Tips from the Pros

by Peter Newfield

President, Career Resumes (www.career-resumes.com)

The Five Most Important Things About Writing a Resume

1.   A resume is written to impress, not to inform. Think of it as a marketing tool, not a historical record. Try to keep it to two pages—three if you are a senior executive.

2.   The first page of your resume is valuable real estate—use it for your most impressive information. If you don’t list any accomplishments in your resume, chances are no one will call you.

3.   Visual presentation is as important, if not more important, than content. No one is going to take the time to read a traditional resume that is poorly presented.

4.   No one cares if you are single, married, play the trombone, or enjoy league bowling. Personal information does not belong on a resume. NEVER include age, race, gender, religious affiliation (unless you are a member of the clergy), or blue ribbons for gardening.

5.   Do not include the reasons you left or are leaving your job. NEVER mention “sexual harassment,” “lawsuit,” “workers compensation claim,” or “fired me for no good reason.” Some situations are better explained in person, if at all. Any phrases like the ones above will guarantee your phone will not ring.

Peter Newfield is president of Career Resumes and a managing partner of Your Missing Link (www.yourmissinglink.com). He is the “resume expert” for several leading job sites. He is also a career panelist for the Tribune Papers nationwide and the Times Herald Record in New York.

© 2002. Used with permission of the author.