There's More To It

I have done so many resumes for clients, that I’ve lost count. I’m amazed that even marketing managers and professional writers have such big problems with doing good ones for themselves!   And I’ve worked with some very important people and seen some pretty average attempts.  No one wins when their resumes are bad or even average.

Here are my observations about horrible resumes:

• Just plain old black and white
• Nothing special on them
• Boring
• Spelling mistakes
• Old information (SRC rep in 2005)
• Not targeted for the job on offer
• Font is too small
• No referees listed for the interviewer to contact

These are the ones that usually get put in the recyling bin – and no one gets to an interview with them. 

Here is what makes a resume good, – or even GREAT:

• Achievements are listed
• Well formatted and easy to read
• Words and paragraphs used are done so strategically to impress the reader
• The resume is targeted to the specific industry
• Well thought out skills are identified and relate to the work on offer
• No spelling mistakes
• A splash of colour is used to catch the eye
• 2 – 3 referees are listed (other than your mum, girlfriend or boyfriend)

I really am a fan of dynamic resumes that do use some colour to separate them from the other boring resumes that employers have to read.  You shouldn’t go overboard or use cartoons or try to be cute or try to hard. 

Just know that your resume is your marketing brochure, your advertising and promotional ‘spiel’ and as such – you should like the way it looks and reads. 

If there are any subjects you are doing particularly well in, list them with the subject results.  If you have been doing volunteering or work experience put that down.  If you have a written testimonial or work experience assessment that says you have done a good job, copy in a snippet of that and put it at the end of your resume as a nice little conclusion. 

Treat each resume that you create for yourself as worth ten thousand dollars.  Because that is probably what you will earn if you get the job – or even more. 

Have fun with it, do some more research and don’t settle for second best!  Get second and third opinions and never forget:

Your resume is your story and should be adapted as you learn and experience more.