October 10, 2008

A resume should be laid out in a simple and attractive manner. It should present the relevant information in clear and concise language. This definitely gives you the edge over those candidates who force the reader to sift through several pages to find the same information.

Keep the resume one page and at the most two pages. DO NOT keep it in between i.e. one and a half pages. It should either be one full page or two full pages. After the French word résumé means summary so keep it brief.

Always remember that the person reading your resume is busy. The reader is only interested in knowing what can you offer/do at the moment for their company.

The resume is actually a Marketing Brochure that allows sell a fine product - You.

Use it to propel yourself. Start each statement with an active verb that indicates your actual role.

Place the contact information right at the top of your resume, including the telephone numbers where you can readily accept calls during work hours.

Do not label it “resume” or curriculum vitae. An employer obviously recognizes it whilst reading.

The resume should clear indicate:

What you want to do

What you’re really good at doing

Use a clear font such as Times New Roman or Arial, 12-point or larger.

Be consistent in your use of boldface, underline, or italics to help lead the reader through the document.

A resume usually goes through several drafts before it begins to reflect clearly the multidimensional individual on a piece of paper. Be grammatically correct, use spell check, and have someone else proofread your resume carefully.

Ensure that you place the details of your last 4 to 6 assignments/projects in the resume. If you’ve done multiple jobs for one client, list each of them. This shows that they liked your work and wanted to use you for multiple jobs.

List the most recent projects first and work back.

Don’t ever insert “References on request.” It is advisable to provide your list of references later, when requested, on a separate sheet with their contact information.

Never ever disclose salary information in the resume or cover letter. If your pay has been generally low, the potential employer may be influenced by that fact and make you a “lowball” offer. Let the employer make an offer. This empowers you to then counteroffer for a higher salary.

Your resume should be printed on one side of extremely good quality bond paper that will stand out from all of the other papers on a desk.