In short, you want your resume to have clean lines, meaning you want to refrain from anything that’s too “busy.” There is no need for graphics or fonts that aren’t simple and easy to read. Keep in mind, your resume is being viewed by humans. Humans, with all of the impatience and frustrations of having too many sheets of paper in their hands they must sort through to fill only one or two positions.
Objectives or mission statements are optional, however; the time has passed that they serve any real purpose on a resume. In fact, many doubted their purposes all along. Start with your name, address and contact information in the header, centered, with perhaps only your name in bold. There is no need to insert all six of your email addresses or your grandmother’s phone number. Your primary email address and your home and cell numbers will suffice. You’re not applying for a position as a UN ambassador. Keep it simple.
In the body of the resume, you’ll want to list your academic achievements as well as the schools you attended. Be sure to list any accolades you were awarded in high school and college. If an entry-level position isn’t what you’re applying for, you have the option of leaving out your high school achievements.
With one space between the sections, you’ll want to map your employment history. You’ll need to include the employer’s name, your supervisor or contact person as well as their email addresses and/or telephone numbers. Be sure to include your start and resignation dates and your job responsibilities. List any raises or promotions as well.
Don’t sugarcoat anything on your resume, including past salary histories. A recent monster.com survey indicated most employers prefer a single-page resume. If there’s space on your resume after listing your job history, you might want to include two or three references and their contact information and relation to you (lifetime friend, job acquaintances or college professors). Be sure to ask permission before listing anyone as a reference.
Use a crisp, white sheet of paper, preferably a 16#, and print in black. Your font should be a standard Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri that’s no bigger than an 11-font size. If you’re submitting your resume via electronic mail, you might want to convert it to a .pdf before sending. If not, be sure the Word document isn’t password protected. If you’re mailing through traditional sources (U.S. Post Office), use a standard business-size envelope properly addressed to the attention of who will be conducting the interview, or to Human Resources if the name of the interviewer is unknown. This is usually noted in the advertisement. And if you’re wondering how these guidelines will make your resume stand out, consider this: you’re aiming for a professional image that’s to the point. Leave the creative and sometimes inappropriate layouts for others. You will have the opportunity to display your creative and whimsical side in other areas of your life. Right now, you’re looking for career opportunities.
If you’re offered a position that you know you’re overqualified for and the employers say it’s an entry-level position, be gracious and appreciative. Remember, this entry-level position is the foundation you’re building for the career you’ll be renovating, adding to, and strengthening throughout the course of your adult life. If you have applied for and have been called for an interview and offered the job, by all means, accept the position immediately. What starts out as a warehouse clerk today might mean your future includes a vice presidency at some point. And that $30,000 annual salary you’re offered just might be what buys your first home a few years from now, and the first thousand dollars contributed to your retirement fund could very well be traced to that salary. The one thing the future, economic predictions, and Wall Street have in common is their unpredictable natures. Remaining resilient is a trait few have, but if it’s one you can master, you’re already ahead of the game.
