‘Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?’ – Five Man Electrical Band ‘Signs’ Lyrics

you only see STOP signs after submitting your resume? I often hear candidates complain that they have all the necessary skills to fill the position, but after they submit their resume, no one calls them for an interview. It may be that you are not providing the correct information or the resume is too difficult to read due to too much information, formatting errors, spelling or grammar. Here are nine do’s and don’ts to guide you toward writing a resume that commands respect and attention.

Use lots of keywords in your abstract and throughout your resume.

Do not write your contact information in a font smaller than 12 points. You don’t want the recruiter to strain their eyes trying to figure out how they can contact you.

Use as many pages as necessary to list all of your applicable work history and achievements.

Don’t hide your resume under a bushel. Come out and post your resume so we can find you! Post on Monster, Careerbuilder, DICE and as many career sites as you can identify.

List a summary of your skills

Do not write an Objective… a company is not interested in what you want, they are interested in whether you are what they want. The summary is the place to list your skills that lead the company to believe that you are the person they want for their job.

List the specific industry associations and groups to which you belong.

Do not use only acronyms. Explain industry terms and acronyms. You’ll want to list the acronym, as it may be a keyword the recruiter will use to search for a candidate, but you should put the meaning of the acronym in parentheses for those hiring authorities unfamiliar with the term. For example, you could write that you are a member of HIMSS but list it like this on your resume: Member – HIMSS (Health Information and Management Systems Society). Instead of writing that your job duties include handling general and administrative matters, write: ‘Job duties include handling all departmental general and administrative (grievances and appeals) matters. ‘

Prominently display higher education degrees and certification both at the top of your resume after your name and in your education section. A recruiter will be more attracted to a resume that has the following at the top: Thomas Candidate, MBA vs Thomas Candidate with the MBA only listed in the education section. PMP is a good certification to be listed prominently as: Thomas Candidate, PMP. In the education section, it would be prudent to list your PMP certification followed by a description of the PMP and your certification registration number: Certified PMP (Project Management Professional) ID#: 00000

If you have multiple higher degrees and certifications, simply list the first two after your name, ie: Thomas Candidate, PhD, PMP. In your education and certification section at the bottom of your resume, you can list your remaining degrees and certifications. You should not include the year you earned your degree or certification unless you recently received it.

Do not include education if you did not complete the courses necessary to receive your degree or certification. If you expect to receive your degree or certification within a reasonable period of time, please provide the information followed by your anticipated graduation date.

Keep your resume clean and free of any non-relevant information ie sayings, quotes, jokes. Nobody cares if Patton said, ‘A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood.’

Do not use inappropriate usernames and passwords when creating an online profile on a company’s employment site; recruiters can view this information.

Check and double-check your grammar and spelling on all written documents you submit.

Do not post a confidential resume on a job board. A recruiter doesn’t have time to crack your secret code to contact you.

List all client names, even if you were placed there by contract by an agency. A good way to list short-term jobs where an agency placed you is: IBM (via Manpower)

Do not put aside any technical skills. If you used Lotus Notes and Outlook, please include it on your resume. Do not write that you are familiar with MS Suite. Please break down the MS Suite skills you are familiar with such as Excel (strong), PowerPoint (average), Access (beginner) or just list the skills as: Excel, PowerPoint, Access…

Eliminate irrelevant jobs from your resume from 15 years ago. Review the Resume Secrets subchapters above to learn how to build and modify your resume if you want to disclose your job duties before age 15 or if you’ve had the same job for more than 10 or 15 years.

Do not write, ‘References provided upon request’. This statement will not only make you look old school but also take up precious space. Instead, keep a separate page with names and contract information. This is what your cheat sheet should look like:

References for Sally’s Candidate

invoice contact

Marketing Manager

company name

400 Columbia Drive

south curve, EN 46666

Work: 555-222-8888

email to: [email protected]

I reported directly to Bill on Company Name

** Please list 2-3 additional references below. Save this list on your computer. Print a copy and bring it to any personal interview you have.

If you’re mindful of ‘do this’ and ‘don’t do that’ with the above resume tips, then your next sign should say ‘Proceed to Interview’.