The Dos and Dont’s of Modern Resumes
Today, there aren’t as many resume rules as there used to be. The type of resume that’s ideal for you depends on your job experience and your goals. Ditch the old approach to writing resumes and make yours reflect your best qualities, even if you’re still currently considering undergraduate programs.
Don’t: Make Your Resume Too Long
You’ve probably heard the resume “law” that it shouldn’t be more than one page. For the most part, that’s true, especially if you’ve recently graduated college or don’t have a lot of work experience under your belt. If you have been working for a long time, though, two pages is fine – just make sure the information is presented succinctly.
Do: Bring a Hard Copy to the Interview
Sure, you probably e-mailed an electronic version of your resume, but you should still walk in with a hard copy (printed on quality paper). This not only shows that you made an effort, but it’s also easier for the interview to look at a printed resume in front of them than scroll through one on the computer.
Don’t: Be Boring
This is especially important if you’re after a creative job. Black and white resumes in 12-point Times New Roman isn’t going to make a splash with a creative director. Consider adding a visual, like a chart or graph (but not a shot of you at your best friend’s wedding). Whatever you add should showcase your best work. Check out infographic resumes online for ideas.
Do: Explain a Gap in Employment
You no longer have to worry about showing gaps in employment, especially if that space doesn’t extend beyond a year. However, you should clarify why you weren’t employed. No, you weren’t eating Doritos on your couch for an entire seven months. Yes, you were working as a freelancer or taking a gap year to explore a new country. Your cover letter is the perfect area to talk about employment gaps.
Don’t: Include Each and Every Job You Ever Had
Your three months spent creating logos for businesses has nothing to do with your interest in a job with a law firm, so it’s okay to leave it off the resume. Include it in the cover letter if you’d like, but don’t crowd your resume with unrelated experience.
Don’t completely nix the traditional resume guidelines. Instead, do some research on what you need, what you don’t, and what works best for someone with your kind of career goals.
Source: Education News