Jessica Sepke

Since I’m simultaneously working to hire for three different positions, I’ve read alot of resumes lately.  I’m seeing some good resumes and a few really good resumes, but reflecting on a some common oversights and mistakes,  I want to provide the world with some do’s and most-definitely-do-not’s.  Like any other hiring manager, I’m going to get swamped with resumes, so you have to give me exactly what I’m looking for and get my attention with your qualifications.  Here’s how to make me want to A) finish reading your resume and B) actually call you for an interview.

Your resume:

• Get a professional sounding email address.
  • yourname@gmail.com – This says “I’m up-to-date and professional.”
  • anything@hotmail.com or anything@aol.com – This says “I’m totally out of date.”
  • notyourname@anythingatall.com – This says, “I need to get a new email address to use on my resume.”
• Include your full name, address, email and at least one phone number on an email that is emailed to me.   It is just fine to omit phone numbers and physical addresses on a resume you’ve posted online because no one wants a stalker.   But if you’ve applied for a job with me, I want all this information.
• I don’t need a professional summary in your resume.  That’s what a cover letter is for and I can get the same information from your job history.
• I don’t need your objective.  I’m assuming that your objective is to get the job for which you’ve applied.
• For the love of all that is holy, do not go over two pages.  I can keep my resume on two pages, so I know you can, too.
• Remember how your English teacher told you that she would know if you A) used 14 point font to try to make your paper longer B) used 1.5 inch margins to make your paper longer or C) used 1.75 paragraph spacing to make your paper longer?   I, too, can tell if you do those things.  Just use standard fonts and margins.  Make your headers bold and use bullets to make things easy to read.
• Speaking of bold – there’s a phrase that goes “when everyone is special, no one is special” – it applies here:  When everything is bold, nothing is bold.   Use bold sparingly.
• All caps can only be used for headings.  Ever.
• Here’s what I really want to know:
  • Employment history – for each job
    • What was the title?
    • What company did you work for?
    • What dates did you work there?  Month and year, please.
    • What were your major responsibilities and accomplishments?
  • Education background – where did you go to school and what degrees did you earn.  I prefer to know the years.  This isn’t because I care how old you are; it’s because I want to know how current your education is.  I also want to know how your school work meshes with your work history.  Did you work and go to school at the same time?   Is that two-year gap in your work background because you went back to school?
  • Honors, professional memberships, publications or certifications – do you have any? It they aren’t painfully clear, explain what they are.
  • References – you can include them if space allows.  If they’re not there and I need them, I’ll ask you for them.
• Formatting is important.  Please pay attention to page breaks.  If your resume is 1 page and 3 lines, find a way to get it on 1 page.  Don’t make me waste paper printing it or time in reformatting it so that I don’t waste paper.
• PDFs are appreciated.  They show me you know how to make a PDF.
• Spelling.  Your third grade teacher was right.  It counts.

Cover letter:

• If I ask you for a cover letter, I want an actual cover letter.  A cover letter explains your qualifications and enlightens me to things that are either particularly important or that your resume doesn’t include.
• Why do I want a cover letter?  I want to know how well you communicate in writing.  I’m not going to assume that you can write well if you don’t prove it.
• If the posting includes my name, I expect you to use it.    If you know my name and address your letter generically, that feels like you aren’t trying to personalize this letter.
• Before you write the letter, visit my organization’s website (if the posting makes it clear where the job will be).  Read about the programs and departments you’ll be working in.  Show me that you did your homework.
• Check your spelling.
• Check your spelling.
• Check your spelling.
• Win me over and explain why you’re such a great candidate.

Other Stuff:

• If I ask for salary requirements, give them to me.  I know you hate them.  I’m not trying to give the job to the lowest bidder.  I just need to know if I can afford you when I don’t yet know the budget.
• Don’t criticize my hiring process.  Really.
• It’s totally okay to check in if you haven’t heard from me in ten days.  Email politely.  Don’t call unless we’ve already had a phone conversation.

I hope that this insight into the mind of a hiring manager help anyone currently in a job search.  Have a question I didn’t address?  Ask in a comment and I’ll do my best to answer.