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Writing a resume is not an easy process. The first time you sit down in front of a blank sheet of paper and try to decide where you should put your header, you are just beginning to experience what may be one of the most difficult tasks of the employment process. There is a good reason why there are so many Resume Writing services around. But they are really only going to force you to go through the exact process you are paying them to avoid. Afterall, what do they know about who you are and what you've done?
The physical layout of a good resume is only one small consideration that will be faced in this ordeal. Except to discuss the various resume types, and the rules to follow regarding scanability, this guide will not go into detail on the format of your resume. There are many good examples of different resume formats readily available. These are accessible at a library or at any of the thousands of resume banks on the WWW.(Visit The Riley Guide for great resources)
Many people feel a resume should be the equivalent of a diary or daily log of every detail of every duty or responsibility or project they were even remotely associated with throughout their entire work history. A resume is intended to be a brief outline of highlights of someone's career. Save all the details for when you are in front of the hiring manger. Your resume has to get past several people before you are going to be called for an interview. All of them are busy. None of them wants to spend more than 45 seconds screening a resume. If you want the first shot at that open position, You'd better be sure that the resume you present is short and to the point. Another rule to follow when writing your resume is:
And that is an 81/2" x 11" page, not legal, not ledger. A resume is a business document and should follow a prescribed format. Standard 81/2" X 11" paper is the only acceptable form. This may seem a simplistic rule to follow, but many people feel that by putting the resume on a larger (or smaller) piece of paper, it will it stand out. Well it does stand out...as inappropriate and annoying. Would you hire someone that is inappropriate and annoying? The Purpose of a Resume is to:
Remember, your resume is a written representation of you! After all the resume is meant to present your qualifications, education, and experience to an employer for a specific position. Since the primary purpose of your resume is to get you face to face with an employer, its always best to take the conservative approach until you have a feel for the person with whom you are speaking.
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