By Lindsey Novak
Special to the Tribune
December 15, 1996
Waiting until after the holidays to start looking
for a job is not a bad idea, but putting off redoing your résumé is.
I get many letters from readers who say they just can't find new positions,
so I review their résumés to see the possible problems. Here are some common
errors, some of which may be funny, but not to the company seeking new
employees.
- Don't count solely on your computer's spellcheck function. Read your résumé
out loud after you've completed it, and you'll be amazed at the mistakes you'll
find.
- When you describe your responsibilities, use the same verb tense. There's
much to be said for unique writing styles, but on a résumé, uniformity is
preferred. Remember "See Dick run. Hear Jane laugh. Watch Spot jump"?
And you thought those books were meaningless.
- Don't hide your accomplishments, highlight them; and delete the mundane.
I've read résumés that list responsibilities as "answered the phone, sent
faxes, increased sales by $10 million."
Now let's discuss the cover letter: Keep your dreams to yourself, and think
about what the employer wants. I've seen letters with such wish lists as,
"I don't like driving during rush hour, so I'd like to work from 11 a.m. to
3 p.m." and "I haven't found the perfect job yet, but I'd like one
where I can be fulfilled."
Well I'd like $20 million and a date with Al Pacino, but I wouldn't put that
in a cover letter.
Tailor your cover letter to the position. Show how your experience relates to
the responsibilities of the opening -- bullet point to bullet point. When you
point out all the similarities, your summary will be logical. Don't waste words
explaining how hard you will work, how diligent and energetic you are, how you
will give the company 100 percent. All of that is assumed.
Imagine an applicant writing, "I'm lazy and careless, but I need a
job." Just list your abilities and let the human resource representative
conclude that you might be just what the company wants.
I know that some professional résumé writers charge big bucks, so, if you
can't find someone whose fee is within your budget, and you don't have a
knowledgeable friend who can proofread your résumé for free, go to the
library. There are numerous books on résumés that show different styles for
different careers. Copy some of the formats and see which works best.
And most important, take your time.
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