Tales from the Resume Reef: Roll Credits, Logically

I'm one of those folks who is often still sitting at the end of a movie eager to see the final credits. In the quick scene by the waterfall, was the actor with the gun who I thought it was? Was the song that followed the big argument the one I thought David Bowie originally recorded? Where DID they film it?

Maybe you do the same thing.

At the movie's end, we see lists of ALL participants. It's niftily broken up into categories, too. Special Effects folks don't appear in the music credits, nor does the list of costumers show up in the list of actors and characters that usually starts the whole thing. That could be confusing.

Even more confusing? A title such as "People Who Were Involved in Making this Film" and nothing more than a list of all the names in no specific order. No titles or credits.

Who'd want to stay for that? How could anyone follow a random list and make sense of it?

Instead, the credits are "rolled logically."

So, the question then, is why do some folks put their "credits" in their resumes in a random "see if you can figure out where THIS is" fashion? I've seen a lot of this in technical resumes, but not just there. Of course, you need to have "keywords" that speak of your skills, accomplishments and abilities. However, bunching them together in no particular order does you no favors; it just confuses the reader.

If the person reading your resume can't follow it, he or she will miss things or simply skip over them. It's not hard to avoid this, though!

Organize and divide - quite simple!

Not this:
Technical Skills
Java, Javascript, Open Office , HTML, MS Access, Unix, Photoshop, MS Word, Dreamweaver, Windows Vista

This:
Technical Skills
Web: HTML, Java, Javascript, Dreamweaver
OS: Unix, Windows Vista
Graphics: Photoshop
Office Tools: Open Office, MS Access, MS Word

Not this:
Accomplishments/Skills
Outside Sales, Marketing via Flyers, Staff Development, Web Design, 300% Increase in Billings from 2003-2007, Appointment Setting, Workshops, President's Club Member 2003-2007, Opened New Office in 2005, Achieved 150% of quota 2006, 2007.

This:
Accomplishment/Skills
Sales: Outside Sales, 250% Increase in Billings from 2003-2006, Achieved 150% of quota 2006, 2007, President's Club Member 2003-2007
Marketing: Flyers, Web Design
Staff/Leadership: Staff Development, Opened New Office in 2005

Notice how in EACH case, the 2nd "version" of each is easier to read. Each is divided into categories that are simple and easy to follow.

And that's the point. If your "credits" are easy for the reader to get through, it's more likely he/she will see more clearly the best that you have to offer. What you then have is logical, simple and "reader friendly."

Help your resume give you the credit you are due! By organizing your skills and accomplishments, rather than bunching them together, you stand a much better chance of keeping your audience's attention.