Like so many people, I am spending hours agonizing over my résumé. I had a couple of versions lying around, but nothing I could use. I had not had to seriously apply myself to it for years and I had forgotten how hard it is.
It helps to bear a few things in mind.
- A résumé will not get you a job. It will be used to screen you in or screen you out.
- In spite of this, a résumé is a sales tool
- You are writing for at least three audiences:
- keyword scanners
- recruiters
- hiring managers and (sometimes) peers
- Nobody spends much time reading résumés: 30 seconds to a minute at most
- Objective is not a very useful section to have unless you are starting out in a new career. Summary lets you emphasize the qualities you already have.
- Keywords are what people are going to scan for first, so put them near the top. A Skills section takes care of that.
- References — are superfluous. Every recruiter knows that you have them and that they are "available on request", so don't waste the space.
- Some people say you should customize the résumé for every employer. If you do this, you risk becoming incoherent. Better to decide how you are going to portray yourself and stick to your story. If the story needs adjusting it applies across the board, not just a particular employer.
It did also help to look at other résumés for ideas...
Finally, a résumé is potentially a bottomless sink of time. Beware of the perfectionist instinct!
