Your
resume is the first interface you have with
your employer. Make the most of this
opportunity............. The employment market
is changing all the time and so have resumes,
evolving from a one-size-fits-all standard.
Here are our tips to convert your resume into
a catching one.
Follow
These Basic Standards....
-
Don't
overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of
white space.
-
Keep
your resume to one page whenever possible.
-
Keep
the number of fonts you use to a minimum
-- two at the most.
-
Use
a font that is easy to read. Times Roman
works well.
-
Do
not justify the lines of type on your
resume. Allow the right side of the page
to "rag."
-
Do
not overuse capitalization, italics,
underlines, or other emphasizing features.
-
Make
sure your name, address, and a phone
number appear on your resume and all
correspondence, preferably at the top of
the page.
-
Print
your resume on white or cream paper using
a good-quality printer.
-
Second-
and third-generation photocopies must be
avoided
-
Print
on one side of the paper only.
Avoid
Mistakes:
Spelling
Mistakes:
To
avoid spelling mistakes:
-
Don't
use words with which you aren't familiar.
-
Use
a dictionary as you write.
-
Perform
a spell check on your finished resume.
-
Carefully
read every word in your resume.
-
Have
a friend or two proof read your resume for
you.
Punctuation
Mistakes:
Things
to look for:
-
Periods
at the end of all full sentences.
-
Be
consistent in your use of punctuation.
-
Always
put periods and commas within quotation
marks.
-
Avoid
using exclamation points.
Grammatical
Mistakes:
Grammar
hang-ups to watch for:
-
Do
not switch tenses within your resume.
-
The
duties you currently perform should be in
present tense (i.e., write reports)
-
Duties
you may have performed at past jobs should
be in past tense (i.e., wrote reports).
-
Capitalize
all proper nouns.
-
When
expressing numbers, write out all numbers
between one and nine (i.e., one, five,
seven), but
-
use
numerals for all numbers 10 and above
(i.e., 10, 25, 108).
-
If
you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell
out that numeral (e.g. Eleven service
awards won while employed.).
-
Make
sure your date formats are consistent
(i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22, 2001, or
11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.).
-
Choose
Your Words Carefully:
-
Phrase
yourself well:
-
Be
on the lookout for the following easily
confused words:
-
accept
(to receive), except (to exclude)
-
all
right (correct), alright (this is not a
word)
-
affect
(to bring about change), effect (result)
-
personal
(private), personnel (staff members)
-
role
(a character assigned or a function), roll
(to revolve).
-
Use
action words (i.e., wrote reports,
increased revenues, directed staff).
References:
In
most instances it is not necessary to include
names and address of references on the resume.
If you include a reference, make it sure that
the referenced person knows very well about
you. It is also advisable to add the persons
as references, whom the employer can contact
easily. If possible add the phone number and
e-mail ID of the reference. Never add a person
as a reference, about whom you know nothing
STICK
TO THE POINT
Employers
have a busy schedule, so don't expect them to
read through a long resume. Ideally, resumes
should be of one page, or of two pages only if
absolutely necessary, to describe relevant
work experience.
WORDS
COUNT
Use
of language is extremely important; you need
to sell yourself to an employer quickly and
efficiently. Address your potential employer's
needs with a clearly written, compelling
resume. Avoid large paragraphs (five or six
lines). If you provide small, digestible
pieces of information, your resume will be
read. Use action verbs. Verbs such as
"developed", "managed",
and "designed" emphasise your
accomplishments. Don't use declarative
sentences like "I developed the ..."
or "I assisted in ...", leave out
the "I". Avoid passive
constructions, such as "was responsible
for managing". Just say,
"managed": that sounds stronger and
more active.
MAKE
THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE
Employers
need to know what you have accomplished to
have an idea of what you can do for them.
Don't be vague. Telling someone that you
"improved the company's efficiency"
doesn't say much. But if you say that you
"cut overhead costs by 20 per cent and
saved the company Rs 20 lakh during the last
fiscal year", you are more specific.
HONESTY
IS A GOOD POLICY
Employers
will feel more comfortable hiring you if they
can verify your accomplishments. There is a
difference between making the most of your
experience and exaggerating or falsifying it.
A falsified resume can cost you the job later.
DOUBLE-CHECK
FOR MISTAKES
Check
your resume for correct grammar and spelling -
evidence of good communication skills and
attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your
chances of getting a job faster than
submitting a resume filled with preventable
mistakes. Make your resume easy on the eye.
Use normal margins (1" on the top and
bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't
cram your text on the page. Allow for some
space between the different sections. Avoid
unusual or exotic fonts. Preferred fonts:
Arial and Times Roman
