Resume Writing Tips

[Perry Winkle]

If someone wants a document in MS Word format, I also send it in PDF, just in case they have a different version of Word.

Another bonus is that PDF opens way faster than a Word document, if you're not using Adobe Reader.

Grad school is over in three months... about time to polish my resume and start sending it out again... bah...

[Kingswood]

Spelling is important in your résumé. Even in the modern world there are still people out there who will bin a résumé that doesn't have the acute accents on both e's. Spelling is still used as a measurement of general level of education by many even though such a measurement is not usually accurate. You could have ten years of education and experience, but some employers won't even let you in the door for a first interview if you spell "separate" with three e's.

If your spelling is not top-notch, do not rely on a spelling checker, either for the résumé itself or the covering letter. Many spelling checkers are not able to tell if a word is used correctly, thus they will let through incorrectly-spelt words that happen to match the spelling of another word. For example, spelling checkers cannot distinguish which of "weather", "whether" and "wether" is the right word to use in a particular sentence. Spelling checkers are also limited by the contents of their dictionary and may not recognise some technical terms even if they are spelt correctly.

I suggest that you have someone else who is a good speller proof-read your résumé and covering letter for spelling, grammar and punctuation.

In IT, a sound grasp of spelling is important if you are writing applications that are sold to the general public, or are writing library functions that are going to be used by others. It is less important for system administration, although it helps to have a dictionary on hand if you need to write a Message of the Day or emailed memo.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by Kingswood

For example, spelling checkers cannot distinguish which of "weather", "whether" and "wether" is the right word to use in a particular sentence.

Crikey me! A sterling example of how the Cellar educates me.
I had to look wether up on dictionary.com.
I now know the correct word for a castrated ram. Thank you.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Crikey me! A sterling example of how the Cellar educates me.
I had to look wether up on dictionary.com.
I now know the correct word for a castrated ram. Thank you.

Did you for a moment imagine that we would steer you wrong? Bull!

[Flint]

Shit. Cover letter?

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Kingswood

Spelling is important in your résumé. Even in the modern world there are still people out there who will bin a résumé that doesn't have the acute accents on both e's. Spelling is still used as a measurement of general level of education by many even though such a measurement is not usually accurate. You could have ten years of education and experience, but some employers won't even let you in the door for a first interview if you spell "separate" with three e's.

If your spelling is not top-notch, do not rely on a spelling checker, either for the résumé itself or the covering letter. Many spelling checkers are not able to tell if a word is used correctly, thus they will let through incorrectly-spelt words that happen to match the spelling of another word. For example, spelling checkers cannot distinguish which of "weather", "whether" and "wether" is the right word to use in a particular sentence. Spelling checkers are also limited by the contents of their dictionary and may not recognise some technical terms even if they are spelt correctly.

I suggest that you have someone else who is a good speller proof-read your résumé and covering letter for spelling, grammar and punctuation.

In IT, a sound grasp of spelling is important if you are writing applications that are sold to the general public, or are writing library functions that are going to be used by others. It is less important for system administration, although it helps to have a dictionary on hand if you need to write a Message of the Day or emailed memo.

A good post, but he mistakenly underemphasizes one section. He says, "suggest" when the right word is "insist". Having a different set of eyes read this material, including the cover letter, is **compulsory**.

Omit this step at your peril.

[Kingswood]

Originally Posted by BigV

A good post, but he mistakenly underemphasizes one section. He says, "suggest" when the right word is "insist".

I would have written "insist" if I was a Cellar regular with half a gazillion posts, rather than an infrequent visitor who visits occasionally.

On re-reading it splashed over half a screen in humongous red letters, I realise that I should have omitted the superfluous clause and simply stated without any qualification: "Have someone else who is a good speller proof-read your résumé and covering letter for spelling, grammar and punctuation."

See? It is good advice to have someone else read something you've written. Even if everything is just spiffy as far as spelling, grammar and punctuation are concerned, there may nevertheless be something not quite right about the writing itself that you may not notice but that someone else can mention.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by Kingswood

I would have written "insist" if I was a Cellar regular with half a gazillion posts, rather than an infrequent visitor who visits occasionally.

On re-reading it splashed over half a screen in humongous red letters, I realise that I should have omitted the superfluous clause and simply stated without any qualification: "Have someone else who is a good speller proof-read your résumé and covering letter for spelling, grammar and punctuation."

See? It is good advice to have someone else read something you've written. Even if everything is just spiffy as far as spelling, grammar and punctuation are concerned, there may nevertheless be something not quite right about the writing itself that you may not notice but that someone else can mention.

bold mine

If I WERE a Cellar regular...subjunctive mood.

Just messin'...

[Kingswood]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

bold mine

If I WERE a Cellar regular...subjunctive mood.

Just messin'...

It's one reason why I like "talk like a pirate day". You can just use "be" instead of the inflected forms of the verb in all sentences. Avast! It be less messin' around.