Resume Writing

Career expert John Carvana from the Steinbright Career Development Center provides his take on the basic building blocks of effective resume writing.

Resume writing is fast becoming an exceedingly useful skill in today’s crowded job market. Indeed, hiring managers and recruiters, alike, report that most of the resumes they receive these days are lackluster at best – and they see lots of them.

That’s why a good resume is more than simply a list of jobs and academic credentials. It’s a concise visual snapshot of your professional worth, rather than a lengthy autobiography. Let’s look at the keys to writing a great resume and review some resume writing tips:

Keep it Simple and Easy to Skim

Most recruiters don’t read resumes anymore – they scan them to find a first round of prospective employees, who are worth a second look. So make sure yours is succinctly written, well-organized and error-free, using powerful action verbs, as well as a simple design that’s easy to skim for relevant information.

Choose an Appropriate Format

Select a format that is appropriate to your work experience and history. If you have a short history or significant employment gaps, accentuate your pertinent skills and education. But if you’ve been out there for a while, emphasize and quantify your professional accomplishments, showing how you exceeded expectations.

Leave Out the Personal Information

Because employers typically make their hiring decisions based on qualifications, your resume should never include personal information, such as age, marital status, height, weight, religion and political affiliation. Watch the video above for more resume writing tips!