Recently, after several years at the same desk job, I found myself needing to break out my old resume and do some major editing and revision before distributing it out. After many copies landed in the trash can (and the floor around the trash can) I thought I finally had an average resume. Then after returning home the following day after delivering it to a small handful of hiring companies, my lovely husband pointed out that none of them would be calling me in for interviews anytime soon seeing as I'd left off my phone number and all other contact info.
UGH.
Unless they decided to go door knocking for call backs I was screwed.
So I sat down at my computer once again to rewrite my resume but instead came up with the following:
1. Don't forget your contact information!!!!!
2. Don't misspell words like savvy or your/you're
3. Have a special skills section to list any useful skills for the job
4. Use bullet points or numbering
5. Make it stand out either with the layout, the headings, or simply the smell of the page. I have had friends spritz their resumes with perfume and get hired!!
6. Make the resume job specific -I.e. no special carpentry skills for a nanny gig, no babysitting and cleaning skills listed when applying for an office job, but do list if applying for that job type. etc.
7. Don't say "etc."
8. Include any degrees, licensure, or certifications
9. Include any extra schooling even if no degree was attained
10. No family references! Use wide range of people who know you, close friends only, mentors, old teachers or bosses and make sure they will remember who you are!!!
AND DO NOT FORGET TO START WITH YOUR NAME!!!!
Oh and don't sit your coffee down next to your printed stack of resumes!
