On a Resume EVERYTHING Counts

I've been helping a lot of people with resumes of late, and one thing that is critical to remember is that everything counts.  I'm seeing resumes with such avoidable mistakes like no white space (meaning simply too packed with type) or dates that aren't aligned so as you look down the page they waver from position to position.  You must focus on both content and appearance in order for your resume to land you the interview.

What do I mean by everything?  EVERYTHING!

• Language - make it strong, concise and action-oriented
• Key Words - it's important to build key words into your profile, those terms or skills listed as requirements in the job description
• Alignment - be consistent; the dates should be aligned as you look down the resume
• Spelling - needless to say it should be perfect.  Use spell check and proof the resume by reading each word out loud.  Remember if you meant to type your and instead typed only you, it's a typo!
• Grammar - pay particular attention to tense, all past jobs should be in past tense and a current position is written in present tense unless you're referencing a one time project that you've completed.
• White Space - a crowded resume is too hard to read so it often goes into the circular file, either electronically or literally.  Leave a blank line between jobs and sections.  Use a 1 inch margin on all sides.  It you need more space, steal it from the top and bottom of the page rather than the sides.
• Type size and font - either 10 or 11 point type is good for a resume.  9 point type can look crowded and send people running for their reading glasses.  12 point type can often seem too large and imply that you're trying to make the resume look longer.  Avoid using multiple fonts.  Pick on and use italics and bold for emphasis rather than switching to another typeface.  Just like Goldilocks, you have to figure out which font and size is 'just right.'
• Graphics - keep it simple;  be selective about which words or phrases you choose to highlight in bold,  the same goes for italics.  Use UPPER case type to delineate different sections.  I like to see the functional title in your profile in bold.  It's an easy way for the reader to get a sense of what you're looking for and where you'd best fit in.

A resume is generally a 'leave behind' at a network meeting, and while it should be perfect, you've already connected in person to seek advice and tell your stories, so the resume isn't the lead.  When it comes to applying for jobs, today's resume is key to getting your foot in the door and there's simply no room for mistakes.

So, take the time to work on your resume to make sure it's showcasing the best you.  And just when you think it's done, remember to customize your resume and cover letter for each position to which you apply.  Don't worry, this isn't a major overhaul, just tweak your resume to make sure it includes the language from the job description and you should have a stellar resume every time!