A Few Thoughts On Resumes
We are in the process of hiring an administrative assistant. We have received over 200 resumes in the last week. Here are a few thoughts from an employer's perspective after reviewing such a large number.
Cover letter. I think a resume should always include a cover letter. It should be short, to the point and well written. The cover letter is also the best place to address why you are leaving your current position - relocating, looking for a change in field, etc. This is also the place to bring up something unique about yourself that will make you memorable. The cover letter should fit on a single page.
The cover letter should show you respect the potential employer's time. One cover letter I received opened with a statement about how the writer knew that you will probably get only 30 seconds of the employer's time to review your resume. The letter, then went on for four long paragraphs - which would take several minutes to read. At a time when employers are receiving large numbers of resumes, showing that you can be concise and to the point will be viewed favorably.
Resume. Keep it short. I was always taught that a resume should fit on 1 page if possible. Some people apparently feel that multiple pages are better, because most of the resumes I have received are more than one page even though the applicant has a relatively brief employment history and minimal education beyond high school.
Objective. I personally do not care for objectives. Obviously, if you are applying for a position as an administrative assistant - that ought to be your objective. While objectives rarely help much, they can damage your chances if the objective is inconsistent with the position. If you are going to use an objective, keep it brief and to the point. No more than 2 lines.
Summary. I do not care for most summaries. If you keep your resume to one page, you do not need it. Additionally, most summaries I have seen tend to be a string of self-laudatory statements. Rather than claiming that you are a good writer and have great attention to detail, show the prospective employer with a brief, well written cover letter and resume without typographical errors.
Employment history. Put month and year. When someone puts only years it raises the concern that they did not last long. 2007-2008 may mean Dec. 2007 - January 2008. Very short employment stints, unless you were in school or they were temporary employment are a BIG negative for most employers. Why did the person leave? Were they fired? Are they going to bail on me the first time they get bored with the job?
With respect to the work done at employers, merely state what you did and emphasize any awards, recognitions or promotions. "Accurately filled out reports" does not add much - 1) because most people do not admit that they did not do so accurately, and 2) that is what you were hired to do. Show that you added more to your employer than simply doing your job.
A few other thoughts. If there is a reason you were at a position for a short time, explain briefly. Employer A, Feb. 2007 - Jan. 2008. (Accounting department was consolidated in Miami office).
You may also want to have a good explanation for looking for a job if you are in your current position for a short period of time. If you just got your current job in November, why are you looking again in January. This screams "I won't be with you long".
Finally, when you can, do research on the company. If you are called in by a prospective employer for an interview, look at their website and know as much as you can about the company. Nothing says you care like the first question being "so what do you do?" If you show that you are proactive, it goes a long way.
As a follow-up. We hired a person to fill the position yesterday. She got the job. Not only was she well qualified, but she actually showed up at the firm, dropped off her resume and asked who should could speak to about the job. Wow a proactive employee who will research the needed information and will get the job done. I am sure there were numerous other candiates with equally impressive resumes. However, I can stop looking because the employee I needed came to me.
Cover letter. I think a resume should always include a cover letter. It should be short, to the point and well written. The cover letter is also the best place to address why you are leaving your current position - relocating, looking for a change in field, etc. This is also the place to bring up something unique about yourself that will make you memorable. The cover letter should fit on a single page.
The cover letter should show you respect the potential employer's time. One cover letter I received opened with a statement about how the writer knew that you will probably get only 30 seconds of the employer's time to review your resume. The letter, then went on for four long paragraphs - which would take several minutes to read. At a time when employers are receiving large numbers of resumes, showing that you can be concise and to the point will be viewed favorably.
Resume. Keep it short. I was always taught that a resume should fit on 1 page if possible. Some people apparently feel that multiple pages are better, because most of the resumes I have received are more than one page even though the applicant has a relatively brief employment history and minimal education beyond high school.
Objective. I personally do not care for objectives. Obviously, if you are applying for a position as an administrative assistant - that ought to be your objective. While objectives rarely help much, they can damage your chances if the objective is inconsistent with the position. If you are going to use an objective, keep it brief and to the point. No more than 2 lines.
Summary. I do not care for most summaries. If you keep your resume to one page, you do not need it. Additionally, most summaries I have seen tend to be a string of self-laudatory statements. Rather than claiming that you are a good writer and have great attention to detail, show the prospective employer with a brief, well written cover letter and resume without typographical errors.
Employment history. Put month and year. When someone puts only years it raises the concern that they did not last long. 2007-2008 may mean Dec. 2007 - January 2008. Very short employment stints, unless you were in school or they were temporary employment are a BIG negative for most employers. Why did the person leave? Were they fired? Are they going to bail on me the first time they get bored with the job?
With respect to the work done at employers, merely state what you did and emphasize any awards, recognitions or promotions. "Accurately filled out reports" does not add much - 1) because most people do not admit that they did not do so accurately, and 2) that is what you were hired to do. Show that you added more to your employer than simply doing your job.
A few other thoughts. If there is a reason you were at a position for a short time, explain briefly. Employer A, Feb. 2007 - Jan. 2008. (Accounting department was consolidated in Miami office).
You may also want to have a good explanation for looking for a job if you are in your current position for a short period of time. If you just got your current job in November, why are you looking again in January. This screams "I won't be with you long".
Finally, when you can, do research on the company. If you are called in by a prospective employer for an interview, look at their website and know as much as you can about the company. Nothing says you care like the first question being "so what do you do?" If you show that you are proactive, it goes a long way.
As a follow-up. We hired a person to fill the position yesterday. She got the job. Not only was she well qualified, but she actually showed up at the firm, dropped off her resume and asked who should could speak to about the job. Wow a proactive employee who will research the needed information and will get the job done. I am sure there were numerous other candiates with equally impressive resumes. However, I can stop looking because the employee I needed came to me.
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