potrero view

March 2010

Get a Job!

By Mauri Schwartz

The View asked Hill resident and career expert Mauri Schwartz, President / CEO of Career Insiders, www.CareerInsiders.com, to answer questions from job seekers.  Submit your questions to editor@potreroview.net.

Q: What are the most important things to consider when writing a resume?
A: First of all, consider your audience.  Who will be reading your resume, and what will they be looking for?  I recommend that you customize your resume for every job application.   You want to make it easy for the reader to see immediately that you’re a match.  Here are some additional tips:
1. A resume’s objective is to obtain an interview.
2. Form is equally as important as substance. Use a readable font style and size, and one-inch margins at the top, bottom, left and right.
3. Resumes should be no more than two pages. One-page resumes are primarily for candidates who are relatively new to the job market. Don’t try to cram a lot of experience onto one page.
4. Hook the reader with the top quarter page.
5. Always begin statements with first person singular action verbs. Don’t use “responsible for.”
6. Always portray your professional background positively while being honest and accurate.
7. Include pertinent volunteer and internship experience, but distinguish it from professional (paid) work.
8. Put name and current contact information on both pages.  Don’t use your current employer’s contact information; use a professional sounding email address, for example: firstname_lastname@yahoo.com  Make sure that the phone number you give will always be answered professionally.
9. Be picky! Make it perfect – no typos, no grammatical errors, no misspellings. Ask a friend to proofread it. You only have one chance to make a first impression.
10. Target the recipient of your resume by identifying individual decision makers.

Subscribe to The Potrero View

All rights reserved. Copyright © 2006 The Potrero View.

Content on this site may not be archived, retransmitted, saved in a database, or used for any commercial purpose without the express written permission of The Potrero View or its Publishers.