Resume Writing

The first step in writing your resume is brainstorming. Make a list of your skills, accomplishments, schools you’ve attended, computer experience, certifications, awards, clearances, etc. Use your old performance evaluations and award write-ups for information. Write down every job you held and every command you were assigned to. Don’t leave anything out.

The next step is to start plugging that information into your resume. There are three styles of resumes: Chronological, Functional, and Combination. A Chronological resume lists each of your jobs starting with your most recent position. A Functional resume doesn’t list your specific jobs, but instead breaks your experience up into functional groups like Leadership, Technical Skills, Training, etc. The Combination resume combines the Chronological and Functional styles. I recommend using the Chronological or Combination styles. Most recruiters I speak with don’t like Functional style resumes. Also, I don’t recommend using the resume templates used by most word processing software. They waste space on a page and aren’t attractive.

The ideal resume is only one page long. However, it can be difficult to squeeze everything into one page if you have a lot of experience. Two page resumes are acceptable. I would limit your experience to the last 10 years and make sure you put your most important information, education or experience, towards the top of the first page. If you use a second page make sure you fill it with information. The only time you would write a resume longer than two pages is when you’re applying to a government contractor. Government contractors tend to like longer resumes. They want to see every job you’ve held, every command you’ve been assigned to, and every piece of equipment you’ve worked with. If you’re having trouble squeezing your resume into one or two pages you can adjust the margins and the font size. I recommend keeping at least a half inch border around your resume and not go any smaller than a 10 point font size.

Most recruiters say they spend only 20 to 30 seconds reviewing each resume. Therefore you need to make sure your resume looks attractive and includes the key words recruiters are looking for. I suggest using “bullets” of information instead of winding paragraphs. It’s visually attractive and it breaks up the information so it’s easier to read. Also, adjust your resume to include the key words that are listed in the job posting you’re applying for.

Finally, make sure your contact information is included at the top of the resume. There isn’t anything more frustrating for a recruiter than finding the perfect resume and not being able to contact the person. Your contact information should include your name, address, phone number, and a professional email address.

Remember, there isn’t a right or wrong way to write resumes, there’s just what looks good and what doesn’t. I hope this information is helpful. Feel free to contact me with any comments or questions.