Five Practical Tips for People Writing Their First Résumé

Writing a résumé

ResumeWriting a résumé requires thought and planning. It is never a good idea to slap information on paper without thinking about what you hope to achieve and what message you wish to convey. Obviously, your ultimate goal is to obtain a job, but to that end, your résumé needs to speak on your behalf, and you really only get one chance with a potential employer or the person screening the applicants. Therefore, we never recommend writing a résumé and sending it out the same day. Take time to finesse it and be sure that it delivers the right message. So much can go wrong when writing, from poor grammar, incorrect spellings, inaccurate wording, to transpositions in numbers, that you need to proof the document several times before sending it anywhere. Better yet, have a few other people proof it to find not only errors in writing, but also meanings that are ambiguous or misunderstood.

To help you along, we are providing five practical tips for people writing their first résumé.

Résumé Tip #1 - Do Not Use "I"

A résumé is a collection of what you have done, your abilities, and your education. It is a concrete body of facts and should be addressed as such. As a result, you never use the word "I" anywhere within the résumé itself. First of all, it looks rather unprofessional; second, it is awkward to read; and third, it adds unnecessary wording to the document. To be honest, it sounds quite juvenile if you write "I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2010", then on the next line "I was accepted into the Master's program in January 2011". These facts might be true, but that is how children speak, in short sentences about themselves. Lastly, it is quite obvious that you are speaking about yourself. There is no need to reinforce that fact.

Résumé Tip #2 - Use Bullets and Short Statements

Generally, the persons reviewing résumés are pressed for time and therefore, they read through the documents at a very quick pace. Often, they are looking for specific traits, education, or past experiences. When screening, they glance the résumés over, and toss the ones that do not meet the criteria. The elimination process is swift, so it is incumbent upon you to get to the point immediately. Your résumé is not an essay nor is it a dissertation. Yes, grammar and spelling are considerably important, but sentence structure is not crucial. In fact, using sentences and paragraphs is a sure way to get your résumé tossed. The format takes too long to read and is cumbersome to the screener.

Conversely, it is totally acceptable and encouraged to use point form, bullets separating concepts or facts, and very short, concise statements, that may or may not qualify as sentences. Indeed, it is much easier on the eyes and brain to scan through bullet point formats than long drawn out paragraphs that appear to ramble. Plus, paragraphs are an invitation to stuff or fill without purpose. Employers are not interested in your creative writing abilities in that respect.

Résumé Tip #3 - Keep Points Organized and Use Same Structure

When writing a résumé, and providing your most relevant facts, it is important to keep the structure the same so that reading is smooth and natural. Often, individuals change tenses of verbs and mix verbs with nouns. To circumvent this problem, write each bullet in a "like" manner. For example, you would write:

You notice how you start the bullet with a verb in the same tense for each line. It is like saying "I did those things" but you omit the "I".

But some people switch things around like this:

All of these statements are mixed up or "not alike". They are hard to read, they are not natural, and they look unprofessional. This tip alone is one reason why you need to put considerable thought into your résumé, and why it takes more than one draft to get it right.

Résumé Tip #4 - Emphasize Your Skill Set and Not Grades

Believe it or not, employers are not necessarily looking for the smartest person in the class to work in their companies. They are looking for people who can communicate their skills and get the jobs done effectively. When just out of college and writing your first résumé, it is not a good idea to focus on your excellent grades. Yes, you should mention that you were the valedictorian, or an honor's student, but you do not need to go further. Those accomplishments alone illustrate your character by saying you are determined and you completed your educational requirements. That is all that is important. Do not elaborate by stating how many other students you beat out to get the title. You may, however, expand on this point in an attached file or even on your website that you might provide as added documentation.

On the other hand, focus on the things that you learned. State the skills that you acquired. Think about the job requirements or what the duties might be, and point out the specific training that you have that corresponds to the job. Any special programs or software in which you are proficient or have a good working knowledge, any equipment for which you are qualified to operate, and certifications you have obtained that might help with the job are all of interest to the employer. Further, if you have completed either a co-op or volunteer position in the relevant field, your specific duties will be important. Employers want to see if you are a good fit. Devoid of any practical on-the-job experience, they need to depend on what you have learned.

Résumé Tip #5 - Stay Away from General Terms that Cannot be Proved

Years ago, it was not only acceptable, but it was mandatory to write on a résumé that you were hard working, that you were an excellent team player, and that you were dedicated to the employer. Today, these points mean nothing on a résumé, and do not say anything about you. Indeed, they are important to employers, but these characteristics will be determined as and when you work for the employers. Supervisors will decide whether or not you are a team player in their environments. In fact, today, most people screening applicants see these terms as nothing more than filler. The comments are viewed negatively. Instead of writing about things that are subjective, write facts and get to the point.

Often, employers place point values on résumés to determine the ones with the highest priorities. In other words, those applicants that they have short-listed for further consideration. As such, you want to provide concrete talents, and proof that you have determination, dedication and willingness. These are shown through awards, previous achievements, and working or volunteering while attending classes at school.

Conclusion

Without question, today's job hunting is much different than twenty years ago. Many résumé writing books have become outdated, and college graduates are misled by providing information that has no bearing on current work environments. Because of these factors, it is more crucial than ever to: