So lately I’ve been getting resumes sent to me for a critical eye…..while resumes may seem old-fashioned in this day and age, it’s still the first thing people tend to ask for….some of my observations…..

1. Don’t get too funky with format. Yes, it’s prettier. Yes, you’re going to tell me your field is creative, and it stands out. But design can be distracting. Hiring someone is a serious thing….let your accomplishments and capabilities speak for themselves. Save your personality for the interview.
2. Get a second pair of eyes on it.  You are probably so used to terminology, it seems second nature to you. But it might not mean anything to a “civilian”, or you might not be aware that the terminology might mean something else.  A second pair of eyes will get snagged immediately on anything that looks odd. No acronyms.
3. Action verbs always: “Executed”, “implemented” “designed”, “managed” with a focus on the outcomes. Don’t give a laundry of tasks that you did though…if it sounds like a job description, you’re too detailed.  You want to give a broad view of what you accomplished…the outcomes. If it reads like a task list, with lack of clarity on what the outcome was, try again.
4. Be ruthless about what you include and don’t.  Ask yourself “do they care?” about the points you’re including. . If you hesitate, take it out. Again, you can cover it in your interview.
5. Assume you have 30 seconds of someone’s attention: here are the 3 things I look for right off the bat: where you worked, how long in the most recent role, what you got done at the companies you were at. What I’m trying to figure out?  Do you have prior experience you can apply to my opening?  Are there any red flags?  Is there something that tells me something about your character/likelihood of fitting in?