Resume 101: How to Write Your Resume

We continue our discussion of resume basics by addressing the heart of this vital career document: the content of your resume.

There is much debate about what content to include or exclude on a resume, but there are some items about which there is a consensus:

• Most employers prefer a reverse chronological format.
• Resumes should generally be 1-2 pages in length. It must be a special circumstance, such as a position where a CV has been requested, before a resume should extend onto a third page.
• When recapping your work history, do NOT dump job descriptions for each job into the accomplishments section.

An accomplishments section should be about just that - your accomplishments, the "big wins" for each position you've held. Many resume writers and career coaches recommend a CAR format for writing up your accomplishments. CAR stands for Challenge - Action - Result. For example, you could write up an accomplishment anecdote this way:

"Reduced errors and revision cycle time (challenge) by developing a company-specific style sheet for word processing operators (action). After the style sheet was provided to operators, assignments were completed an average of 20 percent faster (result #1) and errors for the unit dropped 15 percent (result #2)."

Weaving those numbers and statistics into your CAR stories is important - Tony Beshara, in an interview with Kerry Hannon on Forbes.com, noted that they are part of what gives clarity to your story and makes recruiters take notice:

"Stories sell. Numbers, statistics, percentages get attention if you put in bold type. Increased profit by 28%. Came under budget by 30%. If you were born and raised on chicken farm, note it on your résumé.

"Fuzzy keywords and phrases should be avoided. These include customer-oriented, excellent communications skills, and creative. These words lack meaning and do absolutely nothing to help you get an interview."

Speaking of keywords, Amos Tayts, co-founder of Toronto-based staffing and recruiting companies ResumeTarget and MedcareStaff, recommends reviewing your resume regularly to keep the keywords you sprinkle throughout your work narratives relevant. He also recommends replacing the traditional "objective" or "summary" section at the top of the resume (which is prime real estate in this document) with a value proposition statement.

"As the times change, resume writing styles change. What once was the objective statement is now considered obsolete. Since they don’t exist anymore, you should create a value proposition. Try to look for the current terminologies used in your area of specialization to come up with an attention-grabbing branding statement. Your unique value proposition should communicate your career goals to the reader. Employers can’t resist calling candidates who can articulate real value in a short paragraph."

Editing your resume

Sometimes what you DON'T say on a resume is as important as what you do. If you had a resume that you've been updating since the pre-Internet era, you may want to take to heart advice repeated in an article posted on the FoxBusiness.com site that quotes Cheryl Palmer, an executive career coach and founder of Call to Career in Silver Spring, Md.
   
"If you're tempted to list your hobbies, your personal information and health, or even the phrase 'references available on request,' reconsider. Not only do they take up valuable space you could use to showcase your accomplishments, but they could make you look downright unprofessional.

"'Some of these things used to be standard 15 or 20 years ago, but now they'll make you look dated,' says Palmer. A human resources director is going to assume you'll furnish references at the interview. Hobbies aren't worth listing unless they're somehow relevant to the job you're applying for, and your personal information -- marital status, children -- also isn't relevant."

A quick resume checklist
Here's a list that covers most of the basics in resume writing, adapted from a CareerBuilder post that features an excerpt from "Step-by-Step Resumes"by Evelyn Salvador.

• Remove personal pronouns. The subject (I, me or my) is understood in your resume and you should leave it out of each sentence. If your resume contains any of these words, delete them and restructure your sentences if necessary.
• Check for action verbs. Be sure each bullet in your "professional experience" section starts with an action verb or adverb preceding the action verb.
• Delete redundant or superfluous words. Review each sentence or bullet and delete any words that your sentence reads fine without, such as "the" and "that," as well as unnecessary "fluff" words. Edit down to the most concise sentence possible without omitting any important content, such as achievements.
• Ensure that all pertinent, targeted qualifications are included. Compare your resume to the description of the job you're targeting. Is there any information you didn't already mention that would address a function or need listed in the description? If so, revise your resume to include that information.
• Subdivide and categorize bullets. If you have many responsibility and achievement bullets under each position (say, more than 10), you can divide them into two categories ("responsibilities" and "achievements") and subtitle them as such under each position for easier reading.
• Check for quantifying information. When reviewing your sentences, ask yourself, "Did I include how many, how much, how often, how big, how fast, how well and so on?" If not, go edit your sentences to include more specific, concrete information.
• Verify that "CAR" and benefit info is included. Do your achievements include the Challenge you faced, the Action you took and the Result? Be sure you show how well you performed these functions and always include the benefit(s) to the company.
• Check grammar, punctuation and spelling. Spell-check your document in your word-processing program. Proofread several times. Be consistent in your use of capitalization and hyphenation. Be sure you have used correct grammar and punctuation. If this is not one of your fortes (and it isn't for many people), give your completed resume to someone you trust to proofread it for you.

The question to you
What tips do you have for writing a resume that gets you job interviews?

~Liz Massey, Managing Editor, ASU Alumni Association