Fishers Young Professionals Group Education

Resume Tips
 
As a human resources professional, Cici Hendrix from the Town of Fishers is often asked to review resumes for family and friends.  And as someone who screens resumes frequently, she have seen a wide variety of great resumes and some pretty bad mistakes.  Below are some tips for making your resume get past the first cut. 

1. When applying for jobs, meticulously follow the instructions for application as provided by the hiring company.  If the company wants an applicant to fill out the on-line application only, then do so.  Consider taking a resume with you if you’re contacted for an interview.  If deciding whether to send a resume electronically or mailing a hard copy, send it electronically and do not then follow it up with a hard copy as this may cause duplicate entries and confusion.
2. Don’t get hung up on the format and design of your resume unless you are applying for a job that requires creativity and a background in layout and design.  Formatting your resume in a logical, clean style is generally all that is necessary.  Keeping the resume to no more than two pages is also preferred. Consider saving your resume as a PDF file in order to preserve the look and layout for your resume, however, since opening a file in a different software version can be frustrating as well as change the look of your resume. 
3. Do focus on spelling and grammar.  The resume is the company’s first impression of you.  You have plenty of time to proofread and double check it for accuracy.  If a resume is full of spelling and grammatical errors, it often communicates a lack of attention to detail and carelessness.  And if a candidate’s resume looks unprofessional, a prospective employer would then assume that the candidate’s work will also look unprofessional.  In today’s economy with so many applicants competing for few job openings, a recruiter may use these errors as a way to conduct the first screening of resumes.
4. Contact information should include name, permanent home address and phone number.  If you have an e-mail address consider including it as well.  However, an e-mail address like lusciousone@aol.com is not appropriate to list on a resume.  E-mail addresses are usually free to sign up for, so choose one that doesn’t have unprofessional or inappropriate connotations for job hunting purposes only, if necessary.  Do not offer your current employer’s e-mail address as a contact point.  If you have included several ways to be contacted, then indicate in your cover letter your preference for being contacted.   Do not fax your resume to a prospective employer by using your current employer’s cover sheet.   Hiring companies prefer candidates who do their job hunting activities on their personal time using their personal resources.
5. If you are a recent college graduate, consider listing your education first on the resume and then any work experience after the education section.  Including achievements at places of employment are important.  Vague references to work experience are not helpful; however, listing quantified achievements are important.  Statements such as, “reduced worker’s compensation claims by 10% from the previous year by offering more training and introducing additional safety measures” are more clear and impressive than “created a safer work environment”.   
6. Do consider listing outside activities such as, “Member of Rotary Club”.  This demonstrates an interest in serving the community and others.
7. Do list honors, recognition and training, unless they are over 10 or more years old.
8. Do include a customize cover letter and articulate why you believe you’d be a good fit for the advertised position.  Reference specific duties or requirements listed in the job posting in your cover letter and then explain how your experience or abilities fit.
9. If you are looking for jobs in another geographical area, explain in your cover letter what is motivating you to move and what your timeline would be for moving to the new location.  Oftentimes companies need to fill positions fast and if there’s a concern that a candidate could not relocate quickly, their resume may be put to the side.
10. Do not include your social security number, age, ethnic background, marital status, music preference (yes, an applicant included that in his cover letter to me once), height, weight, political party affiliation, or church affiliation.  Generally hobbies are not considered to be appropriate either. 
11. Finally, a word about contacting the hiring company.  If you have submitted a resume or application and you are truly concerned that the appropriate personnel have not received it, you may consider following up by e-mail or phone to confirm receipt.  Do contact the hiring company if you are no longer interested in pursuing the job for which you applied.  Do not call the hiring company multiple times during the screening process.  Do call the hiring company if you have been interviewed and you are now considering another offer from another company to notify them of your change in status.

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