When writing a resume, it is imperative that job seekers bear in mind that the sole purpose of the resume is to secure interviews.  Understanding the resume’s mission, candidates must then confront the task of writing a resume that capitalizes on and balances their strengths and accomplishments against their career objectives.  This undertaking determines not only the content of a resume but also its style or format.

The two most widely accepted styles of resumes are the reverse chronological and the functional.  As its name suggests, the reverse chronological consists of a listing of jobs, with the most current position appearing first and the earliest position, last.  The content of a resume of this nature demands that applicants describe the responsibilities and achievements associated with each position.  When writing a resume in the functional format, the presentation is different.  Alternately known as a skills-based resume, the functional style presents the employer with general skill sets or areas of proficiency.  These are then followed, in most cases, by a listing of the candidates’ employment histories.  In both styles, the resume content should include education or professional training, associations with industry organizations, computer skills, and special abilities, such as fluency in another language.  Within these blog pages, Objective: Resumes provides further information concerning the comparative advantages of these two styles of resume writing.

After determining the optimum format for their particular circumstances, applicants would do well to understand the other key guidelines of writing a resume.  Chief among them are resume keywords.  In flavoring career synopses liberally and accurately with resume keywords, candidates will ensure that their resume content will appeal to potential employers asking, “Why should I hire this person?”  In addition to verbs denoting action and inferring a proactive work ethic (i.e.; “contributed,” “designed,” “coordinated”), resume keywords can appear as terms specific to the target industry, division, or department.  If appropriate, the content of a resume should contain both forms of resume keywords.

In writing a resume, candidates must also consider the length of the resume content.  The old “rule” of one page is not, in actuality, a rule; neither is it necessarily advantageous.  A candidate possessing a brief employment history, such as a recent college graduate or an individual with one or two years of practical experience, can benefit from writing a resume of a single page.  However, job seekers with more detailed employment histories, facing stiffer competition, need to highlight and market their skills to their fullest potential.  In cases such as these, resume writing should be expanded to two pages (or, in some cases, more).  Candidates whose backgrounds are highly technical or scientific in nature, or whose work has been published extensively, often have resumes of three pages or longer.

Appearance of the document is also important.  For ease of reading, the resume content should be presented in bullet form, not paragraphs.  Although a plethora of fonts exists for resume writing, job candidates should avoid elaborate or unusual fonts; resumes should reflect applicant’s acumen and professionalism.  Arial and Times Roman are attractive, “clean,” and widely used fonts.

Adhering to these principles will simplify the resume writing process and deliver an end product considerably more likely to open doors to interviews and ultimately, career advancement.

The prevalence of Managed Care and the trend of integrating smaller medical facilities into larger institutions are but two of the factors contributing, in recent years, to major shifts in the healthcare industry: changes that have created an extremely competitive environment for job seekers.  Confronting increased competition, healthcare practitioners in nursing are challenged to respond with well-crafted resumes for nursing professionals.

In structuring resumes for Registered Nurses (RN’s) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN’s), applicants must provide employers with more than their employment histories and credentials encompassing education, licensure, and, when applicable, certifications.  While many RN’s and LPN’s share the same general responsibilities concerning the assessment, treatment, and education of patients, resumes for nurses must highlight the factors that set candidates apart from their colleagues.  Nursing resumes should therefore include elements such as the type or types of healthcare environments in which the nurses have maneuvered, the patient populations to which they have ministered, and the number of beds in the institution or unit.  Information such as this establishes the overall tone for nurse resumes, indicating the level at which the applicants work and excel.

If possible, nursing resumes also should emphasize tangible accomplishments.  In preparing resumes for nurses, it may be possible to include references to, for example, a specific initiative designed to improve unit efficiency or patient satisfaction.  Although applicants may not have conceived programs or trained others in new policies and procedures, they may have served as integral members of teams charged with implementing new initiatives, in accordance with the institution’s mission and standards of quality.  In “making or breaking” resumes for nursing professionals, this is the type of information that will prompt employers to schedule face-to-face interviews, leading to greater opportunities for employment.

In writing a sales resume, the job hopeful will want to indicate product knowledge, if applicable, as well as presentation skills, aptitude in establishing customer relations, and the ability to close.  Provided the information is accurate, applicants possessing specific achievements and awards will find it advantageous to include such data in a resume for sales.

Performance metrics are of critical value in a well-prepared sales resume.  Depending upon the nature of the candidate’s background and types of organizations targeted, numbers provided may be indicative of gross sales produced, percentage increases, or percentages of objectives achieved.

By incorporating these key elements into a resume for sales, the potential employee can best showcase his/her abilities to hiring authorities facing a myriad of applicants.

For that reason, your resume should be constructed in a way that eliminates mention (if possible), camouflages, or mitigates the impact of such liabilities.  Let us consider some of the major liabilities of prospective job candidates and what might be done to minimize their effects.

1.  Age

If you are a seasoned employee, references to your age, including graduation dates and an employment history that extends beyond fifteen to twenty years, allow the individual reviewing your resume to establish a clear sense of your age (at least to the extent of calculating a minimum age).  While age discrimination is illegal, most employers view more youthful applicants as being more desirable for a variety of reasons.  Don’t give the prospective employer the opportunity to use your age against you.   Provide only enough information about yourself in your resume to interest the prospective employer in you and your qualifications.  Leave the remainder for discussion at the interview.

2.  Current Unemployment

Current unemployment, no matter what the duration, is almost always viewed negatively by a prospective employer – the longer the period of unemployment, the greater the liability to the job candidate.  If you have been unemployed for more than a brief period of time, the potential employer can view your marketability as suspect, making the assumption that companies are unwilling to hire you for whatever reason.  Since most people (employers included) are influenced by the thinking of others, a job candidate unemployed for a prolonged period of time is viewed the same way as a house that has been on the market for an extended period – “there must be a problem.”  Avoid, if possible, putting a terminal date on your most recent employment, or prepare an alternative style resume that does not display so prominently your dates of employment.

3.  Gaps in Employment

If your resume displays significant gaps between previous jobs, then your marketability and potential value come into question.  Either you are taking extended vacations between jobs or are having difficulties in finding new opportunities.  Neither of these scenarios enhances your image as a job candidate.  If you are displaying month and year dates on your resume, you may want to consider eliminating the months and using only the year dates.

4.  Lack of Educational Credentials, Certifications, or Licenses

Depending upon the field you are targeting, you may be required to hold certain credentials.   If you do not possess these qualifications, you prospects for securing an interview for an available opening will be severely hampered.  If, nonetheless, you have done the job before or believe that you are in some other way qualified for the position, prepare a resume in a style that accentuates your experiences and qualifications.  If the issue is lack of a degree, a listing of professional development courses, seminars, and programs that you have completed may bolster your educational credentials.

5.  Lack of Career Progression

Longevity within a company, highlighted by attainment of positions of increasing responsibility, is indicative of focus and drive on the part of the job candidate. Conversely, prolonged existence in a particular position depicts you as non-ambitious and/or ill qualified for promotion.  Often, candidates who have been with an organization for an extended period have, indeed, taken on more responsibility with no corresponding change in job title.  If that is the case, the increases in responsibility need to be incorporated into the resume to provide the prospective employer a more accurate picture of the candidate.

6.  Too Many Employers

Although it is certainly possible that one might have valid reasons for changing jobs rapidly (employers going out of business, etc.), listing a number of employers within a short span of time on your resume is another reason why someone reviewing your resume might discard it, rather than contacting you to setup an interview.  Many employers perceive job-hoppers as individuals lacking the skills or emotional and psychological stability necessary to maintain employment.  If your resume lists a number of short-term employments, consider eliminating some of them.  Even if some gaps remain, the overall impression created by your resume will be more positive.

7.  Incorrect Spelling, Grammar, and/or Punctuation

A single word misspelled on your resume can signify disaster for you.  We once had a client who, in rushing to prepare his own resume, intended to type the word “warehouse”.  The copy he handed to the potential employer actually read “whorehouse!”     Similarly, infractions of grammatical rules and improper punctuation, including capitalization and run-on sentences, can mean the difference between job interviews and a phone that does not ring.  Of all the potential liabilities, this is the easiest to correct.  Make sure you carefully review your resume and any other documents you send to employers.  A perfect resume dramatically enhances your potential for job-hunting success.