WRITING YOUR RESUME

1.  A CLEAR AND FOCUSED CAREER OBJECTIVE
      
.Present the reader with a clear and focused objective right
up front.  It should be simply phrased.  Make it short, to the
point, using the least number of words possible.  

2.  TRUTH IN PACKAGING

.Lying or presenting inaccurate information is very
dangerous.  More and more personnel departments actually are
going to the trouble of contacting former employers and schools. 
Personnel specialists are taking the time to check your dates and
your factual claims.  Sometimes a lie may not be discovered until
you are actually on the job.  In nearly all companies lying on a
resume or application is grounds for immediate dismissal.  Of
course, you will be unable to count on that employer for a
recommendation.  It just doesn't pay.

3.  GAPS OF TIME

.Sometimes an unsuccessful job experience is hidden simply by
omitting it from a resume.  This causes a gap in time to show in
your job chronology and history.  An alert personnel specialist,
supervisor or interviewer is likely to catch this gap and ask you
about it.  Once you are found out, no matter what you say you
cannot get away from the fact that you tried to conceal
something.  That generally weighs against you on the grounds that
a person who is unreliable in providing information in one
instance is highly suspect when providing additional information
about him/herself.  If an employer cannot trust you, s/he is
unlikely to hire you.  

.A better way of dealing with an unsuccessful job experience
is to find something positive, almost anything, to say about it
following its entry on your resume.

4.  PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

.The color of your eyes, state of your health, even your
weight is unnecessary information.  If you are in poor health, no
one will expect you to admit that.  The color of your eyes and
your hair is unlikel to be related to your ability to do your
job.  

5..SALARY

.Salary should be discussed AFTER the employer decides to
hire you.  Listing salary could work against you and it is
unlikely to work for you.  Once the company decides they really
want you is the time to discuss money.  Also, "salary" can be
misleading since it is only one form of compensation and
therefore only one measure of your market worth.  Many firms now
have different compensation packages that could considerably vary
the dollar amount of your market value.

6.  HOW OLD ARE YOU?

.Who cares?  It is now illegal to discriminate in employment
on the basis of age.  Leave this information out.  At worst it
could eliminate you.  At best, it shows you are unsophisticated
and unfamiliar with current employment law.  Recently many
employees filed suit against Hoffmann-LaRoche, the pharmaceutical
corporation, for layoffs they allege were done on the basis of
age.

7.  WHY I LEFT MY LAST JOB

.So?  We all leave jobs.  We all worked someplace else once. 
People leave jobs for many different reasons.  Don't volunteer
this informaton.  If they ant to know, they will call you in
for an interview.  The interview is the correct time to discuss
the reason for job change(s).

8..WRITING

.Be clear and accurate.  Complete sentences are not expected
on a resume.  Be VERY careful with grammar and spelling.  Make
sure they are accurate and appropriate.

9..REFERENCES

.Supply references if they are requested.  Otherwise say
nothing.  Do not write "References will be provided upon
request."  No one thinks you would NOT provide references if
asked.  You are just saying the obvious.

10..ABBREVIATIONS

.You MAY abbreviate college degrees, diplomas, certificates
and certifications, streets, avenues, "company", "incorporated". 
In all other cases, literally, spell it out.  Technical or
industry terms should be spelled.

11..MARKETING

.The purpose of the resume is to interest an employer in
interviewing you.  If you have extensive experience try to tailor
and focus your resume for a particular job or industry.  Don't
lie; however, resumes can be presented emphasizing certain
aspects.  For example, in applying for a teaching job, academic
bakgoundwould appear before job experience.  In most business
situations, however, your job experience should come before your
academic accomplishments.  In addition, each industry may have
certain customs about resumes.  Talk to knowledgeable people in
that industry and find out what these norms or customs might be.
