By: Steve Patterson
Submitted: 2010-11-10 16:34:20 | Word Count: 657
Having a good resume is crucial to the job hunting process. A resume is a job seeker's first introduction to any potential employer. It is important to make a good impression. In order to make it stand out from the crowd, a good resume should be clearly and neatly formatted, use powerful and specific language and clearly highlight the candidate's strengths.
How to Format a Resume
When it comes to landing a great job, first impressions are extremely important. Job seekers should think of their resume as a way to get their foot in the door. Just as someone going in for a professional interview would dress nicely, a resume should look well put together. If a resume is not formatted clearly or looks like it was put together in a matter of minutes, chances are no one is going to take the time to look at it more closely.
What matters most is that the resume is well organized and easy to read. It is better to stay away from fancy formatting style choices that may appeal to the eye but serve no real purpose. Especially because most resumes are now submitted and sent via the internet, extra formatting flourishes translate poorly from one computer to the next, wasting both the candidate's and the resume reviewer's time. When it comes to resume format, clear and simple is the way to go.
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Something that can help maintain the clarity and flow of a resume is to keep everything consistent. For example, list all previous positions in bold face, followed by the start and end date in italics and then a brief description of the company in plain text underneath. Resumes that are consistent throughout are dar easier to read and give off the impression of an individual who is well organized and pays attention to detail.
Resume Content and Important Resume Sections
In addition listing contact information clearly at the top of the page, a good resume should include a summary and highlights section, previous employment section and a section on education and any special training or certification the job seeker may have had. In the summary and highlights section, include any major accomplishments that have been achieved, as well as any buzz words that are pertinent to the position. For example, a candidate applying for a sales position should include key phrases such as "cold-calling," "book of business," "consultative sales style" or "hunter mentality."
When listing previous employment, include bullet points on tasks, responsibilities and achievements. A good resume will include brief descriptions of specific achievements or projects that will provide concrete evidence as to what the candidate is capable of. Citing specific achievements will make a resume stand out to an employer and helps to fill out the picture of who exactly the candidate is.
If a candidate was unemployed for any significant period of time or left a position soon after taking the job, the solution is to include a brief sentence stating the reason for it. A valid explanation will help dispel any negative assumptions the reviewer may make. Similarly, if the candidate left a position after only a short period of time, a brief note describing the reason for doing so will ensure that the employer does not pass negative judgment on the candidate. However, under no circumstances should the job seeker lie about any previous position or reason for leaving.
No matter how talented a candidate is, without a good resume he will never make it to the first interview. Following these tips will help improve any resume and ensure that it stands out from the vast majority of other submissions. A resume that is clearly formatted with content that reflects the unique strengths and achievements of the job seeker will provide the employer with a clear insight as to why the candidate would be a good fit for the company. A resume is an introduction; make it a good one.
