What Does Your Resume Say About You?
"If you can't sell yourself, how the hell are you going to sell something else?"
Often, your resume can be your "first impression" to a recruiter or hiring manager. For a document so important, there is no "right" way to write your resume. Here are some tips to make sure your resume catches their attention- for all of the good reasons!
Formatting Rules to Live By
Margins
Your margins should be one inch on all four sides with a goal of having a balance of content and space so it does not look too crammed, but at the same time not sparse.
Font
Use a 10 or 12 point font. Times New Roman or Arial are the classics, but you could do Tahoma, Calibri, Helvetica, or Verbana. But please, NEVER use a cursive font and stay away from Comic Sans if you want to be taken seriously!
Keep it Simple
I know there are all kinds of resume templates with pretty graphics and colors- but not the time or the place. Those resumes are best suited for those going into a graphic design field. If you are applying for a sales role, keep it black and white. If you want to play with different bolds or italics and font sizes.... go for it (but keep it consistent and don't go too crazy). We all want to channel our Elle Woods, but this is not that moment.
Length
One page is a good rule of thumb, but it is ok if it goes into two pages. Your resume should be thought of as a tool to showcase who you are and why your experience makes you the perfect candidate- it should not be your life story! If it is longer than two pages- you have some edits to make....
If you are new in your career- don't worry! Maybe you have volunteered in the past and have done fundraising efforts that you can highlight. Again, its about highlighting the skills and experience you possess to get you the job interview!
Sequence
Start with your most recent work history or experience at the top and then work your way down. This helps for when you run into that dreaded third page.... it's time to start making cuts. No one cares if you were a server at Applebee's in high school if you are 10+ years into your professional career.
Content
Contact Information
These are the only things you should be including your contact information:
- Your Name: First Name and Last Name
- Your Phone Number
- City you reside in (do not put your full address down!)
- Email Address. I can't believe I have to say this part, but make sure you are sticking to the following guidelines on this one:
- Make sure it is a personal email account and not where you currently work
- Make sure you email address does not have any suggestive numbers (ex: 420 or 69) in the email
- Use your name, not an old school AOL Instant Messenger handle or hobby. I am sure shopgirl@aol or NY152@aol would not be the email addresses Kathleen Kelly or Joe Fox use on their resumes... and neither should you!
Facts Not Feelings
If you have sold in the past... use your metrics! Were you in President's Club? What was your attainment percentage over goal? Maybe you won a different achievement. Any metrics that you have you back up your statements will resonate better with the hiring manager than statements such as being a "team player" or "strong communication skills"
If you are new in your career, highlight accolades you achieved in academics or in volunteering. Maybe you raised the most money for a fundraiser or generated the highest attendance at an event. I am sure there is something you did in your past that you can highlight in a positive way on your resume to bring metrics into your resume.
Make It Relevant
A trick if you are sending your resume in blind: use key words in the job description and try to incorporate them into your resume. Your goal is to present yourself as if you are a natural fit for this position.
Proofread
I cannot tell you how distracting it is to read a resume that does not have proper spelling, grammar or punctuation. It has literally prevented candidates from getting the job. If you are not the best at this- ask a friend... or several. It is detrimental for you to say you have "attention to detail" and then misspell "attention." If you don't have a trusted friend, Sales Squad is here to help!