Headlines are important in a resume because they guide hiring managers, recruiters, and electronic tracking systems (ATS) to important information (“Professional Work Experience,” “Education”) and because they help you organize your resume logically. There are four basic resume headlines, but some resumes may require more or less. The first resume headline is the one used for your name and contact information; this always a...

Before I list the differences between small companies and large companies from the job applicant’s viewpoint, let me list a couple of similarities: Both small and large companies use applicant tracking systems these days. About the only companies that don’t use electronic systems to weed out resumes are sole proprietorships!Both small and large companies expect to see a professional, clearly written, focused resume, not a g...

They creep in everywhere, the little exaggerations or omissions: those little resume lies. Some resume writers even encourage them in the name of “helping” a job applicant look good. But in my viewpoint, the consequences of lying are never worth the risk; they are too severe, both personally and professionally, and too likely to be exposed, even during the job interview. Those little lies include: Inflating a job title. You...

Cover letters and emails are important; some hiring managers and recruiters ignore them but others expect them. Why take the chance? Cover letters give you the opportunity to show off your communication skills, direct the hiring manager’s or recruiter’s attention to important accomplishments and facts, and add detail that might not be appropriate for your resume (for example, salary range if the company requires that inform...

Just as high school seniors struggle to write their essays for college applications, college seniors often struggle with writing resumes for their first jobs. Unfortunately, their preparation for this moment may leave a lot to be desired. Here are a few things college students can do now, before they graduate, to beef up their resumes: Work, either on or off campus, whether you need to pay college expenses or not. Work expe...

Often small mistakes on a resume have the potential to upset a job applicant’s chances. For example:The absence of a two letter word is easy overlook when proofreading a resume—in this sentence, the word “to” is missing. Other frequently dropped words are “as,” “by,” “on,” and “in.”Redundancies may creep in: “$2 million dollars” and “approximately in the range of” are redundant.Missing periods and commas are common in resum...

A professional looking and sounding resume is as important as a professional wardrobe when you are looking for a job. What makes a resume professional?First, the contact information is professional, with an email address that consists of your name, not some cute phrase or an address you share with your entire family (such as TheSmithFamily@yahoo.com).Second, the content conforms to expectations for professional resumes. Wor...

Your resume introduces you to a company and puts you in line for an interview. But your resume is also an essential part of your preparation for that interview.First, suppose you tried, without a resume, to keep the exact same information on employment websites, social media like LinkedIn, personal contact, networking, email and snail mail. It would be very difficult to avoid minor errors and contradictions while juggling a...