Don’t underestimate the importance of a good resume. While often it’s the interview that gives an employer an idea of who you are as a person, your resume is the one thing they can always look back to, even after their memories of the interview become blurry. It’s often the deciding factor in whether you get hired: here’s some advice that just might score you that dream job.
Don’t Lie
Falsehoods in a resume are surprisingly common, as is getting caught: 75 percent of employers in a CareerBuilder survey have spotted lies on resumes, and some surveys place that number even higher. With the right questions, an employer can easily find a lie in a resume during an interview (a moment best avoided), and can refer to various resources to uproot fabrications, such as education verification services to verify your academic history. Moreover, the consequences you’ll face can be much more devastating if your lie is caught after you’ve been hired: just imagine explaining the large gap in your resume at your next job interview. Instead of making things up, present your real accomplishments in the most flattering way possible.
Legibility Matters
Your resume should not only be easy to read, but also to skim through, as employers don’t always have much time to read them. Start with your most recent job, listing your title, the date you began working (and, if currently unemployed, the date you finished) and briefly describe your responsibilities there. Your resume shouldn’t exceed a page: otherwise, the employer might lose interest.
Keep Style Consistent
Stay consistent with whatever stylistic choices you make: if you decide to write your job titles in bold, for example, make sure you don’t accidentally leave one out, as it will make your resume look sloppy and rushed.
Your employer will likely see your resume before you meet face-to-face, so keep it honest, readable and uniform. Good luck!
