When I ask job seekers to name their biggest gripes with the job search process, one answer keeps coming up: Employers never respond to their job applications or resumes.
When I look at the resumes they’re applying with, I see many that are hurting more than helping job seekers present their qualifications for a new role.
Here is a top five checklist of items that you should consider in preparing your resume:
1. Professional appearance
Looks matter, and not just during the interview. If your resume appears slapped together, you’re not going to make a positive first impression and invite the recruiter to want to read the specific content.
- Does the resume look professional? There are free resume templates available on the Web. Search Google and find one you like, and edit it to reflect your experience.
- Are margins at least ½” on all sides, but no more than 1″?
- If the resume is over one page in length, is it warranted? A good rule of thumb: one page equals 10 years’ experience.
- Are bold and italics used selectively to emphasize important information?
2. Well-organized
Clean and simple is the best. It should be easy to skim and see the progression of your work experience. Is there enough information within each section to substantiate the need for a heading?
- Is there one space between each section?
- Is the content of each section single spaced?