THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

Your résumé should not be a boring list of job duties and responsibilities. Demonstrate how you made a difference to the company you worked for. When highlighting your achievements, make sure you mention the following points: how you performed the job better than the others. What were the problems or challenges faced by you? How did you overcome them? What were the results? Did you receive any awards, special recognition or promotion as a result?

Good read

Try to retain the interest of those who will read your résumé. Statements such as “a challenging position enabled me to contribute to organisational goals” are overused and waste valuable space. If you’re on a career track, replace the objective with a tagline stating what you do or your expertise.

Perfect fit

Many people try to squeeze their experiences into one page, because they are under the impression that résumés shouldn’t be longer. There is no rule about appropriate résumé length. When writing your résumé, ask yourself, “Will this statement help me land an interview?” Every word should help in selling you, so include only the information that elicits an “yes”.

Short and smart

A résumé is a form of business communication, so it should be concise and written in a telegraphic style. There should be no mention of “I” or “me”.

Point taken

Many people write about their hobbies, but they should include only those relating to the job. For example, if a candidate is applying for a position as a ski instructor, he should list cross-country skiing as a hobby. Personal information, such as date of birth, marital status, height and weight, normally should not be on the résumé unless you’re in the entertainment business.

Combo offer

It irks hiring managers not to see the career progression and impact you made in each position. Unless you have an emergency situation, such as virtually no work history, avoid the functional format. The modified chronological format, or combination résumé, is often the most effective. Here’s the basic layout: Header (name, address, e-mail address, phone number). Lead with a strong profile section detailing the scope of your experience and areas of proficiency. Reverse chronological employment history emphasising achievements over the past 10 to 15 years. Education (new graduates may put this at the top).

Watch out

This is one of the greatest tools of a jobseeker. Candidates who have done their homework will know the skills and competencies required for the job. To create a high-impact summary statement, check out job openings to determine what’s important to employers.

Words’ worth

With so many companies using technology to store résumés, a jobseeker has to use relevant keywords to catch the attention of his prospective employer. Determine keywords by reading job descriptions that interest you, and include the words you see repeatedly in your resume.