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Resume WorkShop -- Resume Content Is King

Author: Mark Baber

We'll now take a good look at how to build the heading, job objectives, summary of qualifications, and work history sections of a résumé.

It really goes without saying that it's vital to build a résumé heading that gives all the necessary contact information:

Legal name
Address
Including Street number and name
Apartment designation, if that's appropriate
City, state and zip code - include zip + 4 if you are able, as it facilitates faster mail delivery, and also indicates to your reader that you are thorough and detail oriented
Home phone
Cell phone, if applicable
Fax number, if you have one
Office number, if you can reasonably expect a certain degree of privacy
Email address

Avoid personal email addresses that carry inside jokes or strange and unusual nicknames. It's easy to understand that someone would hesitate to email you about a substantial management position if your email address contains nicknames like "daddy's little girl" or "Alabama horny toad" at domination lounge dot com. Take advantage of any of the many sources of free email addresses and establish one email account that you use for personal business communications. Keep the address simple, as in jsmith at geo dot com.

On the subject of a Job Objectives section under the heading at the top of the résumé, the experts we polled were mixed in their reactions. Half the experts, lead by Peter Newfield at Career Résumés dot Com, advocated that, unless you are completely changing industries, or you have graduated from a degree program within the last couple of years, an Objective statement is inappropriate, and a waste of the reader's time. The other half of the experts, lead by Susan Ireland of Susan Ireland dot com, firmly maintain that the Objective statement is in fact helpful to the reader, as it immediately informs several of a prospective employer's expectations:

What position you are looking for
To whom this document should be directed, in the event it will be read first by a gatekeeper
What level of responsibility you are seeking
The perspective from which to interpret all the information on the resume
What we believe is most effective is a virtual compromise between the two opinions: including a descriptive job title underneath your name in the heading, which will convey the same information

Geraldine Smith
Senior Marketing Vice President
Josiah Bartlett
8 Year Veteran, Presidency of the United States

In order to inspire the interest necessary to generate an invitation for a job interview, all the experts urged jobseekers to create a summary of qualifications that makes the résumé stand out from the crowd. The Summary of Qualifications lists, Internet Keyword style, the features (such as skillsets, experience, outstanding achievements) you most want the hiring authority to see immediately. The Summary of Qualifications goes immediately below the heading of the résumé, or just following the statement of your objective, should you decide to include one.

As to the Professional Experience section of the résumé, design a work history listing that shows off your experience:

List the company name and location (city, state)
List the dates of your employment, including month and year
Prominently display your job title

Instead of a description of your job duties, or at least in addition to them, include key accomplishments you achieved in that position The accomplishments you include need to be quantifiable and verifiable Include any relevant awards received while in the position in question Finish out your reverse chronology with and Education and Training section. When referencing your college and university studies, list the name of the school, city and state, the degree, and the field of study in which it was earned. Unless you've earned your degree recently, say in the last three years, it is considered superfluous to include your graduation date. Also list any certifications, specialized training, technical or industry training that you've completed in this section as well.

Finally, in this digital age, most experts recommend a section entitled Computer Skills. Be sure to list the standard suites of office software with which you are proficient, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Netscape, etc. Also include any specialized software packages with which you are familiar, as they may well be in demand from industry to industry:

Macromedia Dream Weaver
Adobe Photoshop
Quark Express
Auto CAD

That about does it for the necessary content on your résumé. According to the experts, do not list your references, do not include personal information (such as your social security number or marital status), don't even put a picture of yourself. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point.

Good Luck With Your Job Search

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