|
|
Resumes normally get less than a 15-second glance at the first
screening. If someone has asked you to review his resume and you want to help
him ensure it gets read -- or want to know if your own is up to par -- be sure
you can answer yes to the following questions:
First Impression
-
Does the resume look original and not based on a template?
-
Is the resume inviting to read, with clear sections and
ample white space?
-
Does the design look professional rather than like a
simple typing job?
-
Is a qualifications summary included so the reader
immediately knows the applicant's value proposition?
-
Is the length and overall appearance of the resume
appropriate given the career level and objective?
Appearance
-
Does the resume provide a visually pleasing, polished
presentation?
-
Is the font appropriate for the career level and industry?
-
Are there design elements such as bullets, bolding and
lines to guide readers' eyes through the document and highlight important
content?
-
Is there a good balance between text and white space?
-
Are margins even on all sides?
-
Are design elements like spacing and font size used
consistently throughout the document?
-
If the resume is longer than a page, does the second page
contain a heading? Is the page break formatted correctly?
Resume Sections
-
Are all resume sections clearly labeled?
-
Are sections placed in the best order to highlight the
applicant's strongest credentials?
-
Is the work history listed in reverse chronological order
(most recent job first)?
Career Goal
-
Is the career objective included toward the top of the
resume in a headline, objective or qualifications summary?
-
Is the resume targeted to a specific career goal and not
trying to be a one-size-fits-all document?
-
If this is a resume for career change, is the current
objective clearly stated, along with supporting details showing how past
experience is relevant to the new goal?
Accomplishments
-
Does the resume include a solid listing of career
accomplishments?
-
Are accomplishments quantified by using numbers,
percentages, dollar amounts or other concrete measures of success?
-
Do accomplishment statements begin with strong, varied
action verbs?
-
Are accomplishments separated from responsibilities?
Relevance
-
Is the information relevant to hiring managers' needs?
-
Does the resume's content support the career goal?
-
Is the resume keyword-rich, packed with appropriate
buzzwords and industry acronyms?
-
Is applicable additional information, such as awards and
affiliations, included, while personal information like marital status, age
and nationality unrelated to the job target omitted?
Writing Style
-
Is the resume written in an implied first-person voice
with personal pronouns, such as I, me and my, avoided?
-
Is the content flow logical and easy to understand?
-
Is the resume as perfect as possible, with no careless
typos or spelling, grammar or syntax errors?
|
|
