Resume Writing - Basic Dos And Don'ts

When you arrive for an interview for a job, one of the most important things to make an impression (apart from your turn out, comportment and confidence) is your Resume. There are certain things that one needs to keep in mind when drafting an ideal resume. Once you have your resume sample in place, you can then make modifications in the form of deletions or additions as per any particular requirement. Submitting that perfect resume therefore becomes easy when you already have a generic resume sample in place that highlights all your qualifications, abilities and experience. There are certain dos and don'ts that it pays to keep in mind when preparing your sample resume. Make it concise: Remember, no one has the time to go thru a meandering and longwinded resume; the average time taken to scan a resume (most people will quickly skim through a resume rather than actually read every word and every line) is about 30 seconds. So, if your resume is concise and to the point, you are better able to convey to the reader all that you want to. This is why old fashioned and conventional styles of prose should be avoided. Instead try and convey what you want to by using the minimum number of words; the quickest way to put across to the reader what you want to convey. Flowery language and long words as well as unnecessary verbiage have no place on your resume, save that for some future project where good language will help you create a good impression. Use requisite technical terminology but avoid unnecessary jargon: You should of course use technical terms and industrial keywords in your resume; it communicates the precise information that you want to get across and also gives the impression that you are fully conversant with technical terminology of your field. Avoid unnecessary use of jargon though; this detracts from the substance of the matter and also seems a bit like showing off, which you should of course, avoid. Buzzwords or current terminology is useful to include because it shows that you are up to date with the advancements made in the particular sphere or space. Also your future employer does not really want to know about what your hobbies and interests are if they are wholly unrelated to the job at hand. However, include those if relevant or connected. If, for instance you are applying for a position with a recoding label, you may want to talk about your hobbies related to music. Proof Read: Check and recheck your resume for spelling errors, grammatical mistakes or errors of syntax. It gives a bad impression if an ill-drafted resume littered with mistakes is presented. It gives the feeling of a negligent and unprofessional attitude. If required, have an experienced and knowledgeable co-worker or friend review your resume for you. It is worthwhile to make the extra effort to create a sample resume which gives an impression of professionalism and efficiency. Remember your resume is like your potted personal history, make it count!