Resume Writing Tips
Resume Tips, Suggestions, and Common Mistakes

As a recruiter, I’ve seen hundreds of thousands of resumes in my time. As a result, I’ve witnessed just about everything that a person can do wrong with their resume. I know what works and what doesn’t work. The purpose of this article is to enlighten ASM readers as to some of the more common mistakes that are made, as well as provide tips and suggestions for ensuring resume success. The first area I want to address is the resume objective. Then I’ll move into other suggestions and address common mistakes.

Crafting your resume ‘objective’
Most employers find that a carefully worded statement of purpose will help them quickly evaluate your suitability for a given position. An objective statement can be particularly useful as a quick-screen device when viewed by the manager responsible for staffing several different types of positions. (“Let’s see, programmers in this pile, plant managers in that pile. . .”)

While a stated objective gives you the advantage of targeting your employment goals, it can also work against you. A hiring manager lacking in imagination or who’s hard pressed for time will often overlook a resume with an objective that doesn’t conform to the exact specifications of a position opening. That means that if your objective reads “Vice President position with a progressive, growth-oriented company,” you may limit your options and not be considered for the job of regional manager for a struggling company in a mature market—a job you may enjoy.

If you’re pretty sure of the exact position you want in the field or industry you’re interested in, then state it in your objective. Otherwise, broaden your objective or leave it off the resume.

Other Tips and Suggestions
A resume is like a woman’s skirt. It should be short enough to attract attention, but long enough to cover your rear. The trick is finding the right balance. You can achieve this through a process of trial and error. It’s unlikely you’ll get it right the first time, so don’t be discouraged.

Make sure that the resume is proofread. And not just by you, either. Get everybody you can to read it over for spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage mistakes. Spell checking is not for nerds, it’s for the gainfully employed.
Include the proper contact information. I have seen resumes with a name and address, but no telephone number. How did the applicant believe the employer was going to contact them to set up an interview? Through snail mail? A home telephone number is a must. An email address alone is not enough.

Common Mistakes
Don’t put references on your resume. Instead, have them prepared on a separate sheet of paper. On the resume, write, “References available upon request.”
Don’t include your cell phone number. If you absolutely must put your cell phone number on your resume, make sure that you indicate that it’s your cell number.
Don’t put your resume online. The last thing you want is for your current employer to see your resume floating around in cyberspace. It’s not conducive to a comfortable working atmosphere. If you’re unemployed, however, that’s another story. Click away.

(At EmploymentTools.com, we strive to provide expert career and employment advice, as well as links for purchasing products and services from high-quality vendors within the employment industry.  The article below was contributed by Don Hunter, executive recruiter and writer for The Animal Science Monitor newsletter. You can visit Don’s website at www.BayResourceGroup.com, or you can send him an email at Don@BayResourceGroup.com.  If you would like to have an article published on EmploymentTools.com, please email the article to Matt@EmploymentTools.com.  All articles published on the site will be given proper attribution.  However, please note that EmploymentTools.com reserves the right to edit articles prior to publication.)