pick up on this vibe. Is your name printed in microscopic letters, or is it three inches tall? Is it in a classic or flashy typeface? Is it in all caps, title case, toggle case, or lowercase? Consider the following inappropriate examples:
Your name generally looks best when it is either centered or pulled out to the left hand margin. Make it slightly larger than anything else on your resume. If you're using 12 point type, then see how your name looks at 14 points. You might even want to go a bit larger depending on the typeface you've selected, but usually 18 points is the limit. Larger than that and your name is no longer big, it's obnoxious. Using bold print and all caps can help make your name stand out even more, but this is optional.
Should you list your full name or a shortened version? Base your decision on the image you want to project. Do you want to come across as extremely formal or kind of casual? Your strategy may vary according to the audience being targeted. What is your gut reaction to the three following approaches? Go with what feels right.
Sounds Like… If you have a non English first name that's difficult to pronounce, you may want to add an English equivalent in parentheses so the interviewer will be able to address you without embarrassment. Or, if you want to avoid generating suspicion that you might be an international (non citizen) student, you could use only your English name. For example:
Mr. OR Ms.?
Gender neutral names present similar difficulties for employers, particularly in making phone calls to the applicant or in properly addressing correspondence. If using your full middle name or slightly modifying your first name will clarify the situation, it may be worth doing. Of course, once the interviewer meets you she'll know your gender, so don't sweat it.
Address and Phone Number
You should list your complete address and phone number (except actors applying for performance jobs, who can get away with just a phone number) as well as your fax number, if you have one. Keep in mind, however, that good news usually comes by phone and bad news by mail.
If the mail sent to your dormitory is circulated to everyone else before it gets to you, then think about listing the address of a trusted family member or friend. Getting a P.O. box is also an option, but a post office address may imply transience. If you're living at a temporary address, it's a good idea to indicate on the resume how long the address will be valid. And don't forget to list a second address where you can receive mail after you've moved.
You can list either your home phone number, your office number, or both. Obviously, you should only list your office number if the boss knows that you're looking for a job and you've been given the green light to receive calls at work. Otherwise you may find yourself being scolded or getting the boot.
Get the Message?
Make sure a reliable person or machine will take messages for you if you're not available. Purchasing an answering machine or signing up for a voice mail or answering service is practically essential for today's job hunter. Speed is of the essence employers want everything done yesterday. Miss a call and it could cost you a job.
If you do use an answering machine, keep in mind that employers will be forming an opinion of you based on the way you sound and the type of message you leave. Keep it professional. No hardcore music, sound effects, vulgar jokes, or soliloquies. Just get to the point, and speak confidently, slowly, and clearly.
Address Placement
On your resume, your address and phone number generally look best centered below your name, with a little space between the two (about four points). This will help make your name stand out. Another option is to center your name, and split your address wide left, and your phone numbers wide right. It's not advisable to use bold print or capital letters for your address and phone number, as you don't want this information to steal the spotlight from your name. Feel free to abbreviate certain words such as street, apartment, or avenue.
Alexis Lucas, Assistant Director at the Boston University School of Management Career Center, encourages all of her M.B.A. students to lead off their resume with a strong profile statement, She says that "in your profile you can't be afraid to take a stand. Answer the employer's question, 'How can you add to my bottom line?' Show them how you can bring in clients, make them happy, and keep them satisfied. Make sure to include a catchy buzzword phrase that proves to them you know what you're talking about."
