Page 38 - The Editors of VGM Career Books - Resumes for Computer Careers, Second Edition (2002)

Assembly and Layout 29

• Always try to fit your resume on one page. If you are having trou-
ble with this, you may be trying to say too much. Edit out any repet-
itive or unnecessary information, and shorten descriptions of earlier
jobs where possible. Ask a friend you trust for feedback on what
seems unnecessary or unimportant. For example, you may have
included too many optional sections. Today, with the prevalence of
the personal computer as a tool, there is no excuse for a poorly laid
out resume. Experiment with variations until you are pleased with
the result.
Remember that a resume is not an autobiography. Too much infor-
mation will only get in the way. The more compact your resume, the eas-
ier it will be to review. If a person who is swamped with resumes looks at
yours, catches the main points, and then calls you for an interview to fill
in some of the details, your resume has already accomplished its task. A
clear and concise resume makes for a happy reader and a good impression.
There are times when, despite extensive editing, the resume simply can-
not fit on one page. In this case, the resume should be laid out on two pages
in such a way that neither clarity nor appearance is compromised. Each
page of a two-page resume should be marked clearly: the first should indi-
cate “Page 1 of 2,” and the second should include your name and the page
number, for example, “Julia Ramirez—Page 2 of 2.” The pages should then
be paper-clipped together. You may use a smaller type size (in the same
font as the body of your resume) for the page numbers. Place them at the
bottom of page one and the top of page two. Again, spend the time now
to experiment with the layout until you find one that looks good to you.
Always show your final layout to other people and ask them what they
like or dislike about it, and what impresses them most when they read your
resume. Make sure that their responses are the same as what you want to
elicit from your prospective employer. If they aren’t the same, you should
continue to make changes until the necessary information is emphasized.

Proofreading

After you have finished typing the master copy of your resume and before
you have it copied or printed, thoroughly check it for typing and spelling
errors. Do not place all your trust in your computer’s spellcheck function.
Use an old editing trick and read the whole resume backward—start at the
end and read it right to left and bottom to top. This can help you see the
small errors or inconsistencies that are easy to overlook. Take time to do
it right because a single error on a document this important can cause the
reader to judge your attention to detail in a harsh light.