Quick Resume Writing Tips

Source: The Quick Interview & Salary Negotiation Book, by Michael Farr.

Here are some general guidelines for writing your resume.

Write it yourself. It's OK to look at other resumes for ideas, but write yours yourself. It will force you to organize your thoughts and background.

Make it error free. One spelling or grammar error will create a negative impression. Get someone else to review your final draft for any errors. Then review it again!

Make it look good. Poor copy quality, cheap paper, bad type quality, or anything else that creates a poor physical appearance will turn off employers—even to the best resume content. Get professional help with typing and printing if necessary. Most print shops can do it all for you.

Be brief, be relevant. Many good resumes fit on one page—few justify more than two. Include only the most important points. Use short sentences and action words. If it doesn't relate to and support your job objective, cut it!

Be honest. Don't overstate your qualifications. Most employers will see right through it and not hire you. If you end up getting a job you can't handle, it will not be to your advantage.

Be positive. Emphasize your accomplishments and results. This is no place to be too humble or to display your faults.

Be specific. Rather than "I am good with people," say, "I supervised four people in the warehouse and increased productivity by 30 percent." Use numbers whenever possible, such as the number of people served, percent of increase, or dollar increase.

You should also know that everyone feels he or she is a resume expert. Whatever you do, someone will tell you it is wrong. For this reason, it is important to understand that a resume is a job search tool. You should never delay or slow down your job search because your resume is not "good enough." The best approach is to create a simple and acceptable resume as soon as possible, then use it! As time permits, make a better one if you feel it's necessary.

References. Contact your references and let them know what type of job you want and why you are qualified. Be sure to review what they will say about you! Because some employers will not give out references by phone or in person, have previous employers write a letter of reference for you in advance. You can then make copies of these letters to give to potential employers, if asked. If you feel you'll get a bad reference from a previous employer, negotiate what they will say about you, or get written references from other people you worked with at the company. When creating your list of references, be sure to include your reference's name and job title, where he or she works, a business address and phone number, how that person knows you, and what your reference will say about you.