Follow new resume-format rules to create compelling document

Dear Sam: I have read several of your columns and am intrigued with your ability to improve a resume. I was recently informed that, after 12 years with my current company, my position will be eliminated in January. I have not updated a resume or interviewed during that time, so your thoughts on how to modernize a resume are of great interest. You have mentioned several times that the resumes you receive are often outdated in format. Could you share what a current resume format looks like? I want to try to get this correct the first time and get back into the workforce. — Paul

Dear Paul: Thank you for your readership. I am happy to share more about the structure of a best-practices-based resume, and I am sorry to hear of your impending layoff. First, determine in what direction you want to take your career, as this plays a vital role in what direction you should take your resume. Without that having that key target in mind, you will not know where to aim your resume and its content. Next, start writing down the basics. Hiring managers will want to know about the last 10 to 15 years of your career, so focus on your most recent roles. Think about your jobs not only in terms of what you did every day, but also (and most importantly) what you did that added value to the company. If you have access to past job descriptions, performance reviews, letters of recommendation or anything else that will help jog your memory, now is the time to use those resources. Start talking to current and past co-workers, not only to build your job-search network, but also to reach out to those who may have very valuable information on what you did that added value to your employer. Once you have the basics drafted, carefully craft the content and design of your resume, being sure to not fall victim to the often-committed resume faux pas. Your resume should be structured as follows:

Heading

Include your name, mobile-phone number and personal email address. We often omit street addresses these days and just list the city and state of residence. Be sure your email address does not contain numbers that look like birth years, and avoid using what could be seen as an “older” carrier (sorry AOL and Hotmail).

Qualifications summary

Up-to-date resumes open with a qualifications summary, which serves as an executive overview of the information contained in the rest of the resume. As an experienced professional, you should have a two-page resume, making a good qualifications summary critical to the four- to seven-second screening process. Take the time to make sure this summary markets you well, conveying why a hiring manager cannot afford to skip bringing you in for an interview.

Professional experience

When reviewing your career, remember that hiring managers are most interested in what you have done recently and, of course, what most relates to their needs. Focus on the past 10 to 15 years of your career, particularly if you are applying for a position that does not necessitate more experience. Structure your content to focus on your accomplishments versus your responsibilities, because many of your competitors will also list similar roles with identical job descriptions. Your accomplishments and key contributions are what are unique about your candidacy.

Education

Present your college degree (if you have one), and never include your high school diploma unless you are pursuing a blue-collar job. It will be assumed that you graduated from high school, so if you do not have a college degree, including a high school diploma only highlights the lack of a college education.

Value-added information

End your resume with any other value-added details such as affiliations, certifications, training, volunteer work and anything else that brings credence to your professional candidacy. Check out professional resume-writing websites like my own to find examples of attractive formatting, and create your own look — one that doesn’t look like an overused Word template available to the masses. The look of your resume says a lot about your candidacy, your attention to detail and your ability to create an engaging document. — Samantha Nolan is a certified professional resume writer and the owner of Ladybug Design, a full-service resume-writing firm. Email resume or job-search questions to dearsam@ arkansasonline.com. To find out more about Nolan, visit www.ladybug-design.com.