Inside Track to Resumes

This is my next pitch for a spot on ABC. Let me know what you think.

An Inside Track to Resumes

There is a lot of good advice about resume writing and formats and it seems that the advice you get varies depending on the source. So here is an inside track to resumes that permeates almost every profession.

1. Make your resume as long as it needs to be. There is an old myth that your resume has to be one page. That myth is simply not true. If you have 2 ½ pages of important info, make it 2 ½ pages long. Just make sure your story is compelling throughout the entire resume.
2. Make an impact in 5-7 seconds. HR managers and recruiters read a lot of resumes throughout the day and don’t have time to dissect a difficult resume. If you can make a great first impression and make the information easy to find, you are more likely to get an interview.
3. Keep it to business. No personal info. Divulging personal info on a resume (like hobbies, leisure activities, family info, etc) can result in being discriminated against or simply being passed over because you should have known better. So as a rule, keep the entire resume to your professional and educational life.
4. List where you have: Made the company money, saved the company money, or improved a process that positively impacted the bottom line. This sets you apart from other candidates because it is rarely mentioned. Companies these days want to know that you will be a worthy investment. Companies go on the assumption: Past performance predicts future performance.

Remember: The goal of your resume is to get the interview. Tell a compelling, truthful story and you will get more interviews.