What Does Your Resume Say About You?

I admire those who sincerely try to create their own resume. I only urge those who have tried and are unable to do so, seek the help of a professional writer. But, keep in mind they don't work for free, so you should be prepared to pay a fee. Fees vary between writers. Nonetheless, you should be satisfied with the end product with a certain level of free edits. In the end your resume should have a professional look to it. The biggest opportunity I see with job candidates is f...ormatting issues and failing to show their true value. Daily tasks are listed instead of achievements or accomplishments. Employers already know what tasks the position holds. What you need to show is how you stand out from the rest, why they should choose you instead of the next person. Many people (especially those with long work histories) find it hard to "big" themselves up or show how valuable they are as an employee and hurt themselves in the end. That's why we're here to help! If that's you, seek the advice of a professional to get yourself started. You'll be glad you did! Free critiques available and don't forget to visit our Facebook page "The Run-Away Resume".

The Run-Away Résumé: Formatting is Key!

The Run-Away Résumé: Formatting is Key!

Formatting is Key!

In my previous post I talked about tweeking your résumé and making sure it fits the job you are applying for. Many people say they have several résumés on hand. This is just not necessary unless you are applying for jobs that are all over the map for you! However, if you are applying for jobs that are within your skill set, you need only to tweek the one you have. You can't be a jack of all trades and master of none.

The problem you may be having is your format. I've learned from taking résumé classes that formatting is key! If you don't think so just take a look at your own résumé and quickly glance over it. Does it appeal to you? Is it visually pleasing to the eye? Is is organized? Can you find the information you are looking for quickly without searching the entire document? Is there enough white space? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then I would consider changing your format.

Here are a few tips for you:

• Your name should be in big bold letters at the top of your résumé. But, not so big it takes over the document. 
• Make sure your contact information is current, and your email address is a conservative one.
• Get rid of the "objective statement".
• Separate your categories by using "borderlines", not "underlines" but don't get too fancy.
• Bullets keep your document information organized and makes it easy to read and follow. Be careful not to overuse them.
• Your margins should be the same all around. Most people use 1" but I have used as low as 8.5" in some résumés but not less than that. Thin margins mean you have too much information in your document.
• Remember your résumé is a "highlight" of your career, not every single thing you did. Leave the rest for the job interview. You only want to get their attention so they call you into a job interview.

Another way to spark their attention is to put your best upfront, not at the end. I have learned this technique as well and it ALWAYS worked. Most people scatter their best throughout the document, I put the best upfront, by using a separate category for your strong skills or including it within the career summary, depending on what the job requirements are. This way it makes good use of the reader's time. If they like what they see and read quickly that's a win-win for you!

Lastly your font should also be conservative. Some examples are Times New Roman, Calibri, and Ariel. You want to be careful with this one because using a fancy font may not be available on another party's computer. Bolding important information adds to your format as well. I tend to bold my categories and make them a larger font than the information below them. I also sometimes bold the first few words in the experience paragraphs if they carry impact. Use words that carry impact. Meaning instead of saying "detail-oriented" you can say "acute attention to detail" instead. Doesn't that carry more impact? 

In my nest post I will talk more about searching for words or phrases that carry impact, instead of the usual phrases most candidates use. As always if you need your résumé critique, just send me an email at fairjoann@hotmail.com/

The Run-Away Résumé: Do You Ever Tweek Your Résumé?

The Run-Away Résumé: Do You Ever Tweek Your Résumé?

Do You Ever Tweek Your Résumé?

Whenever you are applying for jobs, do you tweek your résumé accordingly? Most people download the same résumé over and over again for every job they apply for. That is really a bad mistake on their part. And, they wonder why they are not called in for a job interview!

Every job description lists what the requirements are in order to fill the position. Some list "desired" or "preferred" and "required" skills. The "required" skills are the most important and the "desired / preferred" skills are gravy. Usually the first few items listed in the job description are the ones that hold the most impact and are the most important. Most HR professionals list "required skills" in the order of importance, listing the most important ones first on the list. Meaning, you must have these skill sets in order to be considered. That's why it's so important to read and understand the job description thoroughly. When you don't you're wasting everybody's time including yours.

Once you have read and understood the job description, you MUST make sure your résumé can speak to those points listed in the "required" section, hence the reason why you need to tweek your résumé accordingly. Showing your value upfront where it counts when speaking to those "required" skill sets is a smart idea. This way the reader can see within those 8-10 seconds we talked about previously, you are a "fit" for the position. That's why you get called into an interview. Your value is found quickly and easily saving time and money. Don't assume the reader is willing to search your entire résumé to see if you fit. Especially if your résumé is not reader-friendly or pleasing to the eye so the information they are looking for is found within a short period of time.

Got a job you are applying for? Then, take a look at the "required" skills and the "desired / preferred" skills if they are listed. Then, take a look at your résumé to see if you have addressed those specific skills that are listed in the job description. Now, I don't mean just listing you have those skills so that your résumé is caught by their ATS (Applicant Tracking System). You must prove you have these skills as well as showing the value you can bring to the workplace. If you just merely list them, the reader WILL look for the evidence in your work history. It should be balanced.

Don't take your résumé lightly. This is a serious matter. It's the difference between you becoming gainfully employed or not. The competition is fierce out there! And, that's why your résumé has to be on point. Tweek your résumé for every position you apply for to make sure your skills match up to those that are MOST important to the employer. And, that means reading and understanding what's required and what is not.

The Run-Away Résumé: It's Time You Started Writing Your Own Résumé!

The Run-Away Résumé: It's Time You Started Writing Your Own Résumé!

It's Time You Started Writing Your Own Résumé!

The world of résumé writing is a hot button these days. And, there are many, many articles on the Internet that give you advice on how to write one. Some are helpful, and some are not. Many people will tell you they are good at writing a résumé, when they are really not. A good reason for you to just do it for yourself.

Your résumé should clearly and quickly communicate the value you can bring to an organization. It must be easy to read, it must look good, and it must be filled with action verbs that carry the most impact. You should talk about those things the employer is looking for. Write your résumé as if you were the hiring employer. Would you hire you?

Most people can write their own résumé if they put a little thought to it. But, there are some rules you should follow. Unfortunately, this is most likely how an employer will get to know you. First impressions are lasting, so you want to make it good.  So let's get started!

Before we begin here is a résumé checklist:

Margins should be the same size. Most people use one inch all around but if you must use less don’t go below eight and a half inches.

Always use a font that is conservative, fancy won’t get it. Some examples of font types are; Calibri, Ariel, and Times New Roman. These fonts are very common and they are on most computers.

Using a combination font size is good, twelve inch and fourteen inch or twelve inch and eleven inch, you'll see why later on.

Check your spelling, punctuation and grammar. They have to be perfect! There is no room for error when it comes to this.  Your sentences/phrases should start with a capital letter.  Sounds silly but I have seen otherwise.

Remove that Objective Statement. Objective Statements are outdated and no longer used. Employers feel they are useless and that space can be used for something else more valuable.

The best way to write your résumé is by using a format that shows your value. It must be accomplishments / achievements driven. We call this a “value-based” résumé. That’s the format professional writers use. And, that’s the type talked about on this blog.




One of the biggest mistakes that job candidates make is to write their résumés listing only job responsibilities and the daily tasks they do. The problem is, their value is missing and nothing separates them from the next job candidate. Everybody sounds the same! What makes you unique or different from the next job candidate? That’s what you want to include in your résumé, not the daily tasks you do.

The purpose of your résumé is to get you a job interview. You may have heard from other sources that you have about 8-10 seconds to draw the reader in? Well, that has some truth to it. And, that’s why you should put the best at the top! Time is of the essence and you want to spark the reader’s interest within those 8-10 seconds. Why leave the best for last? They may never get there, and you can’t take that chance. Don’t assume the person that picks up your résumé is going to read it entirely. Most of the time they won’t and that’s why you didn’t get called into an interview. In my next post we are going to talk about formatting your résumé in such a way that your value shines through.

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