Your Resume

Copyright 2025 Financial Aid Consulting. All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced mechanically, electronically, by photocopying, or by any other means without the author's permission. Howard can be reached at finaidguy@gmail.com

Wherever your career path takes you, it can be determined by your accomplishments, potential value, and how well you present yourself to an employer.

A resume is neither a brag sheet nor a detailed life history. Despite the personal importance of these events, employers don't often care as much. They are focused on pursuing the best resources that have the educational and occupational backgrounds to fill an occupational void within their organization.

I have written many resumes myself and for others. What I thought was good may have been too wordy or provided more detail than would answer all the interview questions before they were even asked. Once I learned the knack for doing them right, I was fortunate to land many important positions by having an effective resume and being well prepared for a job interview.

Upon college graduation, many students may not know precisely what they want or may not have experience in the real world. Others in the workforce may have lost their positions or are seeking new career paths, making resume writing more challenging. In those cases, a brief cover letter improves your chances.

Here are some helpful resume tips to get you started

1. Focus on what you are looking for. This may be a specific job or career path, but it should not be so general that it is destined for the wastepaper basket.

2. Create a list of your skills and accomplishments to incorporate into your resume. Consult with others who can include items you may have overlooked.

3. Research companies and careers before you begin. Some employers offer training, benefits, educational assistance, and career growth in a fun and productive environment. You should also verify their retention rate, especially if you are planning for long-term employment.

4. Look at resume models. Some are chronological, while others are functional. Some may be virtual and sent to a P.O. Box, for which it is unlikely that you will receive a personal response.

5. Look for an employer's keywords to describe a job. Then you can work those words in the body of your resume, if applicable. This will help them weed out the other information, which may not be as important.

6. Always spell-check the document. Even the most excellent resume can be marred by poor spelling or editing. Could you review it and ask others to do the same, since obvious mistakes are easily overlooked?

7. Do the "so what? Could you test on your resume? I learned this simple test from a headhunter. For each item listed, ask yourself: What does this mean to a new employer? For example, being a Cub Scout is very friendly, but it would have little value for an employer looking for an electrical engineer. Saving the company millions in operating expenses would also catch most employers' eyes, especially those on tight budgets. It is also a transferable skill that any company can use.

8. Ensure your information is factual and consistent, especially since it will be verified before and during your interview. However, you may envision yourself as much better or more knowledgeable than you think. These skills will be proven on the job. Being honest will help to guarantee better job success down the road.

9. Keep everything on one page. On average, most resumes are reviewed for only 8 seconds. Having multiple versions of your resume is okay, as not all the requirements are the same.

10. Use the right font type, size, and the required page format, as your resume will likely be scanned. Any deviation can force it to be missed

11. Minimize the number of “me” and “is “in a resume. I learned this technique from a Harvard University English major. It is tough, but can be done if you reread each item.

12. Follow-up. A good resume does not result in a new job but an invitation to an interview. Track the dates sent and check if you were screened to meet the criteria for an interview. Be happy if you get one. You can always move forward, searching for other positions until a job offer is found.  

Beyond the formality of resumes, I have also written to companies in response to articles or areas of common interest. This often bypasses HR and helps with further recognition and responses. This is where your creativity can work wonders.