Edit your resume to make sure the wording is the best it can be. Cut out all unnecessary words. Ensure that each bullet point packs a punch.
Typos, misspellings, missing words, and weak grammar can kill all your good efforts in constructing your resume. Proofread, and then put your resume down for a while before proofing again. A good technique for catching errors you would not otherwise notice is to read your resume from the bottom up. Then ask friends or family to proof it for you.
How does your resume look? Is it pleasing to the eye? Is the type size and font easily readable? Can the reader’s eye easily follow the resume’s organization? Are the margins wide enough? These are all aspects of polishing your resume.
Polishing can also include getting the opinion of others. Enlist members of your network (especially those who share your profession) to read your resume with an eye toward answering the question, “If you were hiring for the type of job I seek, how would you respond to this resume?” You can also self-critique your resume using our Resume Critique Worksheet. Finally, consider having your resume critiqued by a professional resume writer. Resume critiques are usually quite inexpensive or even free because resume writers use them as tools to promote their resume-writing services.
Finally, consider file formats (beyond the standard Word .doc) that you may need for your resume — such as ASCII text, HTML, or PDF. See our article Your E-Resume’s File Format Aligns with its Delivery Method.
Leave a comment