Resume Format and Layout

This is something that we cover frequently but Iresume and listing the professional jobs that you
find more people wish to discuss it than I wouldhave had - we can spice things up by leading way
think. Resumes....let's focus, are the keys to thewith a professional reference with the job. Take
opportunities - THEY DO NOT GET YOU JOBS. Ifor example the following:
take a look at most resumes and truly wonderUnited Hospital, St Louis MO, Aug 2002 -Present
what people are attempting to put together. Is itSnr Systems Admin
for look, is it for their own personal praise session,Now normally under here we would give a brief
what? Resumes are to entice interest by theof the hospital and what your responsibilities were.
person reading them. They are to dive quickly intoHowever at the end or maybe even leading off,
the differences between you and everyone else,we can place a brief reference showing the level
letting decision makers know how badly theyof work performed. "John performed at a level
need you and why. The art of the resume hasthat allowed United to become the leading MS
been lost, and the writing of it has become soenvironment in our hospital system. His vision and
common place that most resumes are given atechnical expertise are invaluable, making him an
poor review by the management reviewing them.integral part of our IT environment/staff * " Now
Want to know why - because professionals havemost people are used to seeing references in a
stopped taking the career search processseparate document - but this gives a brief
seriously, and sling pieces of paper out therehighlight into what they think about you and then
(resume) seeing what will stick. Sad state ofyou provided a bookmark to the full version.
affairs.They can check the * at the bottom of the page
So how do we write a resume that creates ato see what the manager said in full. What do you
bubble of glee within the professional reading it?think the person reading this is going to do? They
Well that is simple - write it from the heart. Asare going to browse to the bottom of the page,
someone that reads resumes daily, I am alwayssee the full version and continue reading. You
most intrigued by two things. One, the details thathave captured the audience interest, making them
match well to the skill set I am looking for. Two,want to see why this person has said these
the writing of someone that took the time to spillthings about you. Once this is completed, the
their guts, letting someone know who they werecome back to your bullet points which highlight
vs. what they did at a job. Impact -how theyour impact on the environment, thus making
effected the professional environment they werethem place you in the short stack or possibly the
in. What makes them different than every otheronly resume that is worth calling. You have thus
jo-shmow that does the same job. These are themade yourself different.
things to write about and what make people wantResume format is not universal. The purpose is
to read your resume further. They draw theuniversal but how to get to that end point is all up
audience in, making them read an extra sentenceto you. I find that too many people follow a
and that extra word. All of which concludes in thetemplate and it is simply boring. So when reading
ultimate purpose which is to get them to pick upthe resume, think about the audience - what the
the phone and call you.person will want to see and what makes them
We have spoken on objectives before, and if youwant to read more. Why would you want to read
need a refresher, please take a look at the post Imore if you were sitting in their chair? Also, think
wrote back in July covering the matter. The keyabout the specific job that you are applying for.
here is after you have driven the person intoThis helps dramatically in your resume writing as
wanting to learn more about you, how do youthe audience is more defined and you understand
get them to pick up and phone and call you. Mostthe responsibilities of the job you are considering.
importantly, stop writing the resume likeSending a general resume is like all cars having to
everyone else. I am beginning to see more anddrive on the same size tire. On most cars it
more that people that make themselves standsimply does not work. So tune your resume to
are quicker to get the interview than thethe application and make yourself pop with
standard written resume. So lets see how tospecific pieces that say who you are.
make it pop. When laying out the format of the