Resume writing for the right audience, recruiters, has become more complex due mostly to the Internet and companies scanning resumes for keywords. Companies also want personalized resumes not generic ones sent to dozens or hundreds of companies at once, but, you can, with some effort, personalize a generic resume. Sell yourself. A resume is just thatselling yourself to a prospective employer. With this guide, you should avoid all the mistakes people make in resumes. Remember, you are selling them on you and they are considering you as a future investment.
Your formatting should be Times New Roman or Garamond fonts. Times New Roman is best since everyone uses it. Don't mix fonts. It just makes it look disjointed not professional. Using the word "I" is actually frowned upon. Also, use better paper than copy paper. Colored paper is no-no. Parchment is fine. 25-pound white paper is also fine. Parchment makes a statement without making joke like say Pink. Each section really should be all capitalized. Check your spelling. A spelling error isn't selling you it is selling the others that applied.
At the beginning of your resume, your name and contact information should always be first. Your "objective" should be the job you are applying for not "I am seeking a position to utilize my education and experience, etc., etc., etc." Just put the job title you are applying for and be done with it. Waxing poetic in an objective is a waste of time.
Work history should be called "Professional Experience" and nothing else. Experienced professionals should include a skills summary of their accomplishments under "Skills Summary" that precedes professional experience. Just include highlights at all your jobs within the last ten years. Summaries should never contain "I did..." but action verbs with the accomplishment.
Recent college graduates should list education first. Your education is your experience. Always include projects you did in college that mean something. Being a chess champion or similar nonsense isn't one of them. A major project is excellent to list. If you have a lot of projects in college, list them in a summary. Recruiters like college graduates that did work in college not just partied. If you wrote about management techniques or the history of art, it doesn't hurt to include it and offer a copy by request. They will ask for it.
Except for recent college graduates, your employment history is valuable. Just put the name of the company, job title, and the years you worked there. Only put highlights of your career for each company like "Increased sales by 30% in one year", "Cut costs in my department by 20%", or "Created a computer program to analyze productivity that increase it by 25%." Use numbers for accomplishments like that. Use simple verbs to sell your accomplishments. Those are your keywords.
Education should always be mentioned for professionals by college, years attended, and degree obtained. You already have jobs so unless you did some great project don't list it. Recent college graduates should always list awards. Everyone should list Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude if achieved.
Accreditations and Certificates is the next title. If you have them, list them. Company provided training should be listed here. That says, "My company (or companies) spent money on my employment. They valued me as an employee or why bother?" Any other training should be listed here.
Special skills should only be used if you have any. List computer skills in your summary. If a recent college graduate, list them under "special skills" too. List the skills the job you are applying for desires. Hobbies should be omitted. Reference should not be listed nor should "References furnished upon request" be anywhere in your resume. If they want to hire or interview you, they will ask for them.
Resumes today are all about selling yourself to a potential employer; different resumes don't exist really. They want it personalized and perfect with those action verb keywords. Be concise and to the point. Don't use "my" or "I" since your accomplishments should speak for themselves. Always use action verbs to sell you to a potential employer. The old adage is true: either your sell or you get sold. Make sure you sell yourself not your competition.