What Employers Look For In A Resume

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Tailor your resume to the job & the employer
It's tempting to tell a perspective employer every great thing you've ever done, from your grade school paper route, to your college GPA, but nobody wants to read more than they have to. Include only education and work experience that is relevant to the job you're seeking, and keep your resume under two pages.

Summarize jobs in the same field
Not all jobs that you include on your resume should get the full treatment. If it's a job that isn't relevant to the position you're applying for, or a job that you held only for a small period of time (maybe a contract assignment), or the tasks are similar and in the same industry, you can save time by summarizing. For example, say you're going to make reference to your experience as a waiter. Since waiting tables is basically the same the world over, stick to key points — were you a headwaiter, bus boy, etc.? — then mention the time frame in which you worked for these restaurants.

Look out for gaps in employment
Gaps in employment should be explained in the cover letter, if necessary. If the gaps are long, think about what you did with the time. You may have been out of work, but you probably did something that added a skill, or maybe you did some community service. If you took a leave for personal reasons, explain that, but be sure not to go into great detail or be apologetic. You might not feel great about the gaps in your employment history, but your resume and cover letter shouldn't reflect a poor attitude.

Don't look like a job jumper
You don't need to include everything on your resume, so if you find yourself looking like a job jumper, take a hard look at all of your headings. Perhaps there's some overlap and you can combine two headings into one and simply mention both employers. Or, perhaps the job was too short to warrant mentioning at all. If your resume still makes you seem like a jumper, be sure to explain your history and emphasize your interest in a long-term position.

Include websites of your (former) employers
This will demonstrate your professionalism, and it's also a nice way to make the recruiter's life easier if he wishes to research the company. If you're e-mailing your resume, make sure the website is hyperlinked.

Provide specific examples of accomplishments
Don't let your accomplishments speak for themselves; give them life where you can. If you were a manager, say how many people you managed. If you were in sales, provide numbers on your best year.

Highlight relevant skills
Skills are important, but it's the relevant skills that count. Being able to use MS Word is mandatory nowadays, so employers won't think it impressive. If you're applying for a job in an industry that uses specific software, and you know how to use it, say so.

Mention language skills
Knowing a foreign language will never hurt you. If you're applying for a job that requires or prefers knowledge of a foreign language, put that front and center. If it's not required for the job, mention it anyway, but don't waste your best space on it.

Show what's relevant and make sure its got style...


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