Notes of a resume writer

management, you can afford to be a little more creative in your formatting. As your resume stands, the formatting does not engage the reader, and the brevity of content does not support the level of employment in which you are interested. Consider using a two-column resume with keywords noted down the left side — leaving less space for your experiences — creating a much fuller look to your resume.

heAding

Include an email address on your resume. Email is often the preferred method of contact in a job search, so it is imperative that you include that information.

QuAlificAtions summAry This is the major pitfall of your resume. You must open your resume with a Qualifications Summary that showcases what you can offer an employer based on your past experiences, achievements and areas of expertise. You cannot expect the hiring manager to make a best guess as to what you want to do.

With only seven to 10 seconds to engage the reader during the screening process, it is imperative that you tell readers why they should hire you.

Develop this section after you have written the Professional Experience section, treating it like the opening to an essay or executive summary. It should contain all the details you can’t afford the hiring manager not to know.

ProfessionAl

Include only years of employment in order to minimize the appearance of gaps or frequent job hops. Quantify experiences to add interest to your resume, focusing more on accomplishments versus daily responsibilities.

Typically, resumes include about 10 years of experience unless prior experiences enhance your candidacy.

The next major pitfall is that your resume is severely lacking in content, with no focus on achievements. Present your daily responsibilities in a succinct manner, but focus more on where you have gone above and beyond in your career.

educAtion

You are no longer a recent graduate, so this section should be relocated to the end of your resume. Let your career sell your candidacy along with where you have contributed value to an organization.

I question the section at the end of your resume, which if listed in chronological order, would actually appear in different places in the Professional Experience section. If these were all internships, instead list them within the education section, so it doesn’t appear as if you held nine positions in the past 10 years.

I hope this critique helps get you started in making the appropriate additions and improvements to your resume. Samantha Nolan is a certified professional resume writer and owner of Ladybug Design, a full-service resume-writing firm. Do you have a question for Dear Sam? Reach her at dearsam@ladybug-design.com or 614-570-3442, or visit ladybug-design.com.