How do I build an attractive resume?

[JSD]

Alright, here is another example of me utilizing the intelligent people here at celticsblog to enhance my knowledge in life. 

With your help, I want to build a sweet resume. Typically,I google "free resume template" and fill in my info. Now, I feel like that's not going to cut it.

Any suggestions? Those in hiring positions here at CB, what do you look for in a resume? Does anyone have a killer template I can steal?

[indeedproceed]

Im interested in this too.

[JSD]

Im interested in this too.

Well, lets just hope where not alone.

[celticmaestro]

I spent a few days doing mine last year and it's very, very sweet.

I'd say exaggerate everything you did in previous jobs, talk yourself up but not too much and keep it short and sweet preferably one side of A4.

[LB3533]

When I started writing my own resume some 10 years ago, I began by building it chronologically.

Recently, I was told or given advice to not build it that way, instead place your most recent and most important or most standout job at the top and work your way backwards or reverse chronologically down the page.

The theory behind this is that people only care or care more about what you most recently have done and rarely care what you did when you were 16 or 21.

And most people don't want to read a long ass resume.

So I agree with the theory of being short and sweet, quick and concise read.

People want to know what you CAN do and how WELL you can do it.

[ChampKind]

Include relevant project work, including class work, particularly if there's a definite real world connection.  Separate 2-3 major projects where you were successful and describe how they relate to the job you're applying for - albeit subtly.  Keep it short and make sure there's a unifying theme to your entries and plenty of white space, or else you'll appear scattered.

[Chris]

It really depends on the position you are applying for.  I know I look for very different things than other managers might on a resume. 

What type of experience do you have?  Is it mostly entry level stuff/summer jobs, or do you have much professional experience?

I can tell you one of the things that scares employers more than anything else is a resume that looks like someone has jumped from job to job.

I also would say that as important as a resume is, a good, concise cover letter, written specifically for that one position is much more powerful.

[rondo987]

Interesting topic... I'm actually in the process of revising my resume, so I'll add my two cents.

I had an interview with an HR guy from a CPA firm based out of Western Mass. and CT, and he gave me some pointers on how I can make my resume look and sound better.

The first thing he told me was to practice the "So What" test. Go through every peice of information on the resume, and ask yourself from the standpoint of the person reading document, "so what?" If you can't answer that, then it probably shouldn't be on the resume.

Next he told me to make the resume look attractive. By that he meant that while it should be short and to the point, it should also look like you spent a good amount of time on it. Don't leave blank spaces, and elaborate more on the important things that an interviewer would be interested in.

Finally, put the most important things at the top. I know this sounds like an obvious one, but when he was looking at mine he pointed out that I didn't do this. I too followed a format instead of making my own format, which lead me to do this. My problem is that "work experience" was more towards the bottom than it was towards the top.

Hope this helps a little, and good luck.

[Chris]

The first thing he told me was to practice the "So What" test. Go through every peice of information on the resume, and ask yourself from the standpoint of the person reading document, "so what?" If you can't answer that, then it probably shouldn't be on the resume.

While I agree that this is important, it also is very dangerous.    This goes back to the point that different managers look for different things. 

Just to give an example, I hire generally entry level research assistants at a clinical research lab.  Because a big part of the position involves dealing directly with human subjects, I will always take the resume of the person with a lot of experience waiting tables, and working in customer service over the one who has a bunch of experience working at a biotech, aliquoting agents into test-tubes.  Yet, there have been a bunch of times where applicants have decided to leave the two years they spent waiting tables off their resume, because it didn't deal with science.

So yeah, you probably don't need to put your summer job when you were 16 on your resume, but be very careful overanalyzing whether real jobs that you have are "relevant".

[rondo987]

The first thing he told me was to practice the "So What" test. Go through every peice of information on the resume, and ask yourself from the standpoint of the person reading document, "so what?" If you can't answer that, then it probably shouldn't be on the resume.

While I agree that this is important, it also is very dangerous.    This goes back to the point that different managers look for different things. 

Just to give an example, I hire generally entry level research assistants at a clinical research lab.  Because a big part of the position involves dealing directly with human subjects, I will always take the resume of the person with a lot of experience waiting tables, and working in customer service over the one who has a bunch of experience working at a biotech, aliquoting agents into test-tubes.  Yet, there have been a bunch of times where applicants have decided to leave the two years they spent waiting tables off their resume, because it didn't deal with science.

So yeah, you probably don't need to put your summer job when you were 16 on your resume, but be very careful overanalyzing whether real jobs that you have are "relevant".

I understand that, but again that is something that should be thought of when you are asking yourself if it is relevant or not. An intelligent person should be able to make the connection that waiting tables and customer service work could go a long way in a job that involves dealing with human subjects. And ofcourse, a cover letter always helps, like you said.

[Chris]

An intelligent person should be able to make the connection that waiting tables and customer service work could go a long way in a job that involves dealing with human subjects.

You would think....but I can tell you from experience that is not the case.  There have been many incredibly intelligent people who have failed to make that connection. 

The point is, you never know exactly what the manager is looking for, so don't over think it. 

Although I will say, my advice is completely useless if you are applying to corporate jobs, where they ussually have a much more formal way of sorting through resumes.

[blake]

What job are you applying for?  This should really be the factor that determines what your resume should look like. 

[JSD]

What job are you applying for?  This should really be the factor that determines what your resume should look like. 

I'm applying for a position in the criminal justice field (Management security, Homeland defense, MBTA officer ect.)

[LB3533]

What job are you applying for?  This should really be the factor that determines what your resume should look like. 

I'm applying for a position in the criminal justice field (Management security, Homeland defense, MBTA officer ect.)

Just put down you are big and can pack a punch.

And if the criminals are Yankee or Lakers fans you can kick their asses that much more harder.

[Chris]

What job are you applying for?  This should really be the factor that determines what your resume should look like. 

I'm applying for a position in the criminal justice field (Management security, Homeland defense, MBTA officer ect.)

Well, that is not my area of expertise (because anyone who considers me an expert at anything is probably in trouble), but the best general advice I can give you is to keep it short, too the point, and well organized.

The resume is designed to get you an interview by telling the manager that you have the proper experience.  Use the interview process to explain exactly how that experience will make you a good employee.