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12 Frequently Asked Questions
About Résumés and Résumé Writing

How long should a Résumé be? I’ve always been told one page. Is this true?

No. At least, not anymore.

There used to be a rule that a résumé should only be one page. But in today’s market, two pages is standard and, at times, more is acceptable.

It seems that a lot of hiring managers agree. In their monthly membership magazine, Spotlight, the Professional Association of Résumé Writers surveyed HR and Recruiting managers and the answers came back as follows:

1. One page – 20% preference;
2. Two page – 30% preference;
3. Depends on the level of position – 60%
4. No preferences – 0%.

I’ve always followed the rule that you should follow journalistic standards: Develop the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of your job, then add the “So What,” which would be your accomplishments, highlights and achievements – the impact statements that show what kind of an impact you had on the job description.

Do this for each job, or each position within the company. And if it takes more than a page, that’s just fine.

Is there an appropriate format for a résumé?

No. The primary rule is to make the résumé look “graphically pleasing.” But it doesn’t matter what goes where as long as the reader can quickly determine what’s going on in the document.

Here are a few examples:

1995 to 2000

ABC AMALGAMATED PANTS – Chicago, Illinois Senior Gopher and Tunnel Digger (1998 to 2000) Assistant Gopher (1995 to 1998)

And then, there’s:

Senior Gopher and Tunnel Digger ABC AMALGAMATED PANTS – Chicago, Illinois	1998 to 2000
Assistant Gopher ABC AMALGAMATED PANTS – Chicago, Illinois	1995 to 1998

Or there’s

ABC AMALGAMATED PANTS – Chicago, Illinois Senior Gopher and Tunnel Digger – 1998 to 2000 Assistant Gopher – 1995 to 1998

1995 to 2000

Any of these formats are acceptable, but for some obvious reasons (which I’m about to explain), I like the first best.

Here’s why: The layout of the first entry shows the dates to the left, creating a white-space channel that will draw the eye down the margin. Additionally, by just listing employment dates, the reader doesn’t get confused.

It’s pretty obvious that the dates to the right of the position indicate the amount of time in that position, and any recruiter can easily determine what’s going on.

The second entry is simple too verbose. We don’t need two entries for two different jobs with the same company, and entry number three creates the problem of how do you discuss the duties and achievements of each job if they’re jammed together. Again, the first entry allows discussion, even the entry of highlights, under each job description.

As a final note: I personally don’t like things “all centered up.” If you center your name and personal information, then center the text creating even margins both left and right… you’ve created a square. And there is nothing more boring in nature or advertising than a square. Do anything, anything, to make your resume stand out. Put your name to the right and the address to the left…do anything to make it look something other than what the rest of the crowd is doing.

Should I have an objective statement?

Only if you’re applying to the Human Resource Department, or applying blindly for anything you might qualify for.

If you have ten years or more experience in your field, well, you’re not going anywhere else anyway (most probably) so the résumé will speak for itself. If you’re trying to move out of a profession with ten years, or so, experience, then position yourself in the cover letter and omit the objective.

Keep the objective simple, probably no more than 15-words and hopefully less. DO NOT – repeat – DO NOT write blather like “Seeking a dynamic and rewarding position with a growth oriented company that promotes from within based upon excellence and performance.” Write, “Seeking an Outside Sales position that will capitalize upon my ten years of successful sales.”

An objective statement is NOT your goal in applying for the job. The objective statement is a statement of what you have to sell as an employee. The company really doesn’t care what you want. The company wants to know what you have to sell in the way of skills and experiences and what it is going to cost them. Keep it that simple.

Should I put my picture on my résumé?

No. In fact, absolutely not!

First, your résumé is going to be photocopied many times and the picture will turn into a black blotch. If it doesn’t turn into a black blotch, you’ll still look horrible and nobody, but nobody, wants to hire ugly.

Second, this is a written summation of your skills. Don’t waste the space with useless information. In fact, your picture may reveal things you don’t want revealed: Ethnic status, age and sex.

Should I put personal information on my résumé, like hobbies and interests?

As a general rule – no. There are some exceptions, however.

For example, if your personal interest directly applies to the job your seeking, add it. But, I’d advise to add it to the cover letter rather than the body of the résumé. An example might be: “I’ve been an avid mountaineer since my college days and a position with the Forest Service would be ideal…”

Should I have a cover letter?

Absolutely! A recent survey of recruiters (As reported by Career Masters Institute), 33% of the respondents said the cover letter “..was a major part of the decision making process…”

But…

Again from the Professional Association of Résumé Writers monthly publication:

1. No Cover necessary – 20%
2. Personalized cover letters only – 60%
3. Form letters acceptable – 20%
4. Don’t care – 10%

Look at number 2. PERSONALIZED COVER LETTERS ONLY and by a 60% margin! In other words, if it’s a form letter, alter it just enough to make it look personalized.

An additional point came out in a later question – What would you have candidates do differently? The answer was: “Send a cover letter and tell me what they REALLY want to do.”

What should be in the cover letter?

You have two tasks to accomplish in the cover letter:

First, identify the job you are applying for.

Second, tell why the recruiter (HR person) should read the résumé.

I’ve always followed the rule that you make only objective statements in the résumé (statements that can be proven) and only subjective statements in the cover letter (facts that may be just opinion).

For example, I would never write “hard working” in a résumé. But in the cover letter I might write “…if asked, my co-workers would tell you that I’m a hard working and….”

The second response is your opinion of what your co-workers would say…not a fact.

In expressing why the reader should read the résumé, talk about the job description. One format looks like this:

You Ask For	I have
5 years of sales experience	6 years of inside sales 2 years of outside sales 2 years of customer service

This will tell the recruiter that you’re a qualified applicant and virtually assure that you get an interview.

But, if you don’t have all the qualifications, stress the qualifications you have and why they should continue to consider your application.

For example, the requirements are: 5 years of sales experience and a college degree in finance; and you have five years of sales experience, two years of bookkeeping and an associates degree in marketing. You might write: “My five years of sales are solid: I met quota every month and received numerous awards for customer service. While I was working toward my Associates degree in Marketing, I was the bookkeeper for Stanley Chevrolet and that gave me a great deal of experience in a variety of situations: sales tax, general ledger, A/R and A/P and profit and loss statements. I feel that this ‘hands on’ experience, coupled with my demonstrated success in sales, makes me an ideal candidate for your position.”

Remember, the qualifications are the ideal. Most companies end up settling for less. So….take your best shot. The absolute worst that can happen is that you don’t get the job. And if you don’t take your best shot, you won’t get it anyway.

Should I include my references?

No.

At least, not on the résumé. If you feel references are necessary with the initial application, include them on a separate sheet. When the time comes, you’ll be asked for references and at that point, supply them, again, on a separate sheet.

Will my references be checked?

Assume that they will. However, most companies today are simply giving dates of employment. Sometimes, the HR department will ask whether or not you are eligible for rehire, but usually not. You can thank the legal community for the fact that your termination for theft will not be expressed for fear of a lawsuit.

How many references should I give?

Standard is three professional and one personal.

My references aren’t going to be so good…

Well, that’s okay too. If you have a supervisor that isn’t going to speak well of you, then figure out why and look for co-workers who will support your story.

As example: If your supervisor will say that you were hard to get along with, find five or six co-workers who will attest that the supervisor needs therapy. Turn your bad reference into a bad reference on the person giving the reference.

Here’s an example: “Mr. Murdock was fired for not selling enough cars.” And the response is: “In the period of one month, I ‘wrote up’ 12 transactions, got a deposit and turned them to the finance department for financing. All 12 were turned down. I’m not responsible for the quality of my customers. I did my job, the dealership just didn’t have the resources to handle bad credit.”

Or, “Mr. Murdock was late for work three times and was terminated.” Response: “I shouldn’t have taken the job. I thought I gave myself plenty of time, but a seven-car wreck, an unexpected ice storm and a broken transmission all in the same week….”

How should I send my résumé to a potential employer?

By email.

Remember our survey by the Professional Association of Résumé Writers? Here’s the response, and it should be no surprise in this techno-driven age that:

1. By mail: 10%
2. By fax: 10%
3. By email: 60% (As a MS Word attachment)
4. By email pasted into the text: 20%
5. No preference 20%

It seems quite clear that by sending your résumé as a Word attachment to your email is preferable. Most likely because it is really sending an “original” that doesn’t take up physical file space and always looks fresh and new.

In Summary:

Had enough?

As a member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers, the Texas Association of Résumé Professionals and the prestigious Career Masters Institute, I’d love to go to work for you. I offer a free evaluation and analysis of your résumé – no hassle no haggle. But if you want a spectacular document, just give me a call. With best wishes for your career success, I remain…

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