Page 57 - Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Resume

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Chapter 3 ➤ Winning Resume Wisdom

For example, when George was applying for a database program-
ming position at a high-tech firm, he specifically did not want to
supervise any staff. Even though in his previous job he had been
in charge of a department and had been commended for his abil-
ity to build team spirit under adverse conditions, he was deter-
mined not to acquire that kind of responsibility in his next job. In
his resume, he spoke about his many programming projects, but Job-Hunt Hint
never once mentioned that he had managed anyone. Conse-
quently, he attracted a programming job he loves with no On scratch paper, make two lists:
supervisory responsibilities. one of the tasks you love to per-
form and one of the things you
I’ll remind you about this commandment as you go through the
hate to do. As you write your
steps in Part 2. For now, just keep in mind that you are in the seat
resume, be sure to include the
of power: you get to create your future by choosing what to put in
tasks you love and avoid men-
and leave out of your resume!
tioning the ones you dislike.
Thou Shalt Say Less Rather Than More

Ah, the oxymoron that works so well in marketing: Less is more.
Let’s consider why it has withstood the test of time.

When it comes to things we all value, time sits near the top of
the list, along with wealth and health. We say things like, “Time
is money” and “It’s not worth my time.” Because time is at a
premium in today’s hectic world, it stands to reason that a pro- Career Casualty
motional piece that takes less time to read is more likely to suc-
ceed than a lengthy one. Therefore, less text is more effective at Use wisdom when writing about
grabbing the reader’s attention. topics that could be misunder-
stood (like the New York Times
Following the “less is more” theory has another advantage. By dis- article you authored that pro-
tilling all of your skills and experience into a minimum of words moted the resume reader’s com-
on one or two sheets of paper, you automatically put down only petitor as #1 in the field). By
the very best stuff. So less is more in the sense that even though being discreet and concise on
you provide less information, it’s all high-quality information, your resume (maybe say only
which makes the resume more impressive. that you wrote a New York Times
article that explored industry
The Eight-Second Test trends) you increase your chances
of getting an interview where
In today’s job market, your resume has only about eight seconds you can talk about the
to catch an employer’s attention. In eight seconds an employer experience in person.
scans your resume and decides whether she will invest more time
to consider you as a job candidate. The secret to passing the
eight-second test is to make your resume look inviting and quick to read. That’s why I rec-
ommend having a one-page resume if possible. Having a one-pager says, “I’m organized,
and I’m not a motor-mouth.”

Goody Two-Pages

For those who have a beefy career history or lengthy list of must-read accomplishments, one
page may not be enough. If you’re one of those people, go for it—just don’t exceed two pages
unless you’re sure the reader is expecting more. For instance, if you’re applying for an aca-
demic or scientific position, you’d probably have a seven- or eight-pager called a curriculum
vitae. (See Chapter 15: “When You Really Are a Brain Surgeon: The Curriculum Vitae.”)

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