Category: Resume Writing

Resume Tip

Resume Tip: Listing awards received on a resume is a good idea if they demonstrate a skill or accomplishment that relates to the job.

Resume Tip:  Listing awards received on a resume is a good idea if they demonstrate a skill or accomplishment that relates to the job.

Some job seekers list the awards they received on their resume.  This can be a good idea.  An award from an employer, customer or industry association provides a third party validation of your success. Some job seekers list awards unrelated to the job or provide no information that explains the award.  In either case, it is unlikely an award presented without details or unrelated to the job will help the job seeker.

Present awards that directly relate to the job.  Include specifics, including your actions, the competition for the award and how your contributions benefited the company.  This will make an impressive presentation.  No matter how proud you are of an accomplishment, if it is completely unrelated to your career, it will not add value on your resume. 

Resume Writing – Text Block Size

One of the mistakes I see a lot of job seekers make is writing a resume with large blocks of text. A resume is a summary of person’s career and potential. It isn’t a biography. Unfortunately, some job seekers write with large blocks of text that are more appropriate to a book and than a resume.

One of the mistakes I see a lot of job seekers make is writing a resume with large blocks of text.  A resume is a summary of person’s career and potential.  It isn’t a biography.  Unfortunately, some job seekers write with large blocks of text that are more appropriate to a book and than a resume.

In the Military Resume Benchmarking Report we released this week, we reviewed the text block size of military resumes.  We found nearly 70% of the resumes utilized short bullets for writing about their experience. This is a great style for a resume.

For the research report we looked at three styles – bullets, short paragraphs and long paragraphs.  Resumes with long paragraphs had text blocks that were more than a third of a page long, with some paragraphs approaching a full page.  Short paragraphs had more than five sentences but were less than a third of a page long.  Bullets were typically one to two sentences long, but could be up to five sentences.

Short and concise bullets make a resume easy to scan and read.  Many hiring managers will scan your resume first.  This initial look may only last 15 to 30 seconds.  The goal is to decide if the resume is worth reading closely.  If your resume is written in large blocks of text, a hiring manager may not read the most significant elements.  Using bullets can direct the reader to focus on the most important information.

When writing with bullets, consider using titles for each bullet.  A title can highlight an important concept and draw attention to the bullets that are the most important.  Most resumes write bullets like this:

  • Implemented a project resulting in $200k in savings
  • Led a quality improvement program, reducing defects by 40%
  • Revised production scheduling procedures, improving on-time shipping performance from 96% to 98% while cutting inventory levels by 15%.

Adding titles can highlight the accomplishments and draw the reader’s attention to the bullets:

  • Reduced Costs: Implemented a project resulting in $200k in savings
  • Improved Quality: Led a quality improvement program, reducing defects by 40%
  • Improved On-Time Performance: Revised production scheduling procedures, improving on-time shipping performance from 96% to 98% while cutting inventory levels by 15%.

By adding the titles, the bullets have a clear purpose.  A hiring manager can scan just the titles and get an idea for the job seeker has done.

One caution with adding titles, bolding and other style devices that emphasize information is to use these devices infrequently.  There are a few job seekers that go overboard and end up bolding or italicizing almost everything.  This defeats the purpose.  If everything is emphasized, then nothing will stand out.

Military Resume Benchmarking Report

The 2009 Military Resume Benchmarking Results provides transitioning and former military personnel with hard data on resume writing best practices. The report identified common resume writing mistakes and recommendations to avoid these pitfalls.

The 2009 Military Resume Benchmarking Results provides transitioning and former military personnel with hard data on resume writing best practices. The report identified common resume writing mistakes and recommendations to avoid these pitfalls.

The 2009 military resume benchmarking study examined thirty-six separate elements within each resume. All of the resumes were from former or current military personnel, representing all branches of the military. Both enlisted and officer ranks were included.

The study examined the content of each resume. A few results stood out:

  • Employer Name – 30% of the resumes failed to include the name of each employer in their work history. Listing the employer name for each job is an essential component of a resume.

  • Job Titles – One in six resumes failed to include job titles for every position in their work history. Job titles are critical to understanding the experience and career progression of a job seeker.

  • Introduction – In the study, 90% of the resumes had an introductory section, typically including an objective statement or summary of the candidate’s background.

Based on these results and others contained in the report, Palladian provides specific resume writing recommendations, especially applicable to military transition candidates. Specifically, a resume should provide the employer name, job title, start and end dates (with months and years) and the location for each position listed. The resume introductory section should focus on accomplishments, not responsibilities. Resumes should be one to two pages, and 300 to 600 words in length. To improve the readability of the resume, short bullets should be used. Finally, the job seeker should provide the military rank, or the highest rank achieved at minimum.

 

Resume Tip #12

Resume Tip: Other candidates applying for the same position will have a similar background to you. Set yourself apart with specific accomplishments.

Resume Tip:  Other candidates applying for the same position will have a similar background to you. Set yourself apart with specific accomplishments.

In today’s economy, you can count on your competition being as qualified as you are.  The candidate that gets hired will demonstrate the potential value they offer better than the other candidates.  “Show me, don’t tell me.”  Present specific accomplishments and examples of situations where you have used key skills.  Most candidates will speak in generalizations and look exactly alike in the hiring manager’s eyes.  The candidate that stands out will create a clear image in the mind of the hiring manager of what their performance will look like.

 

Avoid Identify Theft

I read a resume recently with a piece of information that should never be listed: the candidate’s Social Security number.

I read a resume recently with a piece of information that should never be listed: the candidate’s Social Security number. A resume provides the job seeker’s career background and potential. In an active job search, a job seeker will often try to distribute their resume as widely as possible. You can’t do this with your social security number.

The resume I read was posted online in a resume database. The database was secure with only a limited number of people having access, probably less than a thousand. That’s still a thousand people with access to the resume and social security number. Even worse, this job seeker was obviously very active in his search. It is likely he made his resume accessible elsewhere.

If the resume was posted on one of the big job boards, the number of people with access could be in the hundreds of thousands. Any one of these people could have run a keyword search for “social security” and would have turned up this resume.  This poses a significant risk of identity theft. Your resume needs to have your name and contact information, but other identifying details should be omitted. Do not list your social security number or driver’s license number.

Why would a person put their social security number on their resume? At some point in a search, a company will need your social security number. The company needs this to do a background check and to complete the new hire paperwork (IRS and other filings for tax purposes). Some job seekers try to make the process easier for the company by providing this information on their resume. This is a mistake. Personal information should be collected when it is needed and the company should explain why they need the information.

There is one other time you might be asked for your social. Early in the process, you may be asked to complete an employment application. Often, the social security number will be part of this form.

These situations are normal. Companies have procedures for safeguarding personal information. The safeguards are not as rigorous for resumes. A resume could be distributed to a number of hiring managers and employees involved in the hiring decision. Personal data such as social security numbers is typically held in a secure area of the HR department. Placing your social security number on your resume will circumvent these procedures and allow this information to be accessible to a much wider audience.

Bottom line: Do not put your social security number on your resume.

Should You List Every Job on Your Resume?

One of the questions I’m asked frequently is whether a job seeker should include every job on their resume. You should provide a complete and honest picture of your background. For most job seekers, this means listing everything. There are a few exceptions. One significant exception is when a person makes a major shift in their career.

One of the questions I’m asked frequently is whether a job seeker should include every job on their resume. You should provide a complete and honest picture of your background. For most job seekers, this means listing everything. There are a few exceptions.  One significant exception is when a person makes a major shift in their career.

This week, I read the resume of a job seeker that had held an entry level admin position at the start of his career. He then joined the military. The candidate’s work experience prior to the military totaled less than a year. The candidate served in the military for twenty years and is now transitioning.

The admin experience prior to the military has no relationship to the progression within the military or the career objective the candidate is currently pursuing. It is also more than twenty years old. There is no reason to include the work experience prior to the military service on the resume. Omitting this information will not mislead an employer and will not change the impression the resume makes. It will make room for more relevant and important information.

Where do you draw the line?

An entry level admin position held for less than a year more than 20 years ago isn’t significant to a person’s career progression. Making this position more recent, a longer duration or related to the job seeker’s career field could make it important to include on the resume. The challenge is knowing when the position becomes significant and when it isn’t.

Generally, you should list any positions you have held in the last ten to twenty years. If you had a full-time position and a part-time position at the same time, you may omit the part-time role, especially if it is unrelated to your primary career.

An entry level position early in your career may be important to list even if it is twenty or more years ago if the position establishes the start to a career progression. Individuals that stay in the same career field, progressing upward to increasing levels of responsibility can show a consistent pattern of success through the promotions they have received. To do this, you need to show the starting point – an entry level position where you got your start.

In the case of the resume I read, the initial admin position had nothing to do with the military career. Omitting it wouldn’t detract from the career progression. The job seeker should show all of his military positions. This establishes the start of the career progression.

If you need help determining what to include in your resume, get help from a resume writer.

Reverse Chronological Order

The most common resume structure is the Chronological resume. The name is a misnomer though. A chronological resume should be in reverse chronological order, with the most recent information at the top and oldest at the bottom of the resume.

The most common resume structure is the Chronological resume. The name is a misnomer though. A chronological resume should be in reverse chronological order, with the most recent information at the top and oldest at the bottom of the resume.

There is a good reason why this structure is so common and effective. A resume is a sales pitch for the job seeker. The sales pitch should start with the most persuasive and impressive information at the top. The most recent experience usually makes the the best impression.

For the vast majority of job seekers, listing the most recent job first is not news. Despite this, there are job seekers that continue to make mistakes. I’m currently conducting a resume study, similar to the resume benchmarking survey we did last year. So far, I have run into several chronological resumes that either start with the oldest job or have the jobs in an order unrelated to the dates of the jobs.

The reverse chronological order is so common, you should not deviate. Choosing a different order for your work experience will draw attention away from your skills and experience and cause the reader to question why the order is different from normal. You only have a short time to make a good first impression. Wasting even a few seconds can hurt your chances. The time the hiring manager spends thinking about the structure is time they are not thinking about the content of your resume.

Choosing something other than reverse chronological order for work experience is rare, but is more common with other sections the resume. I’ve read a number of resumes that list training and education in unusual orders. For example, one resume listed the bachelor’s first, then the master’s degree.  This wouldn’t have been as big a problem if the degrees had not be mixed in with a list of training classes. This caused me to almost miss the master’s degree.

When listing your education, degrees are listed separate from training classes. They should also be listed in reverse chronological order. This should place the most advanced degree at the top of the education section. Training classes can be included within the education section, or in a separate training section. These should also be listed in a reverse chronological order. You may want to put your degrees near the top of your resume, but your training classes should be at the end. They are far less significant and should be placed after more critical information.

If you have other sections that list experience, place these in reverse chronological order. For example, someone in the construction industry might have a section of their resume with a project list. This list should be in reverse chronological order.

Now there are other organizational options that need to be considered. Dates are important, but grouping information by type and function is also important. I mentioned that a person’s education should be organized with degrees and training classes separate. The same can happen with the construction example. Projects in construction may be organized by building type. Within the building type sections, we go back to the reverse chronological order.

The work experience order can have one major issue that may cause a person to break their experience into different sections. There are job seekers that concurrently have two different careers. This is common with military reservists. The job seeker can have a civilian career at the same time they have a military career. Listing two work experience sections, one for military and one for civilian work can make the resume easier to read and understand. Other individuals may have a business they run outside of work. Others may have significant volunteer work. Separating these roles from their career is good idea. In both experience sections, the reverse chronological order should be maintained.

When you write your resume, group information in the sections that make it easiest read.  For most people, this will include a summary, work experience, eduction, skills and training.  Each of these sections should then be in reverse chronological order.  If you consider breaking up information into other sections or a different order, get someone to do a resume review.  Make sure your organization makes your resume easier to read, not harder.  It is likely your resume will only get a 15-30 second look before the hiring manager decides to keep reading or throw it away.  Don’t waste a second.

Resume Tip #10

Resume Tip: Include on your resume training classes that directly relate to the core skills and activities of the job you are pursuing.

Resume Tip:  Include on your resume training classes that directly relate to the core skills and activities of the job you are pursuing.

Staying current in your industry and developing new skills is important to success in a career.  This is also important in your job search.  Listing the professional development courses you have completed can help sell you to an employer.  The key is staying focused on the courses that are relevant.  Many job seekers go overboard and list every course, seminar and workshop they have completed.  Many of these end up being routine courses every job seeker would have taken, such as basic orientation classes, safety courses or annual regulatory compliance classes.  These do not differentiate the candidate.

In our 2008 survey of resumes, we found three quarters of the resumes included continuing education courses.

Prioritizing Info on Your Resume

Choosing what information to include in a resume is important, but an even more important consideration is the order. The most significant elements of your background need to go at the top of the resume. Unfortunately, many job seekers fail to prioritize information effectively. A resume I read today illustrates this common mistake.

Choosing what information to include in a resume is important, but an even more important consideration is the order. The most significant elements of your background need to go at the top of the resume. Unfortunately, many job seekers fail to prioritize information effectively. A resume I read today illustrates this common mistake.

The resume was from a manufacturing professional with a good education and good experience. The job seeker didn’t know how to package his background effectively. The first problem was with the order of the sections. Below are the section headings in order:

  • Objective

  • Education

  • Additional Training

  • Select Career Achievements

  • Professional Experience

  • Summary of Qualifications

  • Technical Skills

The job seeker has more than 15 years of experience managing manufacturing operations. This experience should not be buried in the middle of the second page. Compounding the mistake, the candidate prioritized Additional Training towards the top of the resume. The additional training section contained routine courses like Hazmat, Sexual Harassment and First Aid. Classes like this are routine in most mid-size to large companies. They do not differentiate the candidate.

The Select Career Achievements section listed several impressive accomplishments. This section should have been at the top of the resume. The accomplishments will get a hiring manager interested so they keep reading.

The Education section raises a question, though. The job seeker has a Six Sigma Black Belt, an impressive credential. The remainder of their education is ordinarily – a bachelor’s degree and a few additional courses. This education is important but isn’t going to make the candidate standout. The candidate needs to move the Six Sigma certification to the top of the resume and the rest of the education to the bottom.

The Summary of Qualifications section was just a listing of responsibilities the job seeker had. This section needs to be merged into the Professional Experience section. The is no need to break the responsibilities out from the job descriptions.

After making these changes, the new resume has a top section containing the objective, the Six Sigma certification and a few accomplishments. This section becomes the Professional Summary or Professional Profile. With this new section, the resume takes its new structure:

  • Professional Summary

  • Professional Experience

  • Technical Skills

  • Education

  • Additional Training

This structure leads off with the most important elements. It then moves into the basic information about the job seekers work history. From there, the resume wraps up with other information, the skills, education and training of the job seeker. The overall impression is much more impressive.

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