Excerpt: The [Gulp] Resume

Jan. 24, 2005 -- -- In "Women For Hire: The Ultimate Guide to Getting a Job," author and expert Tory Johnson, the chief executive officer of Women For Hire, offers advice on every aspect of the job search. Here is an excerpt from her book:

You've worked hard to decide what you want and you have worked hard to get the experience you need to land a great job. But no one will ever know how wonderful you are unless you have a phenomenal resume. It is often the first point of contact with a potential employer. Will Rogers summed it up best when he said, "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression." A strong resume can make yours a lasting one.

Before you decide what to wear to the big interview or what to say to the recruiter, before you even step out the door, make sure you get your foot IN the door with a top-notch resume. You won't land a job based solely on your resume, but if it's smart and well-written it can lead to a world of opportunities. A sloppy, poorly written document will end up in the circular file, along with your career prospects. Your resume is an advertisement: the product for sale is you. It's the marketing tool you use to pique the interest of a recruiter. You've got to make them want to take a closer look.

First things first: never lie no matter what. Everything on that resume is verifiable by a potential employer. They can confirm your education, previous employment, association memberships and more. Honesty is not just the best policy; it's the ONLY policy when it comes to resumes. Stretching the truth on your resume will almost always haunt you.

Not only do some companies conduct background checks on many prospective employees, but also in some industries you never know who knows who. Meaning the person you are about to present with a phony resume may very well be friends with your former employer. Since you never know whom you may encounter, it is safest not to lie. Background checks may include verification of your previous job titles, dates of employment, day-to-day responsibilities and education history. If you are two credits shy of a bachelor's degree, do not check the BA box on an application. In some cases, even that small stretch will prevent you from ever being employed by that company.

You don't have to shy away from boasting about significant responsibilities and successful contributions. For example, if you are confident that your individual efforts on a team project helped save your previous employer money or generated profits, you may say that you 'spearheaded' or 'led' this particular effort. Just be prepared to justify the credit you are taking should an interviewer choose to focus on it.

By the way, there is no rule that says someone else can't prepare your resume. If you are really unsure of your writing skills, go ahead and talk to an expert for one on one advice. But remember, just because you shell out a hundred bucks for a so-called "resume professional" doesn't mean you have a better chance at getting the job.

There are countless resume styles and designs, but our experience shows that a simple, straightforward resume works every time. Perfection is the name of the game, so be sure to follow these step-by-step guidelines:

Personal Contact Information
All contact information should appear at the very top of your document. Be sure to provide an email address that you check frequently. If your regular email address is funkymama@whatever.com or vodkaking@funmail.com, it is definitely time to set up a separate email account using your first and last name specifically for your job search. [Hotmail and Yahoo offer them free and both enable you to check your account from any Internet connection worldwide.]

Make sure your phone number is correct with a professional voicemail message or answering machine on the other end. Skip the loud music, pet greetings and goofy jokes. List a cell phone number, with an equally professional greeting, if you have one.

Objective or Professional Summary
One of the problems with some resumes is the absence of a clear objective. Way too many otherwise smart people plug in the old stand-by: "Seeking a position with a multi-faceted company that will put my talents to good use while enhancing my skills." Huh? That's a bunch of nonsense that does not impress recruiters. Use this valuable space to convey your key capabilities and how you?re ideally looking to apply them.

Narrow it down
The recruiter wants an idea of what you want to do; be specific and indicate what you're seeking. Don't be scared of being pigeonholed into a dead-end job. You can target the industry, the specific job title, or both.