The Critique of a 10-Step

The Critique of a 10-Step

On initial glance, most employers will just give your resume a quick 15 to 30 second glance. Remember that your resume is your "paper handshake" and that it needs to impress the reader so that they will place it in the "yes" pile and maybe even contact you for an interview.

Make sure your resume has the essential elements of an effective resume that gets interviews before you send it out. It is possible to evaluate your resume using the same fundamental criteria used by experts in the field. Not only will this improve its odds of being included to the "yes" pile, but it will also help it climb the stack.

The first thing you should do is check your resume and ask yourself, "Is this the best way to present my work experience?"

Is the style, length, and formality of your resume suitable for the job you're applying for?

Resume length: A one- or two-page document is usual for an individual with five years of experience or more. Three to four pages is a very normal length for a resume for an executive position. You might get away with one page if you're a fresh college grad, but if you have relevant employment, internship, or volunteer experience, two pages will do just fine.

The three most prevalent resume formats are chronological, functional, and combination. The reverse chronological order of your work history is highlighted in a chronological resume. To maximize its effectiveness, make sure that the job titles and/or company names are prominent and directly related to the target role.

The focus of a functional resume is not on specific jobs, duties, or dates of employment. The qualifications are arranged according to relevant experience or capabilities. Functional resumes are popular among job-seekers who are transitioning careers or have gaps in their employment history. Hiring managers have expressed their disapproval of functional resumes, so you should give this format serious consideration before submitting one. These resumes are designed to conceal or downplay problems in your background, such as long spells of unemployment.

The combo resume is a hybrid of the two other types. The first step is to create an impressive professional profile or qualifications summary that highlights your practical abilities. You can tailor your resume to certain occupations and industries by doing so, and it will help you showcase your greatest qualifications. Following is a reverse-chronological description of my work experience, which includes my duties and, most importantly, any noteworthy accomplishments. Expert resume writers often recommend the combination structure to their clients because of how well it sells them to potential employers.

We won't go into detail about the fourth resume format, the Curriculum Vita, here. A "CV" is an orderly document that highlights one's academic achievements, publications, presentations, awards, and accolades in addition to one's academic qualifications and research and projects. Academic, medical, and scientific disciplines frequently employ this style.

Writing at the level of formality required in the position you are applying for is a solid rule of thumb. You can use concise sentences on an entry-level resume. As a manager or executive, you should incorporate the vernacular anticipated at your level of accountability in your narrative resume that paints a complete picture of your career triumphs and contributions.

In the second step, you should inquire, "Is my resume visually appealing and easy to read?"

Has your resume made use of the correct font family and size? The size should be between 9 and 11 points, no more than 12 points, depending on the typeface used. The headers of the sections can, of course, be bigger. When it comes to font type, serif fonts like Times New Roman, Garamond, or Palatino are typically associated with higher-level responsibilities. No more than two fonts should be used in conjunction with each other; for instance, you could use Times for the section headings and Arial for the body text.

Is there enough white space on your resume? Your task is to highlight crucial details for the reader to notice. That is exactly what you can achieve by making good use of white space. You should familiarize yourself with the tab, line-spacing, and paragraph settings of your word processor, among other options that you may not often use.

Is the layout of your CV up to scratch? Italics, bullet points, bold, and lines when used sparingly can convey a lot of meaning. Consistent use of them will aid the reader in following your reasoning and will highlight how you've structured your resume.

Pick up a copy of one of the many new resume reference books at your neighborhood bookshop for some fresh ideas on modern formats. Resume Magic—Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer, by Susan Britton Whitcomb (JIST Works), is among the greatest that are available. Two excellent resources for executive-level ideas are the Best Resumes for $100,000+ Jobs by Wendy Enelow (Impact Publications) and the Bible of Executive Resumes by Donald Asher (Ten Speed Press).

Question number three: "Does my resume have an engaging introduction that grabs the reader's attention?"

Is the first one-third of your resume devoted to a strong Qualifications Summary or Professional Profile, where you aim to convey the most important details? Your overall years of experience, core competences, and relevant hard and soft skills should be included. Remember that the rest of your resume ought to back up what you say here.

Is it easy to tell what field, job, or position you're applying for from your resume? Companies are too busy to worry about trying to predict your life goals.

Step 4: Determine, "Does my resume effectively communicate my value to the prospective employer in one or more of the following ways?"

Can a potential employer see how you'd add value to their bottom line in your resume? Cut costs or free up time? Find a solution to a particular issue? Facilitate easier work? Forge connections? Step up your game? Win over new clients? Keep current clients?

All businesses want their employees to help them achieve these goals, no matter how accountable you are or what industry you work in. Employers will be interested in speaking with you if you convey your skills in at least one of the areas listed.

Step 5: Determine, "Does my resume contain powerful, concise, accomplishment-oriented writing designed to increase the reader's interest and stimulate a request for a job interview?"

Do you have a targeted resume? Is it helpful for your job or future aspirations? Does it use appropriate, industry-specific language that the reader can understand? Were your claims compelling and impactful enough to sell yourself as the best candidate? Does your resume detail concrete achievements that demonstrate problem-solving abilities, steps taken, and outcomes (ideally measurable)?

Do the results back up your goal? That is the most critical question. Put another way, are they indicative of the kinds of actions that top performers in your industry tend to exhibit?

In the sixth step, you should inquire, "Is irrelevant information excluded?"

Include no personal information (such as age or marital status), full employer addresses (a city and state will do), first-person pronouns ("I", "He" or "She"), reasons for job loss, reference details, off-topic interests, or hobbies.

Step7: Evaluate it by asking, "Does my resume present relevant content in an organized fashion?"

Typically, you should only go into detail about your most recent ten years of employment, and no more than fifteen. You can summarize everything that came before, but make an effort to keep the content focused on what you accomplished.

Is the presentation of your employment dates correct? Years and months are usually enough, so there's no need to be precise.

Did you provide more than one way people can get in touch with you? Include your home phone and email addresses, at the very least. Also, get an email address immediately if you're not already using one. Employers will see that you are tech-savvy if you list it on your CV.

Does your background follow a strict chronological order? Does every other part of your resume relate to the jobs you're applying for?

The eighth step is to ask, "Is my resume free of spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammatical, and syntax errors?"

The consensus amongst hiring managers is that a poorly written CV will be rejected out of hand. They have the view that you are careless and won't do a good job on the job. Check your résumé for errors. Have someone you know look over your resume for errors. Have your mom look over your résumé for errors.

Repeat step 8 in step 9.

Final Step: Do Step 8 Once More!

One tangible manifestation of who you are is your CV. This is more than just a resume; it's a marketing tool that highlights your skills and experience to potential employers. Once you've reviewed your CV that you wrote yourself, ask yourself the questions listed above. Companies will be interested in you if you have addressed all their concerns.


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