Ugh, one of the worst tasks in the world has to be writing your resume.  Can anyone honestly say they actually LIKE doing this?  Right.  I didn’t think so.  Unfortunately, knowing how to do it well is a necessity, especially in these days of frequent layoffs.  If you’re in midlife, it may have been a while since you’ve had to write up this marketing piece ‘selling’ yourself.  

Thankfully, Sue Cullen, a wonderful career and leadership coach, fills us in on resume dos and don’ts so you can be ‘up’ on what it takes these days to write a winning resume!  

Because the process of writing a resume can seem so daunting, it’s easy to be lulled into thinking the hard part of the job search is over when you complete the process.  Post that beautiful life summary on the internet and get it into enough hands and – voila – the perfect job will magically appear!  

Wrong!

The resume itself will never land someone a job; but a well-crafted and targeted resume can help to interest a potential employer enough to invite a candidate in the door.  The resume should accurately reflect the candidate as a unique individual in the best possible light.  View the resume as a potential marketing tool.  Period.  

As you work your way through the resume writing process, try to steer away from these common resume blunders:

• Don’t be too vague – The resume is an opportunity to focus on past accomplishments, not just responsibilities.  Would you rather hire someone who was “responsible for a sales territory of three states” or who “increased sales by 58% in a three-state region”?  Stress not just what you did, but how you did it.  That’s what will make you unique and stand out above the other candidates.

• Don’t include references or even the phrases “References will be furnished upon request” – Why take up the space?  Potential employers who want to check references will ask for them.  Use the limited space on the resume to market what skills and experience you have to offer.

• Don’t lie or exaggerate – This should be common sense; but we continue to hear stories of national figures getting fired because they lied about their education, degrees or experience.  

• Don’t include incorrect/incomplete dates or gaps in dates – I once reviewed a resume where the individual had listed her past jobs with the dates written as “June 1998 – ish!”  Please do your homework!

• Don’t misspell or confuse words – Who wants to hire someone who is “a perfictionist”, “a rabid typist” or “suspected to graduate in June 2009”?

• Don’t use the pronouns “I” or “me” – The resume is not an autobiography; it’s a business communication tool.  Change any statement beginning with “I “to a ‘bullet” beginning with the strongest verb possible.  For example, “I designed a new product…..” should be changed to “Designed a new product which increased productivity……”

• Don’t dwell on the past – Yes, because of its nature, the resume will be written in past tense.  But as you write about your past experience, remember what kind of job and company you are targeting in the future.  Include and focus on transferable skills that the potential employer needs and you want to offer.

• Don’t be too wordy – Ironically enough, the biggest competition for any resume is not really other resumes.  Its junk mail and e-mail!  The potential employer has to find enough time in their cluttered day to review the resume.  Make the resume as easy as possible for the screener to skim and quickly see how you can meet their needs!

• Don’t assume that one size fits all – It is very likely that your skills can transfer to a variety of potential employers where they will fit.  Instead of designing one resume that will be set in stone, consider modifying the resume to highlight the most relevant experience and target the needs of specific employers.  

• When you do send out a resume, don’t forget to follow up when possible.  – If you send the resume with a cover letter, it’s always a good idea to mention in the letter that you will be following up within a specified period of time if you don’t hear from them first.  Then put it on your calendar.  And do it.  

• Don’t use resumes where they shouldn’t be used – Remember that a resume is designed to help pique interest in a face to face meeting.  Face to face contact is always superior to a piece of paper.  There are many phases of the job search that start out with a face to face meeting and don’t require a resume.