Items To Consider In Resume Preparation

The Purpose Of Your Resume Is...
... to convince the hiring official that your skills will be of value to the company. Write your resume with their perspective in mind. In other words, why should they hire you? What innovations or improvements have you achieved during your current or former employment that will benefit a future employer? It is critical to briefly and clearly outline any ways in which you have made a positive impact in such areas as process or safety improvements, production increases, cost savings, new product development, etc. Give them a good reason to hire you!!

Suggested Resume Format

YOUR NAME
Your Home Address
City, State Zip
Home Telephone
(Work Telephone optional)

Objective:
Brief statement of general career goals and directions (with emphasis on short-term goals).
Do not list specific titles as this will limit your options.

Education:
High School Grad? List degrees if applicable.
Date of graduation
School attended; location
GPA (only if above 3.0)

Professional Affiliations:
Include those activities that show responsibility (i.e., offices held) or career development in your area.
You may also want to include outside activities. Avoid references to political or religious organizations.

Professional Experience:

Brief description of company's business. Continue with your personal duties/responsibilities in this position. You may also want to list your accomplishments (i.e., money the company saved through your efforts; new/successful programs you may have implemented, new customers developed, more profitable customers, sales volume increase etc.)

(Same as above)

Personal:
Marital status, number of children, health status, height and weight. (This information is optional).

References:
Will be furnished upon request.

(Note: One or two page resumes are most effective!)

"EMPLOYERS ARE CATCHING ON TO POTENTIAL HIRES WHO LIE ON RESUMES"

Reprinted from Cox News Service - 12/1/00

If you've ever thought about lying on your resume, here's a word of advice: Don't.

A survey on reference checking from the Society of Human Resource Management shows many job applicants who lie on resumes are getting caught. Human resource professionals reported uncovered lies in these categories:

Length of employment, 53%; Past salaries, 51%; Criminal records, 45%; Former job tales, 44%; Former employers, 35%; Driving records, 33%; College degrees, 30%; Credit, 24%; Schools attended, 22%; Social Security number, 14%

The moral of this survey's story is hiring managers and their supporting staffs aren't just taking a job applicant's resume at face value.

"The person who's preparing a resume for an interview needs to realize that their resumes are being looked at more carefully than ever before," advises Gail Geary, President of Geary Communications, a human resources and consulting firm based in Sandy Springs that helps companies sniff out inconsistencies and potential trouble spots in resumes.

These days, in addition to traditional reference checking, companies are using new software applications to screen resumes for inconsistencies, Geary says. "The screening process is more sophisticated, and the job hunter needs to know that when they are applying," she says. Geary acknowledges not everyone who is at risk is a bald-faced liar. But even exaggerations can spell trouble if detected by a hiring manager, Geary notes.

When it comes to unpleasant admissions, gaps in work history, lack of formal education, what should you do to save face? "There are a lot of ways you can make yourself look good without lying," Geary says. "Emphasize your strengths."

Additionally, Geary offers these suggestions:

DON'T GO IT ALONE - "The savvy applicant actually shouldn't just do a resume without having a professional who understands the resume and can go through it with them," Geary says. "They can get some good books or hire an executive coach to go through it with them. When you have someone to go over it with you, you won't have the accidental errors."

DON'T FILL HOLES WITH LIES - "If you're missing a credential, build your own professional credibility to getting the credential that you need," Geary says.

Do you feel you're being screened out by not having a college degree?
"To be a student enrolled in one course in your area, that looks like you're moving ahead," Geary says, so note that on your resume or list appropriate continuing education courses. In the interview, you can explain. "There are certain ways you can put things without lying," she says. "No, I don't have a degree, but I have a lot of experience in that field, and I'm currently enrolled in classes to get more experience."

DON'T LIE ABOUT YOUR AGE - "If you're an older employee with a long employment history, you might want to describe yourself in a cover letter as very energetic and future-oriented," says Geary. If you're fresh out of college, and lack formal work history, highlight any related experiences from your college activities, she adds.

DON'T BE CAUGHT UNPREPARED FOR THE PROBING QUESTIONS - "There are some great books out there on tough interview questions," Geary says.