1.Don’t give irrelevant information
A prospective employer does not need your entire life story. Usually, they only need to know the details of your qualification, education and work history. A resume is the first communication between you and the employer. If the employer visualizes you through your resume, then you get that interview. Therefore, always provide information that is relevant and important to the particular job you are trying to get. For Example,
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If you are applying for Java, Don’t highlight Microsoft skills. Ask some one to review your resume and get their feedback whether your resume focuses on JAVA.
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If you are applying for a job that required Insurance domain knowledge and you don’t have it, don’t highlight the financial background much, just leave it. Instead of highlighting the unwanted skills, you can mention without focusing. (Focusing means not bold/italic the skills)
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If you are currently working on different skill set but the job that you are applying needs your previous skill set, don’t focus on your current working experience. Instead project your Education background and previous experience and achievement on that field like certification, white papers etc.
2.Write your roles and responsibility for each project
Some resume will be filled with client information and project details. Is it like, writing resume with what client do rather than what you did on the project. Always write two lines about the client, 4-8 lines about the project description and write your roles and responsibility in bullet points. Don’t write these roles and responsibility as generic for all projects like writing test document, migration document etc. Write specific technical tasks you performed.
3. Don’t Provide personal details such as race, age, religion, and ethnic heritage
Please don’t provide any race, age, religion, marital status and culture, your country etc in the profile. This will create a mindset of the interviewer/employer about your personality. Please be surprise to them and don’t filter yourself.
4. Add project experience positively
Most employers want to know what you took away from past job experiences that will benefit your new job. Previous project experience to be expressed in a neat and positive way. Always project that you learned something from your previous project.
5. Check the resume for punctuation, grammar, correct words and spelling mistakes
Anyone can make a mistake or overlook a common error. However, impressing your skills on a potential employer is extremely important. Always check your resume for errors. Do not depend solely on a spell-checker; spell-checkers only catch at most 75% of potential errors
Take a hard copy print and go through line by line once and ask some one to review it.
6. Don’t make a generic resume
It is easier to make one resume generic and it may be ok for some people. However, I feel that a resume should be created with enough customization of your skills and experience. This is not difficult to do.
First, consider what types of jobs you will be applying for with a resume. Perhaps you will be able to categorize the jobs into two or three groups. Then it is easy to make a resume suitable for each group individually. Make a different objective or profile for each industry. This is one easy way to insure every resume is suited for the job you are applying for.
Whatever your career goal, a good resume gets you seen. Always have a positive, proactive attitude when searching for a new career opportunity and you may just find that opportunity is banging your door down!
7.Use standard font and style
Always use some standard font and styles. Usually verdana font will be good for resume. Make it simple and neat.
- Don’t make it more colorful
- Don’t attach all the certification logo
8.Check the resume file Properties
Sometime the resume will be copied from somewhere and it will have irrelevant information on the file properties. Verify the properties and put your name.
For MS-Word, open your document, go to File -> Properties
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Select the document and right click the mouse, choose the properties Summary
9.Don’t put anything you don’t know
While referring to some resume, don’t copy any of the words, or project tasks that you don’t know.
10.Giving Reference:
Some companies will ask for references. So, please add a line “reference will be provided upon request”. You don’t have to mention your reference person’s contact details in your resume and make it public.