IS YOUR RESUME THE BEST IT CAN BE?

Resumes normally get less than a 10-second first glance - does your resume have what it takes to get past that initial screening?

In my business I offer customers a FREE resume review based on the following criteria. Does your resume measure up?

FIRST IMPRESSION - Does the resume look original and not based on a template? Is it inviting to read? Does the design look professional rather than like a simple typing job? Are qualifications included so the reader knows your value proposition? Is the resume's length and overall appearance appropriate given the career level and objective?

APPEARANCE - Does the resume provide a visually pleasing, polished presentation? Is the font appropriate for the career level and industry? Are there design elements such as bullets, bolding, and lines to guide readers' eyes through the document and highlight important content? Is there a good balance between text and white space? Are margins even on all sides? Are design elements like spacing and font size used consistently throughout the document? If the resume is longer than one page, does the second page contain a heading? Is the page break formatted correctly?

RESUME SECTIONS - Are all sections clearly labeled? Are sections placed in the best order to highlight the applicant's strongest credentials? Is the work history listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first)?

CAREER GOAL - Is the resume targeted to a specific career goal and not trying to be a one-size-fits-all document? If this is a resume for career change, is the current objective clearly stated, along with supporting details showing how past experience is relevant to the new goal?

ACCOMPLISHMENTS - Does the resume include a solid listing of career accomplishments? Are accomplishments quantified by using numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, or other concrete measures of success? Do accomplishment statements begin with strong, varied action verbs? Are accomplishments separated from responsibilities?

RELEVANCE - Is the information relevant to hiring managers' needs? Does the resume's content support the career goal? Is the resume keyword-rich, packed with appropriate buzzwords and industry acronyms? Is applicable additional information, such as awards and affiliations, included, while personal information like marital status, age, and nationality unrelated to the job target omitted?

WRITING STYLE - Is the resume written in an implied first-person voice (avoid personal pronouns, such as I, me, and my)? Is the content flow logical and easy to understand? Is the resume as perfect as possible, with no careless typos or spelling, or grammar errors?

A STRONG RESUME IS EVERYTHING - make sure you have done everything possible to produce a job-winning resume that will get your foot in the door for interviews. GOOD LUCK!