Writing That Works, 3e_ How to Communicate Effectively in Business - Kenneth Roman [53]
People put the strangest things in their resumes. The test of what to include is the same as it is for anything else you write: Is it relevant? Is it true?
Here are some other basics:
What to put in
First things first. Name, address, phone number at the top. Also fax and e-mail.
State a job objective — factually, without embellishment. A prospective employer doesn’t care if you want a “challenging position.” (Sometimes we think we would hire, sight unseen, anybody who would be willing to get out all that nonchallenging work every day.)
Some people are qualified to pursue alternative careers — in either law or finance, for example. If that’s you, prepare two different resumes — one for each objective, with the balance of the resume tailored to that objective.
List jobs, including locations and dates — starting with the most recent.
An employer is more interested in what you have been doing lately than in what you did ten years ago. If you gained your most relevant experience some years ago on an earlier job, make it stand out by the amount of detail in the resume — not by changing the order.
If you’ve been out of work at some point in your career, or worked for companies that no longer exist, you may be tempted to omit those experiences. Resist the temptation. Fill in all the gaps; otherwise, it looks as though you’re hiding something. For the period you’ve been out of work, simply say something like “1997-99 Personal Projects,” or whatever happens to be the truth.
Include some definition of the size of the business you worked in, such as sales, unless the size will be obvious to all readers. Describe the scope of your responsibilities and, most important, your accomplishments. Be honest; if you were part of a team, say so. Don’t exaggerate.
Include all college or graduate degrees and dates. Leave out high school (unless you’re applying for a first job or attended an unusual school).
List any boards of directors you serve on, professional or trade associations, or significant community or volunteer service organizations, with the most important ones first.
List any published articles or books.
If you are fresh out of college or graduate school, extracurricular activities can be relevant.
Briefly cover significant personal facts. Briefly. List all special skills, such as technology skills or facility in a foreign language. The nature and degree of your computer savvy can be important in many jobs nowadays. You never know when such secondary abilities will be the deciding factor in getting you an interview, or even a job.
What to leave out
Age or gender — not essential, seldom relevant, and the law says you cannot be asked. But, of course, prospective employers will figure out whether you’re male or female, and will get a pretty good idea of your age from the dates on your resume.
Honors or prizes — unless they are genuinely important in your field.
Height and weight — unless it is relevant to the requirements of the job.
Travel — unless relevant.
Salary requirement — if appropriate, put this in the cover letter.
Hobbies — who cares?
Race or religion — best left out. The law says you cannot be asked.
Clubs — not necessary.
Photograph — only beginners seem to include their pictures.
Make it perfect — make it professional. No typos. No misspellings. A small typo will detract from an otherwise stellar resume. It comes off as unprofessional and careless, and sends the wrong signals. You don’t have to go to the expense of printing your resume, but get top-quality reproduction (laser or high-quality inkjet prints). Crisp and black, without smudges.
Be careful with abbreviations; people may not know what they mean. Give the full names of companies, trade associations, governmental bodies.
Take out all unnecessary words. Shorten everything to the extent of writing in telegraphic style — without verbs, articles, or connectives. Write in the third person: