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Reality Check: Given the choice of two candidates of equal ability, hiring managers will always prefer to interview the one with the most artfully constructed and attractive résumé. For that reason, candidates with superb qualifications are often overlooked and companies end up hiring from a more shallow pool of talent; a pool made up of those candidates whose experience is represented by powerfully written, visually appealing résumés.
Of course, many of the best candidates also have the best résumés; and sometimes,
highly qualified candidates manage to surface through word-
In today’s competitive employment market, your résumé has to stand out in order to get the attention of the decision maker and create a strong impression. And later on, when you meet the prospective employer face to face, a strong résumé will act as a valuable tool during the interviewing process. But don’t make exaggerated claims about your past, as chances are these will be found out and this will immediately destroy your credibility.
To help you construct a better, more powerful résumé, here are ten overall considerations in regard to your résumé’s content and presentation:
1. Position title and job description. Provide your title, plus a detailed explanation of your duties and accomplishments. Let the reader know the nature, size and location of your past employers, and what their business is. Also, since job titles are often misleading or their function may vary from one firm to another, your resume should tell the reader exactly what you’ve done.
2. Clarity of dates and place. Document your work history and educational credentials accurately. List your degree(s) and/or relevant course work, thesis or dissertation, or specialised training. Be sure to mention any scholarships, or awards you may have received. And remember not to leave the reader guessing where and when you were employed, or when you earned your degree.
3. Emphasise achievements and successes. This is what will grab the reader’s attention. Achievements such as a track record of winning new work, success in building up a department and technical accomplishments should be highlighted. Quantify your achievements in terms of £’s, percentages or time frames.
4. Detail. Specify some of the more technical, or involved aspects of your past work or training, especially if you’ve performed tasks of any complexity, or significance.
5. Proportion. Give appropriate attention to jobs or educational credentials according to their length, or importance to the reader. For example, if you wish to be considered for a tax position, don’t write one paragraph describing your current tax role, followed by three paragraphs about your summer job as a lifeguard.
6. Relevancy. Confine your information to that which is job-
7. Length. Fill up only two or three pages. If you write more than three pages, it sends a signal to the reader that you can’t organize your thoughts, or you’re trying too hard to make a good impression. If your content is strong, you won’t need more than three pages.
8. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Create an error-
9. Readability. Organize your thoughts in a clear, concise manner. No résumé ever
won a Nobel Prize for literature; however, a fragmented or long-
10. Presentation. Be sure to select a conventional type style, such as Times Roman or Arial, and choose a neutral background or stationery. If your résumé takes too much effort to read, it may end up in the trash, even if you have terrific skills.
Finally, I suggest you write several drafts, and allow yourself time to review your work and proofread for errors. If you have a professional associate whose opinion you trust, by all means, listen to what he or she has to say. A simple critique can make the difference between an interview and a rejection.
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Commendation from a Candidate
‘‘Thank you so much for being such an enormous help to me in finding new employment within days of receiving my CV. That is what you call effectiveness. You were a great help !!! I will definitely refer you to people in the future.’’
Partner Commendation
“An extremely professional and discreet service -
“There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded.”
Mark Twain
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10 Keys to a Dynamite Résumé
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