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Check spelling, grammar,
or typing - any spelling mistakes and in the employer's
garbage your resume goes!! It's very important to know your
punctuation, use proper placement of capital letters, and
be aware of what "tense" you are using for your
wording. Make sure your resume flows…too many "I"
statements can seem egotistic, and impede an easy read of
a cover letter or resume.
Give your full address
- that means including your postal code and phone number that
has some form of message service. If you have no contact #,
an e-mail address can come in handy, or there are services
in Castlegar which will allow you to use their phone number
as a means of contact and message service. Missing details
in this section may deter a potential employer and make things
appear like you don't care, or have taken short-cuts.
Make your resume visually
pleasing and easy to read. Add a little pizzazz if
you think that the company you are applying the flair, just
remember…not TOO flashy! Make sure the resume you have
suits the job position you're applying for.
Have more than 1 resume.
Remember, you want to tailor your resume to the job you're
applying for. Skills and past work experience you gained on
a construction site may not be suitable for a resume you want
to give to work at a retail store.
Get to the point!!
Only list information that is relevant to the job you are
seeking. That spelling bee you won in grade 6 may not be the
best information to have on a resume when applying for a food
service or labour position. Avoid using "duties included"
and "responsible for" for EVERY past job. Job descriptions
can be kept quite simple, or you may find that there is OVERLAP
in the relevant skills you've learned from different jobs.
Many skills can be placed, not under each job title, but in
a "summary of qualifications" at the beginning of
your resume.
Don't exaggerate or misrepresent
yourself. Be accurate and be honest!! Employers will
find out whether or not you really have those computer skills
you bragged so much about on your resume and cover letter.
References are often checked today and embellishments easily
uncovered.
Don't forget to review
cover letters and send along one with your totally
amazing resume! Try to format both cover letter and resumes
the same way for consistency.
Before you throw yourself into the work world,
get someone you trust to look at your resume and cover letter.
They can make sure you've done a phenomenal job of using these
tips!
Have at least 3 references
- but don't put them on your resume…it can work in your
favor to have a separate sheet with reference names and numbers
on it. By holding back some information, a prospective employer
has to "meet you half way" and establish an initial
contact and interest in you! As well, confidentiality of your
reference is kept and given to those only who are most likely
to give you what you want...a job.
An exception can be made for:
a) Youth that may have little work experience
and need an adult to vouch for their character or skills.
b) If you believe that the person doing hiring
may be influenced by the name of one of your references.
Sometimes it's nice to be able to use the rule
"it's not what you know, it's who you know".
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