by The Green Fairy

Created on: June 24, 2009

If you want to know how to write a good resume, put yourself in the place of the person who will be reading it.

First impressions are important. A resume is a marketing document, selling you, but it also needs to be packed with solid facts. Eye-catching graphics and snappy slogans might sell cell phones and cars, but quality information will sell you.

But it still needs to look good. Not bold and colorful, but neatly laid out and easy on the eye. You don't need to be a graphic designer to achieve a clean, professional finish. Just take a look at other documents you think a simple but effective and imitate their style.

Good spelling and grammar are also essential to a good-looking resume. It's shocking how many people still don't use spell checkers or proof read what they've written. The occasional mistake might slip through, but too many resumes are riddled with easy-to-spot mistakes. The classic, of course, is the regular misspelling of the word 'professional'. Nothing shouts 'unprofessional' louder than someone who claims to be a proffesional.

So that's presentation sorted. Now on to content. Again, think about what the reader is looking for. They'll be a recruiter or a potential employer, so they want to know whether you've got the skills and experience for the job.

This means it's unlikely they want to know about your school exam results - unless you've just left school, that is. Once you have a few years of employment experience under your belt your exam scores will count for very little. So don't waste space on the resume.

It's also unlikely they are interested in your hobbies and interests. I've seem far too many resumes which include 'socializing' as an interest. An employer is going to take this for granted - they'll be worried if you didn't socialize from time to time. Of course, some hobbies will relate directly to the sort of work you want to do, so they could be included.

Try to tell the reader of the resume something about you. If you're an accounts clerk don't tell them what accounts clerks do on a day-to-day basis, because they probably know this. Tell them what you've done in your workplace - what improvements you've made, and what you've achieved. If possible, back it up with numbers and statistics. So you've reduced the value of outstanding debtors - by how much? Hard facts deliver credibility.

Get someone to read your resume through before you send it off. Sleep on it and re-read it yourself. It's worth investing the time because a well-presented resume might just get you that all-important position.

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