Nailing the basics may nail the job

This time of year seems to bring an absolute crush of resume requests. And while resume formats have changed over time, with some elements going out of favor and others gaining it, the basic pieces that make up a strong resume remain the same.

Spelling/Grammar/Structure: Your resume is the first look a potential employer gets. If you were in charge, would you waste time on someone whose resume featured misspellings, bad grammar, and awful punctuation? And the minimum, check that you’ve got this piece nailed. Believe it or not you’ll be ahead of at least half the applicants.

The look: Not everyone is a graphic designer or aspires to be one. But today, with the features that programs like Word offer, a great looking resume is literally a keystroke away. Consider the font you’ll use. Something business-like (which you’ll also find are the defaults for many templates) including Times New Roman, Ariel, and other simple basic fonts favored by magazines and newspapers for their readability. Stay away from script --- even if you think it’s pretty – because for many it’s hard to read. And Zapf Dingbat just makes you seem like … well … you get it.

Use bolding. Use italics. Change the size of the font. And use color. Again, as I’ve written about before, this is a case where less is more. If you choose to use color, pick one or two and use them consistently either in section headings, subheads, etc. This isn’t the time to show the kaleidoscope that might be your personality; let that come through in the interview – once your resume has gotten you in the door.

The organization: Think in information bites. And group the relevant pieces together, in the order that seems most important to you, right now. This means that a new grad will highlight education, as she may be short on experience. A seasoned leader will place education way at the bottom, because what she’s been doing in the twenty years since then must take center stage.

Within each section be consistent. Headings should be the same style, font type and size, and have the same attributes (bold, etc.) Punctuation should be the same from element to element.

And remember, the resume is just a snapshot of what you have to offer – not the end-all be-all comprehensive account of what you’ve been doing. Try for one page; most really can fit if the writing is clear and concise and the details succinct. You can personalize it for the position and highlight key attributes in the cover letter. And once you’re in the door, you can share whatever details seem appropriate.

Keep these things in mind and you’ll truly be ahead of the majority of job seekers. And hopefully ahead of them in the door as well.