Don't, do not, I repeat (just in case you didn't get it) do NOT search for tips on how to write a great resume.
For people who lack in common sense - and there seems to be a fair share of them - I do recommend searching for tips for a "good" resume. Here are a few: Fix typos, do not use buzzwords that you do not know the meaning of, include relevant information and leave out your favourite eating places. See? Common sense tips.
Sites on the Net offer advice ranging from the motif of the paper that you use to industry happenings that you should include. If you are new in the job market such tips serve only to create a mish mash document that I wrinkle my nose at and store in permanent file (the trash can).
On a more serious note, each person who reads your resume has his/her own preferences; some want details while others do not. Obviously, one can not write individualized documents unless one is in serious lack of a life. On the other hand, industry specific ones is something that can and should be managed. If you are applying to a news agency then items / job experience should be highlighted or moved up relating to them. Those same may or may not (probably not) be the same if you are applying to a software house. You are the applicant here, try to realize this. You are the one who is applying, so spend a few minutes making your resume more relevant (read: interesting) to the person who would be reading it there.
Leave out smiley faces. No, no one other than you finds them cute. Smiley faces are annoying.
You will get an interview if relevant information has been included in complete form. Unfortunately, you'll also get called if not, but only if the interviewer has been "asked" to call you. So, there, you've already alienated him (or her, to be PC). Do yourself the favour of not making your position worse by leaving out important pieces of information, such as the dates / durations of previous experience, or leaving in a bucketful of typographical mistakes.
Another tip: Lie consistently. Eh, what? You read it right. We all lie, the little white ones are still lies by any other name. If someone took a week-long course in skiing a decade back, he sticks it in. Makes the resume that bit fatter. The reader knows it, and politely doesn't mention it. On the other hand, putting in knowledge / experience of things that you have no idea of, is a deal breaker. I'm reminded of a person who added Hindi to language skills. When asked, he said that even though he doesn't actually know it, it being a lot like Urdu should / could / may be considered under some circumstances. Ahem!
So. In conclusion. What tips am I giving about taking / not taking tips? Only the one thing: tips are guidelines to help you, not templates for you to copy blindly.
And just a quick note on cover notes: If you add in it that you want to work for a progressive, industry leading organization like mine, I am going to ask you what you know about my company. If you then admit that you haven't the foggiest, don't sit by the phone waiting for me to call you.
For people who lack in common sense - and there seems to be a fair share of them - I do recommend searching for tips for a "good" resume. Here are a few: Fix typos, do not use buzzwords that you do not know the meaning of, include relevant information and leave out your favourite eating places. See? Common sense tips.
Sites on the Net offer advice ranging from the motif of the paper that you use to industry happenings that you should include. If you are new in the job market such tips serve only to create a mish mash document that I wrinkle my nose at and store in permanent file (the trash can).
On a more serious note, each person who reads your resume has his/her own preferences; some want details while others do not. Obviously, one can not write individualized documents unless one is in serious lack of a life. On the other hand, industry specific ones is something that can and should be managed. If you are applying to a news agency then items / job experience should be highlighted or moved up relating to them. Those same may or may not (probably not) be the same if you are applying to a software house. You are the applicant here, try to realize this. You are the one who is applying, so spend a few minutes making your resume more relevant (read: interesting) to the person who would be reading it there.
Leave out smiley faces. No, no one other than you finds them cute. Smiley faces are annoying.
You will get an interview if relevant information has been included in complete form. Unfortunately, you'll also get called if not, but only if the interviewer has been "asked" to call you. So, there, you've already alienated him (or her, to be PC). Do yourself the favour of not making your position worse by leaving out important pieces of information, such as the dates / durations of previous experience, or leaving in a bucketful of typographical mistakes.
Another tip: Lie consistently. Eh, what? You read it right. We all lie, the little white ones are still lies by any other name. If someone took a week-long course in skiing a decade back, he sticks it in. Makes the resume that bit fatter. The reader knows it, and politely doesn't mention it. On the other hand, putting in knowledge / experience of things that you have no idea of, is a deal breaker. I'm reminded of a person who added Hindi to language skills. When asked, he said that even though he doesn't actually know it, it being a lot like Urdu should / could / may be considered under some circumstances. Ahem!
So. In conclusion. What tips am I giving about taking / not taking tips? Only the one thing: tips are guidelines to help you, not templates for you to copy blindly.
And just a quick note on cover notes: If you add in it that you want to work for a progressive, industry leading organization like mine, I am going to ask you what you know about my company. If you then admit that you haven't the foggiest, don't sit by the phone waiting for me to call you.
