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Rock Steady · 10-19-2005, 11:18 PM

There are a lot of great suggestions from everyone. It is important to add structure for readers to visually skim, but then drill down for more details when they want. One advertising maxim is "long copy sells". And one career book said this applies to resumes as long as they are structured for skimming.

"Omit needless words" says Strunk and White in support of some posters suggestions. One editor said to me once, look for things that are overstated and tone them down, and look for things that are understated and play them up.

I disagree with some specific suggestions although I agree with most of what was said by everyone.

Over 10 years ago I agreed with a mass produced resume and a custom cover letter. I now believe that cover letters are tossed before the hiring manager sees them. The HR depts are overloaded and often handle things sloppily. I now edit a custom resume for each job that I apply. My cover letters are minimalistic.

Organize your bullet items into responsiblities, accomplishments, skills. But, don't limit them to any number (eg, 4). List as many things in each list as you can.

Repeat information liberally. Use words and phrases in your skills list, then repeat them in your specific job accomplishments. I am dead serious. I am a Search Engineer that implemented a resume analysis software system used by a firm with Fortune 1000 client companies. Other popular systems use similar techniques as I used. Your resume will score better if you repeat industry buzzwords.

Also, a sales guy once told me that for someone to remember something you have to tell them the same thing three times. So, as it is for linguistic software, repeating yourself in different places helps the human reader to figure out what's important in the text.

These days I always bring several copies of Word formatted resume printed on nice paper with me to job interviews. Many HR people take your nice resume and send it in plain text via email to hiring managers and interviewers. People have been thankful to me for giving them something reasonable to read instead of the sloppy email printout they bring to the interview.

Break a leg, girlfriend.

10-19-2005, 11:18 PM	#10
Rock Steady Day Tripper Join Date: May 2005 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 784	There are a lot of great suggestions from everyone. It is important to add structure for readers to visually skim, but then drill down for more details when they want. One advertising maxim is "long copy sells". And one career book said this applies to resumes as long as they are structured for skimming. "Omit needless words" says Strunk and White in support of some posters suggestions. One editor said to me once, look for things that are overstated and tone them down, and look for things that are understated and play them up. I disagree with some specific suggestions although I agree with most of what was said by everyone. Over 10 years ago I agreed with a mass produced resume and a custom cover letter. I now believe that cover letters are tossed before the hiring manager sees them. The HR depts are overloaded and often handle things sloppily. I now edit a custom resume for each job that I apply. My cover letters are minimalistic. Organize your bullet items into responsiblities, accomplishments, skills. But, don't limit them to any number (eg, 4). List as many things in each list as you can. Repeat information liberally. Use words and phrases in your skills list, then repeat them in your specific job accomplishments. I am dead serious. I am a Search Engineer that implemented a resume analysis software system used by a firm with Fortune 1000 client companies. Other popular systems use similar techniques as I used. Your resume will score better if you repeat industry buzzwords. Also, a sales guy once told me that for someone to remember something you have to tell them the same thing three times. So, as it is for linguistic software, repeating yourself in different places helps the human reader to figure out what's important in the text. These days I always bring several copies of Word formatted resume printed on nice paper with me to job interviews. Many HR people take your nice resume and send it in plain text via email to hiring managers and interviewers. People have been thankful to me for giving them something reasonable to read instead of the sloppy email printout they bring to the interview. Break a leg, girlfriend. __________________