Straightforward Advice on Writing an Awesome ResumeJanuary 8th, 2007
One of the reasons we created Emurse was to help people get over the intimidation of creating resumes. How do you sum up your professional life on a single piece of paper? The thought of it can be frightening, if not even nauseating.
It should not be that way and we would like to help. Here are a handful of really simple, straightforward guidelines you can use to help improve your Emurse resume. 
10 Resume Tips and Improvements to Create a Better Resume:
Tip 1: Size does not always matter. Here is the thing about the “one page rule” — it is not always the case. If you are just coming out of school and searching for an entry level position, keeping it to one page is a good bet. If you have tons of relevant (and recent) experience, and it requires two pages to list it, then pat yourself on the back for having had such a great career and list it all. Whatever you do, do NOT reduce the font size to the point where you can no longer read it just to make it fit on one page. If your resume is really long, consider making two resumes, one short and one long. Bring the long one to the interview. 
Tip 2: Of course, references are available upon request. It is considered obvious that if you ask someone for references, they will be able to provide them. Including this phrase on a resume may make for pretty design but it is generally fluff. If you need the extra space, this is something you can go ahead and cut. Also, make sure the people you list as your references know that you have listed them. Take advantage of the conversation and have them review your resume as well. They will likely be able to point out aspects of your experience that you have overlooked.
Tip 3: It is not just about you. If you have decided to include an Objective on your resume, understand that employers are not interested in simply providing you “gainful employment.” Phrase your objective in such a way that shows how you can add value to their cause. More importantly, objectives are important if you are trying to change career paths. If you are not the perfect fit, the objective is your chance to state your case. That being said, objectives should also be specific to the position. Concentrate on how you can be of benefit to the organization.
Tip 4: Do not get too personal. Many people are tempted to include pictures and family details on their resume. This is becoming more and more popular as folks start moving their resumes online. Here is the thing, in the United States many recruiters and employers shy away from people with such details (and from the websites that host them) due to liability concerns. Keep it professional and focused on your career. Leave as little room for potential prejudice as possible. This isn’t MySpace.
Tip 5: “Never utilize what you can use.” Which is an old cliche meaning “keep it simple” in your writing. If you have ever taken a business writing class, now is your chance to shine. Write your resume in an understandable and concise manner. Folks scanning resumes do not have the time to study up for the SAT verbal section. Be clear in your vocabulary
Tip 6: State specifics and mix in a few power words. Use specific numbers. State exactly how many people you were in charge of, what the revenue was as part of the business description, and any specific awards and honors you can think of. Also make sure to toss in a few power words. Power words should not conflict with the aforementioned vocabulary rule, but enhance your point and really drive it home. “Achieved”, “generated”, “initiated” are all examples of great power words.
Tip 7: Keep it electronic friendly. If you use too many power words, your resume will lack the key terms that people in your industry search for when filling positions. If you are an Emurse user, the “Resume Cloud View” is designed to help you balance your resume easily for this purpose. Field specific keywords and acronyms help improve search results while demonstrating your industry savvy.
Tip 8: Do not use personal pronouns or contractions. Never say “I” or “me.” It will make you come across as arrogant and not as the team player we all know that you are. The resume is also considered to be a formal document. Avoid using contractions.
Tip 9: Know Your Strengths. If you have a gap in your work experience that is difficult to explain, but have great skills and training, consider a “functional” format rather than a chronological one. Adjust your resume to represent you in the best possible way.
Tip 10: Proof read. Repeatedly. Just like those term papers you used to write back in school. Ask your friends and family members to look over the resume for you. Use spell check, but more importantly, walk away, come back, and read it again fresh.
Bonus Tip: Honesty is the best policy. Lying on a resume will only lead to trouble. By selling your strengths and countering your weaknesses, you should not have to anyway. 
Create your resume using Emurse with these ten suggestions, and you will be on your way to a better gig in no time!
Have another tip? Disagree with a tip given? Share your experiences with us in the comments below!
Great article with some excellent ideas, though I wish you went into more detail on some of them. As for the one page rule, I think that applies in all situations, and it’s not just for students. I think the concept of having two pages, unless it’s presented front and back on a single sheet of paper, is pretty unconventional. When looking to hire a candidate most people aren’t going to want to go through two or even three pages of references and recent jobs, they’re going to want the most relevant information that they can easily scan without having to flip to another page or turn the page over.
Maybe It’s just my personal experience, but this is how most employers I know have handled the resumes they’ve received.
On another note, if you wanted to go a step further, LifeClever has an excellent article on redesigning your resume, and the outcome is both simple and stylish, and doesn’t intrude on the content or take away from the display area. Here’s the link, enjoy: http://www.lifeclever.com/2006/10/24/give-your-resume-a-face-lift/
January 8th, 2007 at 11:17 am
I guess it would depend on where you are applying Kevin. I know a lot of recruiters who do not like more than 1 page, but in my hiring, I want to see the most qualified person with the most experience. If it comes on two pages, so be it. Most of it is all electronic these days anyway.
Then again, I probably deal with way less volume than the average recruiter.
Neat life clever article, thanks!
January 8th, 2007 at 11:32 am
no problem, I guess it’s just a matter of personal preference, and like you said, everything’s electronic now these days anyway so page count is pretty much obsolete.
January 8th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Some nice tips in this article, but as a recruiter I have a few points I’d argue (if I were the arguing type):
One page resumes only work for me if they’re written well enough to make me start salivating. If you’re short on the details I’m looking for, I’ll put you in the maybe later pile and move on. Due to the fact that most resumes I see are 2 pages or more (sigh), ‘References available…’ equates to ‘The End’, so I advise people to add it (and to shorten the resume by cutting out excess verbiage). It only takes one line to say it, so it’s not a big space hog.
The last point (about honesty) is critical! If you lie on your resume about your work history or acheivments…I will find out through the reference checks and due diligence and I will cut you off at the knees…even if it does cost me a fee. It’s grounds for dismissal when the employer finds out anyway, so you’re working on borrowed time if you do get hired. Be truthful and upfront with a recruiter about any skeletons in the closet, because if you’re a good candidate for the job, it’s easier to deal with issues from the get go. When they come out at the offer stage, it’s a can of worms and the trust factor had disappeared completely.
Cheers
January 8th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
two other suggestons fo rgetting you rresume noticed: print it on slightly tinted paper– the palest of grays is probably the best– so in a pile of white documents yours stands out visually. second, don’t mail it flat in an A4 envelope. Fold it, so again, in a pile of flat resumes, it stands out.
years ago the company i was with advertised 2 middle management positions– we got 400 reponses! we didn’t even look at 300 of them– just sent a “thank you” letter. the other 100– well, those that stood out visually got looked at first.
January 8th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
This advice is from a resume writer of 28 years and 15 years as a receuiter. First, references are a ‘given’ you’d better have good ones when you apply. I prefer professional ones who can vouch for the way you work. Tip 3 Objective. You don’t need it in a resume but can include it in your cover letter (marketing piece). Most candidates don’t really know what they want to do and ‘throw their resumes against the wall and if it sticks, they’re happy.’ If you’re not really qualified for the job, don’t apply. In changing careers be sure to include in your summary messages that assure the employer you can do the job.
Tip 6. Today most large companies have their computers ’scan’ the resume first and if it passes muster then a human sees it. Instead of clever power words, try using the PAR methods - explain the problem, action and result you came up with. Don’t be vague. A recruiter can’t work with that kind of resume. That takes hard work and expertise in writing.
Finally, most recruiters get paid by companies if they submit a qualified candidate with substantial credentials to back it up. They won’t do anything to jeopardize a fee, so don’t fool around with them. They’re too smart to be fooled and in the case of salary they usually ask for a W-2 to prove what you’ve made. Most of my client companies say to me ‘no candidates with more than 2 jobs in 5 years.’
January 8th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Hi
Straightforward is one word..
Good advice though. The comment on the scanning process is good. I would like to see more of this. I put my resume up all over the place with no results. Clearly I am doing something wrong. P
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