Rule #3- Your Resume Should Be Easy to Digest

September 29th, 2008

This is the difference between ending up in the YES (contact them now for an interview) or MAYBE (read later) pile. We don’t worry about the NO pile. If you followed Rule #1 and Rule #2, you should be able to stay out of the NO pile for any job for which you are reasonably qualified. The MAYBE pile is a killer at this point.

The MAYBE pile is for resumes that are comprised of huge blocks of text, that have over five bullet points for each job, that use the same nine words over and over again, that have no headlines at the top briefly describing key qualifications so the reader knows something about the candidate as they skim through the professional experience section.

“I’ll read that later,” the hiring professional will say when faced with having to decode a resume with these characteristics. Too much time, too much work. But here’s the thing…

Most hiring professionals NEVER get to the MAYBE pile.

Related posts:

1. Rule #1- A Resume is a Marketing Tool, not a Career History
2. Rule #2- Your Resume Should Have a Compelling Narrative
3. Putting it All Together and Writing the Resume
4. Let Yourself Shine
5. Free Resume Winner

Filed under: career change, career reactivators, college grads, mid-career professionals, miscellaneous career advice

Tags: career change, recent grads, resumes