I thought this picture pretty well summed up how you might feel as you begin writing or editing your resume for a job search. Actually, I found a few more that might be even more spot on, but several were not as appropriate for a professional job blog article. HA!
The bottom line is that resume writing is a difficult proposition for many. And rightfully so. I counsel people often that not knowing the best way to approach the details of your resume is an okay thing. If you are too good at writing your resume, it might be a reflection of how good (or not good) of an employee you may be. Being good at a job search is only an important trait if it is not your full-time job. Polishing up your resume frequently could be a sign you are a job hopper.
Here are a few things I have learned about resume writing over the years:
DO put a premium on content over presentation. I am not necessarily so old school that I believe you need to squeeze everything into one page. Two pages or more may be something you need to thoroughly outline your past accomplishments and how they are applicable to positions you are considering. But please be sure to put something relevant and noteworthy early and often.
DON'T fill up the first page with so much information that you don't list a job title or current employer until the bottom of the page or even the top of the second page. I saw a resume recently that filled up two pages with information that could be deemed valuable, but it didn't hold my attention long enough to even find out where the person worked. That isn't a good thing.
DO list all of your contact information. This may seem like a "no duh" piece of advice, but you would be surprised how many people leave this off. Sometimes I believe it is intentional because people do not want to be inundated with too may calls or emails. But that shouldn't be a worry if you are approaching your job search correctly. You want to be accessible, and in more than one manner.
DON'T have a crazy personal email address. This should be another no-brainer, but people often do not think about this detail. I even suggest to people to create an entirely separate email for the job search. That way information is disseminated quickly and efficiently. Just don't lose the password to that new account if you create it. And check it often!
DO include links to your social media. Some of you may have experienced a faster heartbeat after reading this one. You know you still might have a picture or two that you wouldn't want a prospective employer to see on Facebook or Twitter. Then do the smart thing and remove it. This is the new place to show employers you are more than a smiling face with no outside interests. Which may catch the attention of a hiring manager who shares similar interests.
DON'T list Hobbies and Interests. See above for where you list that now. Employers don't want to see on your resume that you like to fish and garden. They will be able to see that via social media if they want to go to that effort. And most times they do to make sure you're not posting crazy selfies from last weekend's game.
Remember that you're not trying to get the job with the submission of a resume, but simply make a good first impression. If you're too good on paper, that will be vetted out quickly in an interview. Whereas being not good enough won't even get you the interview in the first place. As with just about anything in life, it is all about balance.
Have you ever been told a valuable "do" or "don't" while writing or re-writing a resume?
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