Resume Write & Wrong

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When More is Less

I just received a resume that is four pages long, with an extra list of training schools, to make the total five pages. Sigh. This client left his last job in 2003 and hasn't found a new employer yet. He should be at the top of any number of company candidate lists with a BS and 20 years of award-winning experience. Why isn't he?

Five pages, that's why.

In the 20 seconds most screeners take to look over a resume, they are going to get less out of three, four, or five pages than they will take from the more typical one- or two-page length resume. My client's assets went unrecognized because they were buried in that lengthy document.

How to trim down so much data? First, look at the dates. My client has extensive experience, but jobs held more than 10 years ago should not have detailed descriptions, perhaps, just a bullet or two, describing key accomplishments. Right there, I've cut out a page and a half. And on that page devoted to specialized training, less than half the courses listed were taken in the last 10 years. The rest can go.

Now, I've got about three pages of recent information and I take my handy red pencil to look for repetition. Most people working in the same field for years have had held jobs with the same duties. Do not repeat information from job to job. In fact, leave out job descriptions entirely, if the position responsibilities are routine.

Hmm, my client has not repeated many job responsibilities, but he has repeated certain details. In fact, he has used much more detail than necessary to make a clear statement. Out it goes. Do not repeat words and phrases. Every word should tell the employer something new.

Next, it is time to key in on accomplishments. Never forget, - specific and quantifiable achievements are the best way to show off your unique talents. I have picked out my client's most impressive contributions and - voila! Judicious editing has whittled the resume down to two pages of current achievements.

A resume is not your life history. A resume is not a complete employment history. A resume is a marketing tool, a promotional piece, a sales pitch. It must be brief, yet weighty enough to convey its message (I am the best person for this job!) in a matter of seconds. So, one of the worst things you can do is to hide your resume's light under a bushel of information.

A clear, concise resume (one page, or two) that highlights career achievement, will bring a smile to the lips of the weariest hiring officer.