1. Address Their Needs. Adjust If Necessary.
Spend some time with the job descriptions, and ensure your listed skills and experience relate specifically, and as directly as possible, to the posted responsibilities and qualifications. This means you'll be changing your resume, at least slightly, for each position you apply for. And that's a good thing - and the beauty of the electronic age is that it doesn't take a lot of time to do
2. Proof It, Please.
Seriously. And more than once. And ask a friend. Or your mother. Nothing makes you look more amateur than the incorrect form of "your."
3. Be Formal, Sir.
Even in an email, be sure to use proper business letter form and a subject line with the position name included. We know, we know - electrionic formality is somewhat foreign to our generation, but in this case, err on the side of it, okay.
4. Break It Down.
Responsibilities and accomplishments are two different things. In structuring your resume, allow a separate space for each. For example, let's say you're listing a print journalism job:
Reporter, Rural Minnesota Register
July 2007-July 2009
Responsibilities
Cover city council and school board activities
Accomplishments
Honored with Minnesota Newspaper Association Investigative Reporting Award for the story, "Parks & Rec Director Fired for Not Using Pooper-Scooper in Whiteside Park"
5. Sweat The Details.
Be as specific as you can in listing your responsibilities and accomplishments. What are you proud of? What things can you measure? If you work for an ad agency and helped a client grow market share, talk about what your contribution was, and throw the numbers in, too.
6. Don't Get Too Fancy.
Unless you're a graphic designer, of course. Use a familiar, readable font, and be aware of size, spacing and other aesthetics. When submitting digitally, use a black-and-white version.
You never know how things will translate in cyberspace.
7. Forget These Rules.
Do NOT try to keep it to one page. Especially when you've been working in the field for a few years. It just isn't gonna happen. You've got experience, and you need to share it. Do, however, keep it to a maximum of three. And don't worry about including the "references available upon request." Duh. Of course you'll provide references if asked for them. Saying so is a waste of space.
Next, on to the interview!
