Simplify the Web

With the downturn in the economy I have seen a lot of friends and family have a rough time getting a job. With all the competition now in trying to secure employment the resume has become as common a tool as a car going to work. If you have ever had to stand in line with hundreds (figuratively or literaly) and after all that you haven't even received a call back, there could be something wrong with your resume.

Resumes are excuses for potential employers to pass over you. Don't give them that chance! Think about it from an employer's point of view and you may find you need to make a few changes.

5. Keep it succint

If you are applying for a position that is specialized, like say an IT position, an employer won't want to know that you managed a pizza hut and had 12 employees and handled the gas for the vehicles and made dough in the mornings all over 7 years ago. If your resume needs information and you feel you should include pizza hut only include items about the job that are relevant and would help you prove your point.

If your resume is more than a couple of pages, trim it down! Anything over 1.5 to 2 pages is most likely too long. They don't need your entire work history, if they do they will ask for it, don't assume you need to give it right away.

4. Bullet Points

Paragraphs are wordy, like this article. People don't read resumes, and they aren't looking for a good article to sit down on the toilet with. If your resume reads like a book it's most likely going to be passed over. Keep your work experiences to a few points and keep your resume flowing.

3. Skills vs Education

Ok, many people have debated this time and again. Which is more important? Where do they go? From a resume position, unless you're applying for something that emphasizes education in the description, you're better off placing your skills at the top above your work experience and your education as a footer. Companies today are looking to get the most out of you as an employee. They don't want to see what you have learned from Academia, they want to see what you can do.

Put your skills at the top in a bulleted list and the amount of experience at the end of each skill, let them check things off. That's what they are looking for...do you fit the description. If you give it to them quickly they're likely to keep you on the pile.

2. Centered Headers are for grade school

Don't put your personal information in the middle of the page at the top, it breaks the flow of the resume and looks childish. Keep it subdued but still ready to read, they don't care what your contact information is until they feel you fit. Don't give them an excuse.

1. Don't, and I mean DON'T use a word template

Templates look cheap. Everyone uses them. If you have a resume that looks the same as everyone elses why would you stick out? Why would they feel they need to stop at your resume and give it a look?

Bottom line is make your resume your own, don't use someone else's cookie cutter template. Take some time to curtail your resume to the job you're applying for and you'll find you get in the door a lot more! Good luck hunting!