The
People Link Resume tips
Resumes, tips from the horse's mouth.
(Excerpt from our Newsletter article)
Resumes are important for employers and for job seekers.
As an employer you use the resume to see if the job
seeker will fit the bill. And the job seeker uses the
resume to sell himself. The resume and its quality often
make or break getting the job and even getting in the
door. It is also the recruiter's most important tool.
Here are a few points to consider when reviewing resumes
and when composing them.
Stability: A resume showing positions
held for more than three years is considered by most
employers as showing stability. This is important since
it shows that the person can hold a job for a length of
time and be a team player. It is worth it to the company
to invest in such a person. Suppose the resume shows less
stability but it has the qualifications you need. Do you
then not consider the person? The thing to do is talk to
the person. Find out why he has been moving from job to
job. Sometimes there are very valid reasons for this and
sometimes not. Don't assume that the person does not
qualify to be a good team player. Some are still trying
to find the ideal job. However, if the reasons you get
for moving around do not ring true, the person is
probably not serious about holding down a job and will
likely cause you a lot of trouble. If you are a job
seeker, keep in mind that many employers rank stability
as very important, and anything you can do to improve it
will be very valuable when the opportunity of a lifetime
comes around. For example, don't leave a job just because
you don't like the way the boss's wife is talking to you.
Have a very valid reason for leaving.
Communicate: The resume should be
detailed and informative enough to show what you have
accomplished and what your skills are. If it shows
instability add any valid reasons you have for moving on.
In this day and age with computers used everywhere, be
sure to include your computer skills. Some employers also
like to see what your goals and purposes are for a job.
Don't use some old cliché from a resume writing software
or template. Put yourself in it. Make it look unique, as
unique as you are. You may need to tailor the resume for
the position you are seeking to emphasize certain
abilities or accomplishments.
Professionalism: Be a professional. Make
the resume look good. Ensure there are no typos or
grammatical errors, of course. Make it have a logical
flow, so that it is easy to read and understand. If there
are gaps in time, have an explanation. Home on maternity
leave, for example. Many employers like to see
statistical data. For example, "Increased the
company's revenues from $100,000 to $900,000 while I was
the Marketing Director". "Salvaged 73 refund
requests within 1 year", etc, etc. The more specific
data you can provide about accomplishments the better.
Don't write a book, though. If at all possible, keep the
resume to 2 - 3 pages long. If it is too long, it will
not be read, and your foot will never be inside their
front door. And don't forget to include all your contact
information. Telephone numbers, cell phone, pager, e-mail
address, snail mail address and any other info that can
be helpful in trying to reach you. Your recruiter will
find this very helpful. Also, if you e-mail the resume,
always attach it to the e-mail, don't cut n' paste into
the mail message.
When in doubt, call the professional recruiter at the
People Link. She can help.
|
