There are hundreds of articles and books written about resumes and well over a thousand results if the word resume is searched on Google. Against this background, there is no wonder that anyone thinking about writing a resume is by now totally confused about how to start, what to say about themselves, which format is correct and perhaps one of the most frequent concerns of how long it should be! This blog post tries to cover some of the most important facts to keep in mind when starting the journey of writing a resume.
A..lways create a good 1st Impression and tell the truth
Your document needs to be presented in a clear and concise manner with the initial objective of creating impact and a professional impression to the reader. Always be truthful about what you are saying about yourself, as you should be 100% confident to back up any statements made on your resume with a real life example of what you have experienced.
B..e fully aware to format your document correctly
As far as fonts are concerned it is suggested that either Arial or Times New Roman be used, with font sizes in the region of 10 to 12. All the pages of the resume have to be presented in a consistent way and there is nothing more important than the 1st page, as this sets the scene for the whole document. The use of justifying (Microsoft Word Tool) your resume is important too, so that the reader is able to make notes on both margins.
C..hoose grammar, use words and correct punctuation carefully
Always write your resume in the 3rd party as this enables you to avoid the word “I” which would otherwise be used continually. Punctuation, spelling and avoiding using jargon is absolutely crucial. Your resume needs to be checked by an independent person who you can trust to give you feedback. Never rely solely on spellchecking which software packages provide, as mistakes are often not picked up.
A very interesting story was shown a few years ago in a National newspaper to highlight the importance of using the correct punctuation. A school inspector observed an English lesson and criticised the teacher for his old fashioned insistence on punctuation. The teacher claimed that punctuation was vital, as it can completely change the meaning of a sentence.
When the inspector denied this, the teacher wrote on the board “The Inspector said the teacher is an idiot” He then inserted the following punctuation “The Inspector, said the teacher, is an idiot”. Only a couple of small uses of speech marks and commas, but what a difference it makes to the statement!
Essentials of writing a resume
It cannot be stressed enough that a resume takes time to prepare and this will not and should not take place overnight.
It is worth pointing out that your finished document when read by a potential employer will have in most instances no more than 2/3 minutes of their reading time, so getting it right is key. You want your resume to be a true selling document. Go for it! Here you find a resume sample which is worth checking out.
If you want to learn more about the art of creating a resume, take a look at “Creating your CV as a self marketing tool” written by Paul H Brisk of Peak career Consulting. For further resume tips you can also visit bestsampleresume.com.