A WORD ABOUT RESUMES

A word about resumes: **BRIEF**
You have only an instant to grab your reader’s attention before she moves on and forgets you.

Another word about resumes: **SIMPLE**
Simple is easier to understand.
You have only one career life story. You can dress up the bare bones of your story according to the position you are seeking. But, please, start with good bones.

Start from today and go backward in your career down the page. Page, not pages. At the foot of the page is your education and certifications. Your work experience grows up the page from earliest to most recent. That is because your reader is going to read from top to bottom. He wants to check out your most recent experience first.

Capture the reader’s eye to emphasize your overall strengths. Do you want to promote the quality of the organizations you have worked in? the length of time you worked there? or the responsibilities you had? Create a job headline, putting place, longevity or function at top left of the job description.

**Example of a Place Job Headline**
Citibank INC, New York NY 2000-2009
Bookkeeper-Global Deposits
(Duties…………………………………………………………………………………)
• Accomplishment one
• Accomplishment two

**Example of a Longevity Job Headline**
2000-2009 Citibank INC, New York NY
Bookkeeper-Global Deposits
(Duties………………………………………………………………………………..)
 Accomplishment one
 Accomplishment two

**Example of a Function Job Headline**
Bookkeeper-Global Deposits
Citibank INC, New York NY 2000-2009
(Duties………………………………………………………………………………)
• Accomplishment one
• Accomplishment two

Your reader will skim down the page, reading left to right. That first impression will determine whether she will take a closer look or discard your life’s work. Lay out each position in identical fashion to make that first pass easy. Later she will return to see if you have the needed skills and credentials for her purposes. If you have employment gaps or other matters that will raise questions, don’t try to mask it with a confusing first impression. There are better ways to emphasize the positive and avoid raising red flags.

Questions? contact eileen@able.jobs

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