__________Specifics are key.
• Explain the how and why of your success by giving examples. For instance: “Saved money by negotiating with providers.”
• Skip the Objective section for a Summary that highlights the best parts of your resume early.
• Stay away from flowing, ornate prose. Keep the language short and sweet.
• Slice out internships and short-term jobs that don’t show off your talents. Prioritize skills that can transfer to the job for which you’re applying.
• Keep the resume to one page and avoid flowery graphic design.
Be topical
• Include only awards and interests that exhibit traits and expertise the recruiter can use. The soccer-league reference implies civic-mindedness and competitiveness.
• Language fluency and proficiency in technology are desirable in an increasingly Web-based, multilingual economy. Mention those skills if you can.
Bad resumes: Distracting, sloppy and irrelevant
Keep it simple
• Don’t go overboard on fonts, colors, borders, boldface and underlining.
• Avoid clip art and other graphics such as photos. This isn’t a middle-school project.
• Skills should be folded into Work Experience. The Personal and References sections are excessive.
Edit carefully
• Switching back and forth from multiple sizes of bullet points to dashes and from “Calif.” to “CA” suggests carelessness.
• Check for repetition as well as spelling and grammar errors.
• ”Watching a company advance” could suggest laziness, not eagerness. A fresh pair of eyes can suggest better alternatives.
Be relevant
• Details such as your GPA, prom queen nomination or where you went to middle school are distracting to recruiters.
• The Objective should be replaced with a Summary section.
• Offer concrete examples with numbers and anecdotes. Anyone can claim to be a “good people person.”
