Let your resume be there to HELP you, not HINDER an employer!
A resume can’t help you if it’s more of an ineptly written novel or poorly designed puzzle than a tool to help employers find what you have to offer.
A reader will initially look at your resume for 15-30 seconds. So, it’s very important that your KEY skills and accomplishments are easy to find, easy to discern and quick to discover. Thus, your resume needs to be easy to read:
1. Fonts sized decently
2. Spacing clear
3. No “puzzle tricks”
4. No “paragraph-itis”
5. Gimmick free
Each of the above is explained in more detail below. It’s the chance for you to position YOUR resume more effectively, by helping the reader more easily find out good things about you – and also by weeding out some “junk!”
1. Fonts Sized Decently: Use fonts from 10-12 point as much as possible.
Smaller than 10 point may be hard for a reader to make out, and larger than 12 point makes it look like you are just trying to fill space.
>If you have the room, you can certainly use a larger font for your name and contact information at the top of your resume; however, that’s really the only place for an overlarge font.
2. Spacing Clear: “Clear spacing means separation BETWEEN elements of your resume, and BOLD in places. Note the following examples:
8/2000-4/2003 Assistant Manager Billfolds Etc., Granbury NJ
8/2000 – 4/2003 Assistant Manager Billfolds, Etc. Granbury, NJ
The second one is easier to read, isn’t it? Everything is not “on top of each other.”
3. No “puzzle tricks:” Also known as “Acronym Fever”
Ever see a list on a resume that looks something like this?
Technical Experience
MS Office, HTML, Windows 98, C#, C++, Lotus Notes, Firefox, Linux, Windows NT, 2002, ASP.NET, Open Office, Networking, Active Directory, MS Project,
MS Workflow, Peachtree, A+, Network+, Routers, Hard Drives, Laptops, MCSE
It’s a whole “crowd” of names, acronyms and tools all put together into one puzzle. If someone wanted to know if this person had Peachtree experience, how easy would that be to find? It’s a “puzzle trick” which puts the onus on the reader.
Take a look at this alternative:
Technical Experience
OS: Windows 98, NT, 2002, Linux
Office Software: MS Office, Workflow, Project, Peachtree, Open Office
Internet/Email: Firefox, Lotus Notes
Networking: Active Directory, Routers
Hardware: Hard Drives
Development: C#, C++, ASP.NET
Certifications: MCSE, Network+, A+
Computers: Laptops
Notice how much more easily information is to find under this “org chart.”
Plus, if an employer was most interested in your certifications, you could easily move that line to the top!
4. No “Paragraph-itis” It’s a common resume problem. Instead of writing short, bulleted statements, people want to write “novellas” about their experience.” It’s VERY time consuming and most employers don’t read their way through.
See the following example:
Working with the ACCUGUESS Global Vice President and the ACCUGUESS South America Coordinator of Finance to develop and implement a business controllership plan encompassing business and financial controls, business and control focused financial reporting and analysis, process and systems development and improvement, and productivity initiatives. Leads all controls activities for ACCUGUESS South America $245 Million business. The role works with all functions and across all ACCUGUESS South America regions to improve strengthen internal controls in support of Moogle-Zorch requirementsments and in compliance with Mootleson, Ambrose and Florb policies and procedures. Responsible for driving financial/accounting process improvements to advance controllership, drive productivity and eliminate rework and manual efforts. Identify control issues, assess risk, and implement solutions by working in a teaming relationship with ACCUGUESS management, as well as ACS management. Direct accounting staff to ensure financial controllership responsibilities and processes are compliant, and consistent with Mootleson, Ambrose and Florb policy, applicable laws and regulations. Assist/Direct regional controllers by improving core processes, reducing complexity and increasing accountability. Monitor and improve internal control processes, support Four Sigma initiatives and provide financial process support. Interface with internal and external auditors. Provide guidance to management on appropriate tax, legal and accounting treatment in all regions. Work with the ACS Controller and ACCUGUESS Global Controller to provide central point of contact for ACCUGUESS regional controllers for review of application of technical accounting for transactions in the areas of restructuring and repositioning, asset impairment reviews including Asset Retirement Obligations, revenue recognition matters, purchase accounting, divestiture accounting, investment accounting, foreign exchange and other areas as warranted. Establish ACCUGUESS South America policies and practices consistent with ACS and Corporate policies. Perform Balance Sheet reviews. Coach and develop staff for growth opportunities. Work with a team of individuals located in geographically diverse locations. Support the integration of acquisitions including working with ACS Controller to review all ACCUGUESS purchase accounting related issues. Responsible for ACCUGUESS repositioning process. This includes working with regional controllers and operations staff to ensure appropriate documentation is created to propose potential restructuring projects. Ownership over Restructuring (Repositioning) support website and ongoing monitoring of reserves recorded.
It’s quite long, isn’t it? Hard to find out what’s important when there are no breaks of any kind. So, let’s try creating 6-8 bulleted items, trim a bit and see how this looks:
• Working with the ACCUGUESS Global Vice President and the ACCUGUESS South America Coordinator of Finance to develop and implement a business controllership plan encompassing business and financial controls, business and control focused financial reporting and analysis, process and systems development and improvement, and productivity initiatives.
• Leads all controls activities for ACCUGUESS South America $245 Million business. The role works with all functions and across all ACCUGUESS South America regions to improve strengthen internal controls in support of Moogle-Zorch requirementsments and in compliance with Mootleson, Ambrose and Florb policies and procedures.
• Responsible for driving financial/accounting process improvements to advance controllership, drive productivity and eliminate rework and manual efforts. accountability. Monitor and improve internal control processes, support Four Sigma initiatives and provide financial process support. Interface with internal and external auditors.
• Provide guidance to management on appropriate tax, legal and accounting treatment in all regions. Work with the ACS Controller and ACCUGUESS Global Controller to provide central point of contact for ACCUGUESS regional controllers.
• Establish ACCUGUESS South America policies and practices consistent with ACS and Corporate policies. Perform Balance Sheet reviews. Coach and develop staff for growth opportunities.
• Responsible for ACCUGUESS repositioning process. This includes working with regional controllers and operations staff to ensure appropriate documentation is created to propose potential restructuring projects. Ownership over Restructuring (Repositioning) support website and ongoing monitoring of reserves recorded.
Much easier to read, isn’t it? Keeping the bullets to 3 sentences or less makes the statement that this is “short and important.” Remember, you don’t have to tell EVERYTHING – include what’s IMPORTANT and edit out the rest!
5. Gimmick Free – There are some things that simply aren’t needed on a resume, but folks put them there anyway.
• “References Available Upon Request”
NOTE: It’s REDUNDANT, as no one puts “No References Are EVER Available” on a resume.
• Personal Information.
NOTE: No one can ask you your age, religion, marital status, etc. So, put NO SUCH information on your resume. I’ve seen resumes where people have put birthdate, name of spouse and kids and wedding dates – and I’m not making that up!
• Junk Phrases such as “Hard Working, Team Player, Well Organized, Dedicated….”
NOTE: Those are “Junk Phrases” because they are YOUR opinion. Only through your references could someone perhaps find out about your best qualities. It’s very hollow boasting and means NOTHING. More importantly, employers have seen these types of phrases and wording so much on a resume that they don’t take them seriously.
Sometimes, it’s what you DON’T have in your resume that matters more. And by avoiding these “readability” traps and following our suggestions, you have a better chance to have a resume that’s reader friendly and easy to navigate.
Remember that every time you make things easier for an employer, you give yourself a better chance.
So, why not?
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