Resume Tips- back to resources

Since each applicant is unique with a unique set of skills and experience, we’ll provide only some general guidelines to assist in the first resume draft. We’ll be happy to review your resume and offer you personal advice if you’d like.

BUT, there is one thing that is common to everyone.  Before emailing your resume to anyone rename the file using your last name and then the word resume eg: DoeJohnResume.doc. Companies get literally hundreds of resumes per day and almost every filename is resume.doc

What is the purpose of a resume?
While your resume will not get you a job, it will determine whether or not you get to interview for the job you want. So, it deserves your best effort and an attention to detail. In technical fields, the resume is the key to getting a telephone interview which is generally the first step to getting an in-person interview; therefore appeal is essential. Your resume must offer something of interest and value to a prospective employer.

What is the resume review process like? 
First off employers go through a skimming process to rule out and narrow a list of applicants. It is not a positive process of locating the best qualified candidate, as most job hunters think. Instead, it's a negative process of finding the applicant with the least number of things that are wrong. Your resume could be eliminated for various reasons including your location, poor design, inappropriate qualifications, incompatible expectations or attitudes, implied problems, and missing information (especially dates). The further your experience and education are from the employer’s ideal for a given position the more likely it is to be passed over.

Generally, resume screening occurs on two levels. First, a non-technical person in HR compares resumes against a job requisition. Comparisons will be made regarding salary and experience, technical key words, and subjective factors, such as quality and level of education. Applicants without strong technical skills who fill their resume with buzz words may get past this level but not likely the next. The selected resumes are then passed along to a technical manager who assesses the work experience and determines whether to conduct a telephone or personal interview.  So keep in mind that the purpose of your resume is not to get the job but to get past the first screening. Think of it as a marketing tool needed to persuade a potential employer to spend the time, money and effort required to interview you. It should not be a self-serving piece of adulation, a superficial overview, or a detailed personal history. Its aim is simple: to get you an interview, nothing more or nothing less.

What format should I use?
Most  most employers prefer resumes to be sent via email.  Don’t use some obscure word processing program to create your resume. Use MS Word and again make sure that you name your file yourlastname.doc (eg: Stravinsky.doc) NOT resume.doc. The fastest way to get your resume in the recycle bin is to give it a generic name.

Don’t use tables!  Columns and tables may make a resume look pretty but they create problems for a company when they attempt to import it to another system.  If it can’t be electronically handled, it will likely be discarded.

A resume competes for attention with other resumes and outside sources. Managers will read only as far as their interest is maintained, which is why it is important to start with a well developed “Skill Summary”. The resume should have good organization, physical appearance, and presentation.

While there is no "best" format specific to technical resumes, we recommend a Skill Summary, followed by Education (and Publications if any) and then Experience in chronological order. Some sources recommend using a “Functional Resume” if you have any historical problems such as gaps in employment, a history of unemployment, have frequently changed jobs or your more recent experience does not fit with your objectives. We DO NOT RECOMMEND FUNCTIONAL RESUMES except in very unusual cases.  The reason for this is that an employer, reading a functional resume, knows immediately that there is a problem and may rule you out without further review.

What should the focus be?
What to stress on your resume depends on your unique situation. If you are a new graduate, you will want to highlight education and interests, including any research, thesis and special projects or internships. If you are trying to move from research into commercial product development, you will want to emphasize programming skills over publications and grants. If you are an experienced product developer, you should highlight your work experience. One thing is certain though. Technical managers like to see depth of technical experience so you’ll want to list information about projects and products, tools and methods used, platforms worked and the stage in the project/product life cycle in which you worked. And you should do this for each and every project.

Should I have it professionally prepared?
For some, having a professionally prepared resume might be a good idea. Resume writers are typically English majors so that the resume may be grammatically perfect. However they may under-develop a technical resume, missing the key technical aspects needed or the marketing focus required to get results. We’ve found over the past 16 years that degreed professionals know and understand their experience and do a pretty good job of developing their own resumes.  Also, while the physical appearance of using high quality, embossed or colored paper etc used to be important, we live in a world in which most resumes are transmitted electronically, making that aspect of resume production less important. The physical appearance of your resume should look as if it were done by you simply to describe your qualifications. Consider having both simple word processing and ASCII Text versions and avoid using some obscure piece of software that prevents others from opening the file.

How long should it be?
Applicants always ask about length.  Simply stated the resume should be long enough to adequately describe your skills so the reviewer can determine your level of experience. Generally 1-3 pages is sufficient.  If you are a new grad or someone with a year or two of experience, a one page resume will likely suffice. If you have 25 years of experience and are well published, you may need 3 pages.  Two Pages generally works for most employees.

Should I list references?
Our recommendation is to NOT list references on the resume unless you feel that the references are so impressive that they alone might get you an interview.  Keep your references in a separate file for use if someone specifically has an interest in seeing them. Third party recruiters will oftentimes check references before referring you to a client so that they can present you as a “referred candidate”. However, most corporations only check references at offer time to confirm their decision. Generally that will be after mutual interest has been determined. However, if you’ve had long periods of unemployment, an employer may ask for them even prior to an interview and use them in their selection process.

Common Resume Blunders
Make sure your resume is top-notch by avoiding the top resume blunders.

1. Too Focused on Job Duties
Your resume should not be a boring listing of job duties and responsibilities. Go beyond showing what was required and demonstrate how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. When developing your achievements, ask yourself:
* How did you perform the job better than others?
* How did you creatively use or develop new tools or methodologies?
* What were the problems or challenges faced? How did you overcome them? What were the results? How did the company benefit from your performance?
* Did you receive any awards, special recognition or promotions as a result?

2. Flowery or General Objective Statement
Many candidates lose their readers in the beginning. Statements like "A challenging position enabling me to contribute to organizational goals while offering an opportunity for growth and advancement" are overused, too general and waste valuable space. If you're on a career track, replace the objective with a tagline stating what you do or your expertise.

3. Too Short or Too Long
Many people try to squeeze their experiences onto one page, because they've heard resumes shouldn't be longer. By doing this, job seekers may delete impressive achievements. There are also candidates who ramble on about irrelevant or redundant experiences. There is no rule about appropriate resume length. When writing your resume, ask yourself, "Will this statement help me land an interview?" Every word should sell you, so only include information that elicits a "yes."

4. Using Personal Pronouns and Articles
A resume is a form of business communication, so it should be concise and written in a telegraphic style. There should be no mentions of "I" or "me," and only minimal use of articles.

5. Listing Irrelevant Information
Many people include their interests, but they should only include those relating to the job. For example, if a candidate is applying for a position as a ski instructor, he should list cross-country skiing as a hobby.

Personal information, such as date of birth, marital status, height and weight, normally should not be on the resume unless you're an entertainment professional or a job seeker outside the US.

6. AGAIN:  Using a Functional Resume When You Have a Good Career History
It is irksome for hiring managers not to see the career progression and the impact made at each position. Unless you have an emergency situation, such as virtually no work history or excessive job-hopping, avoid the functional format.

The modified chronological format is often the most effective. Here's the basic layout:
* Header (name, address, email address, phone number)
* Lead with a strong profile skill summary section detailing the scope of your experience and areas of proficiency
* Education with GPA if it’s 3.0 or above.
* Reverse chronological employment history emphasizing achievements in the past 10 to 15 years

7. Not Including a Summary Section that Makes an Initial Hard Sell
This is one of the job seeker's greatest tools. Candidates who have done their homework will know the skills and competencies important to the position. The summary should demonstrate the skill level and experiences directly related to the position being sought.

To create a high-impact summary statement, peruse job openings to determine what's important to employers. Next, write a list of your matching skills, experience and education. Incorporate these points into your summary.

8. Typos
One typo can land your resume in the garbage. Proofread and show your resume to several friends to have them proofread it as well. This document is a reflection of you and should be perfect.