| Follow These Basic
Standards....
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Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer.
Make the most of this
opportunity............. The employment market is changing all the
time and so have resumes, evolving from a one-size-fits-all
standard. Here are our tips to convert your resume into a catching
one.
Follow
These Basic Standards....
-
Don't
overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.
-
Keep
your resume to one page whenever possible.
-
Keep
the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.
-
Use
a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works well.
-
Do
not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right
side of the page to "rag."
-
Do
not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other
emphasizing features.
-
Make
sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your
resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the
page.
-
Print
your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality
printer.
-
Second-
and third-generation photocopies must be avoided
-
Print
on one side of the paper only.
Avoid
Mistakes:
SPELLING
MISTAKES:
To
avoid spelling mistakes:
-
Don't
use words with which you aren't familiar.
-
Use
a dictionary as you write.
-
Perform
a spell check on your finished resume.
-
Carefully
read every word in your resume.
-
Have
a friend or two proof read your resume for you.
PUNCTUATION
MISTAKES:
Things
to look for:
-
Periods
at the end of all full sentences.
-
Be
consistent in your use of punctuation.
-
Always
put periods and commas within quotation marks.
-
Avoid
using exclamation points.
GRAMMATICAL
MISTAKES:
Grammar
hang-ups to watch for:
-
Do
not switch tenses within your resume.
-
The
duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e.,
write reports)
-
Duties
you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense
(i.e., wrote reports).
-
Capitalize
all proper nouns.
-
When
expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine
(i.e., one, five, seven), but
-
use
numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).
-
If
you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral
(e.g. Eleven service awards won while employed.).
-
Make
sure your date formats are consistent (i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22,
2001, or 11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.).
-
Choose
Your Words Carefully:
-
Phrase
yourself well:
-
Be
on the lookout for the following easily confused words:
-
accept
(to receive), except (to exclude)
-
all
right (correct), alright (this is not a word)
-
affect
(to bring about change), effect (result)
-
personal
(private), personnel (staff members)
-
role
(a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).
-
Use
action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed
staff).
REFERENCES:
In
most instances it is not necessary to include names and address of
references on the resume. If you include a reference, make it sure
that the referenced person knows very well about you. It is also
advisable to add the persons as references, whom the employer can
contact easily. If possible add the phone number and e-mail ID of
the reference. Never add a person as a reference, about whom you
know nothing
STICK
TO THE POINT
Employers
have a busy schedule, so don't expect them to read through a long
resume. Ideally, resumes should be of one page, or of two pages only
if absolutely necessary, to describe relevant work experience.
WORDS
COUNT
Use
of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to an
employer quickly and efficiently. Address your potential employer's
needs with a clearly written, compelling resume. Avoid large
paragraphs (five or six lines). If you provide small, digestible
pieces of information, your resume will be read. Use action verbs.
Verbs such as "developed", "managed", and
"designed" emphasise your accomplishments. Don't use
declarative sentences like "I developed the ..." or
"I assisted in ...", leave out the "I". Avoid
passive constructions, such as "was responsible for
managing". Just say, "managed": that sounds stronger
and more active.
MAKE
THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE
Employers
need to know what you have accomplished to have an idea of what you
can do for them. Don't be vague. Telling someone that you
"improved the company's efficiency" doesn't say much. But
if you say that you "cut overhead costs by 20 per cent and
saved the company Rs 20 lakh during the last fiscal year", you
are more specific.
HONESTY
IS A GOOD POLICY
Employers
will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your
accomplishments. There is a difference between making the most of
your experience and exaggerating or falsifying it. A falsified
resume can cost you the job later.
DOUBLE-CHECK
FOR MISTAKES
Check
your resume for correct grammar and spelling - evidence of good
communication skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your
chances of getting a job faster than submitting a resume filled with
preventable mistakes. Make your resume easy on the eye. Use normal
margins (1" on the top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and
don't cram your text on the page. Allow for some space between the
different sections. Avoid unusual or exotic fonts. Preferred fonts:
Arial and Times Roman & Verdana
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Mock Resume
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