| 1. Be CompleteMake sure that your resume | | | | collaborative culture within the team and |
| includes EVERYTHING your prospective employer | | | | redesigning the customer acquisition |
| would need to know to be able to offer you an | | | | process.Now, if I needed to make a decision |
| interview.It is NOT unheard of for your | | | | on which of these resumes would be worthy of |
| carefully-crafted cover letter to be | | | | an interview, guess which one I would |
| separated from your CV - if your contact | | | | choose...5. Be ClearMake your resume as clear |
| details were only on your cover letter, how | | | | as you can in five ways:---> Font: Use an |
| will they get in touch to arrange the | | | | easily-readable font. Verdana is a classic, |
| interview?Therefore, make sure that your CV | | | | is easily readable and is easy on the eye. |
| includes AT LEAST the following | | | | Other favourites are Times New Roman or |
| information:---> Full contact details---> The | | | | Georgia. Try to stick to one, or at most two |
| position you are applying for or are | | | | font sizes (nothing less than 8 point and |
| interested in---> Employment history---> | | | | ideally nothing less than 10 point), and do |
| Personal and professional achievements---> | | | | not over-style your text. Italics, bold and |
| Academic and professional qualifications---> | | | | underlined words on the same page look |
| If not included elsewhere, evidence of your | | | | clumsy.---> Format: Make the format of your |
| key strengths that will make you an | | | | resume as easy to follow as possible, and |
| irresistible candidate!And while we're at it, | | | | consider using horizontal rules across the |
| functional resumes are a big NO-NO!! As a | | | | page to separate sections.---> Language: |
| professional recruiter, when I see a | | | | Ensure that the description of your |
| functional resume, I think "What is this guy | | | | experiences and accomplishments is as clear |
| (or gal) hiding?". It's like smelling fresh | | | | as possible. Test them with your friends. |
| paint on an old car. Just stick with a | | | | Ask them whether it is possible to make the |
| chronological resume ALL THE TIME and paint | | | | descriptions clearer or more concise.---> |
| any inconsistencies (e.g., career breaks) in | | | | Consistency: Make sure that you are |
| as good a light as possible. This will | | | | consistent in every way - this significantly |
| ALWAYS be better than trying to hide it in | | | | increases readability. For instance, use a |
| the first place!2. Be RelevantSeasoned | | | | consistent date format throughout. If your |
| recruiters are AMAZED by the number of | | | | first position is listed in the order of |
| applicants who have clearly not tailored | | | | [date, company, position, achievements] then |
| their resume to the job they are applying | | | | make sure they are ALL listed like that. |
| for.Make sure that you put yourself in THEIR | | | | When listing your achievements, make sure |
| shoes. Think about what they are looking for | | | | that they all start with a verb. And make |
| in your resume.If, for instance, you are | | | | sure that font sizes and styles are |
| applying as a job as an office manager and | | | | consistent for similar words - for instance |
| your experience is in telesales, make sure | | | | if your previous employers' names is in bold, |
| that you emphasise your team leadership and | | | | then they all should be.---> Spelling and |
| time management skills.If, however, you were | | | | Grammar: Use your word-processor's spelling |
| applying for a sales job, then clearly focus | | | | and grammar checking facility. A spelling or |
| on your ability to get leads, convert leads | | | | grammatical error in a resume is quite simply |
| into sales, and sell more products to | | | | inexcusable and could be enough ON ITS OWN to |
| existing customers. | | | | send your resume to the bin. Once you've |
| | | | checked it on the computer, check it with |
| In short, every time you mention something | | | | someone who you trust to pick up any last |
| you've accomplished in your CV, make sure it | | | | gremlins in the grammar.6. Be BriefIdeally, a |
| will strengthen your case for being given an | | | | resume should be just one page, although if |
| interview.If it doesn't, CHANGE it or DELETE | | | | you are applying for a job in which the |
| it!!3. Be RecentAs well as being relevant, | | | | assessor will need significantly greater |
| make sure that your resume content is | | | | detail on your past accomplishments, then the |
| RECENT.If you are a seasoned manager applying | | | | resume can spread to two pages. |
| for the position of CEO in a large company, | | | | |
| is your experience managing your university's | | | | Though remember, this is the exception and |
| theatre company particularly convincing?On | | | | not the rule!!Wrap UpSo, now you have a |
| the other hand, if you are a recent graduate, | | | | winning resume guide! Go back to your old |
| that could be exactly the right thing to put | | | | resume and check it against the six easy |
| on your resume as it will demonstrate that | | | | steps in the winning resume guide, and make |
| you have some management experience. Just | | | | sure your phone is on the hook for when those |
| make sure that you back it up with specific | | | | recruiters call!Jonathan Lewis is the founder |
| accomplishments in the role!!4. Be SpecificBe | | | | and CEO of Careerfriend, a company committed |
| as specific as you can on how YOUR | | | | to helping people succeed in their dream |
| performance served the company you were | | | | careers. His extensive experience of |
| working for.As an illustration, consider | | | | attracting, recruiting, retaining and |
| these four descriptions of an applicant's | | | | developing exceptional people in management |
| experience managing a sales function:---> | | | | consulting and investment banking allows him |
| Responsible for 50 people in XYZ Corp's sales | | | | to offer clear, actionable advice which has a |
| department.---> Managed 50 colleagues in XYZ | | | | great impact on people either looking for new |
| Corp's sales department to increase sales by | | | | jobs or looking to succeed further in their |
| 100% over 4 years.---> Led 50 colleagues in | | | | existing jobs.The Careerfriend website ( |
| XYZ Corp's sales department to increase XYZ's | | | | contains free career advice articles to help |
| share of the widget market from 15% to 20% | | | | people succeed in securing dream careers, |
| over 4 years.---> Led XYZ Corp's 50 strong | | | | from career and employer selection, through |
| sales team to increase XYZ Corp's share of | | | | resume and cover letter writing, to |
| the widget market by radically overhauling | | | | interviewing, salary negotiation and ongoing |
| the compensation structure, fostering a more | | | | career development. |