Creating the perfect resume: applying for a job and need a delectable resume—one that's not half-baked? Here's a recipe for success - Getting Hired

Career World, Nov-Dec, 2002 by P. Gregory Smith

Take this quiz before reading the article that follows. Find out how much you know about resumes and resume writing.

Choose the response that best answers each question:

1. A resume is a

a. French pastry made from spinach and goat cheese.

b. complicated ballet move.

c. summary of your skills, experiences, and personal strengths.

2. A good resume should be

a. as thick as the New York City telephone book.

b. exactly one page in length.

c. able to fit inside an oyster shell.

3. Always print a resume on

a. plain or off-white paper.

b. brightly colored paper.

c. waxed paper.

4. Which sections should appear in every resume?

a. Beloved pets and movies that made you cry

b. Education, work experience, and skill

c. Shoe size, favorite dessert, and date of birth

5. When writing your resume, be sure to

a. use full paragraphs.

b. use short comments starting with action words.

c. sprinkle in lots of adjectives.

Scoring: 1. c; 2. b; 3. a; 4. b; 5. b.

If you answered any of the questions incorrectly, please read the following article to get the right information. If you answered all of the questions correctly, please read the article anyway--there's always something to learn.

Serving Up a Great Resume

Think of a resume as a gourmet meal that you are preparing and serving to a future employer. The purpose of a resume is to get an employer to "bite," and contact you for a job interview. Like a gourmet meal, a resume contains only the finest ingredients, carefully selected and prepared. It must also be presented as attractively as possible.

Presentation

The most delicious meal will fail to appeal if it is just piled up on a paper plate. A meal and a resume should both be attractively presented for the greatest impact.

Your resume represents you as a person. It must project the message that you're serious, capable, and skilled. "I'm looking for professionals," explains Sarah Marquis, human resources manager for Northampton Cooperative Bank. "Too much information, graphics that are too fancy, or brilliantly colored stationery are just not professional. I want to see a straightforward resume that tells me what you can do and why you're different from other people."

Careful Preparation

Even with the best ingredients in the world, a meal will be disappointing if it isn't prepared properly. Food can be undercooked, overcooked, improperly seasoned, or otherwise mishandled. The same is true of a resume. You may be perfectly qualified, but if your resume is carelessly prepared, employers will pass it--and you--by.

Spelling and grammar actually do count in the resume game. "Typos and misspellings are a huge problem," says Carey Napoleone, field recruitment manager for a chain of fashion retail stores. "Some recruiters won't even look at a resume with errors on it." She continues, "When I'm scanning resumes, each one only gets a few seconds, so the easier [it is] to read, the better."

Your first resume shouldn't be more than one page long. "Put the important words up front," Napoleone advises. "Avoid long sentences, and try to start each comment with a good, strong action word."

There are certain basic qualities that every resume must have, so let's get started on creating your own personal masterpiece.

Quality Ingredients

As with a gourmet meal, you must start with quality ingredients. In the case of r~sum6 writing, this means that you will include only the best information about you that fits the job you are seeking.

Your Identity. Every resume must begin with your name and contact information. Make them stand out with bold type or a font size larger than the body of the resume. Generally it's a good idea to use your full legal name at the top of your resume. If your resume does its job, an employer will want to get in touch with you. Make it easy for him or her. Follow your name with your mailing address, telephone number, and E-mail address. There, the first section is done. Wasn't that easy?

Your Goal. Just after your name and contact information, clearly state a goal for your job search. Label it "Objective." This isn't the place to discuss your long-term plans to earn millions and save the world. Instead, write a brief description of the kind of job that you're seeking. Be sure that your objective matches the job you're applying for. Suppose that your job objective is "Part-time position in which I can use my mechanical skills." You wouldn't send that resume to a childcare center.

Your Accomplishments and Skills. Employers are looking for what you've accomplished and what you can bring to the job. It's a good idea to present that information first. If you've worked before, then you should have a section of your resume called "Work History" or "Job Experience." In it, list the places that you've worked, how long you worked there, and what your duties were. Be sure to describe only the important tasks you performed. Remember to use strong action words.

If you've never had a job before, then start out with a section for "Volunteer Experience" or "Community Service." List the places you've volunteered and the tasks you accomplished there just as if they were paying jobs. Employers are interested in what you've done, not how much you earned.