Resume Facts and Fallacies: Part 2

Do You Know the Truth?

Copyright 2003-2010 G. A. Puleo

In the first part of this 2-part series, we discussed five basic beliefs about how resumes are viewed by an employer.  In Part 2, it's time to test your knowledge about the nuts and bolts of resume writing. 

So which of the following beliefs are facts...or fallacies? 

Take This Quiz

1. The order of information on the resume is very important. 
   
2. The best resumes list education followed by experience. 
   
3. Never delete work experience from a resume. 
   
4. Using different highlights (e.g., bulletes, arrows, etc.) creates interest and excitement. 
   
5. Always proofread your resume at least twice. 

Answers

1. Fact.  Resumes are scanned by a recruiter or hiring manager a maximum of 30 seconds to determine if the job candidate possesses the job's qualifications.  Most scan resumes from the top to bottom of the page.  Therefore, prominently list your achievements, strongest selling points and your potential benefit to an employer near the top of your resume.  Strive to keep a smooth flow of information between sections. 
   
2. Fallacy.  The order of information presented on a resume is determined by your unique talents, background and experience.  Following a rigid or pre-designed layout rarely presents a job candidate in the best light.  Organize your information in a way that will most effectively market your skills to not only the duties and responsibilities of the job, but also the employer's unique corporate culture.  
3. Fallacy.  As you progress in your career, earlier work experiences decrease in value to prospective employers and may even detract from the image that you are seeking to convey in your resume.  To avoid the appearance of long periods of unemployment when deleting prior experience, condense these experiences into one brief section; eventually, you may be able to further condense them into one sentence. 
   
4. Fallacy.  Just because you have the capability to use different highlights does not mean that you should display them all at once.  In fact, too much variation can move the recruiter's attention to your design elements, rather than your credentials.  Use one highlighter consistently. 
   
5. Fact.  Typos are not tolerated by recruiters.  Misspellings and grammatical errors present an image of disinterest and poor attention to detail.  However, familiarity can cause you to overlook these mistakes.  Put your resume aside and review it 24 hours later.  Better yet, ask a friend (especially someone who is a good writer) to proofread and give you his or her impression. 

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