What should my resume say?

Part 2 of a 3 part article

A properly constructed resume shows your career progression and highlights your professional accomplishments. They generally fall into these parts, listed in descending order of importance:

1. Job responsibilities,


2. Business accomplishments, such as specific projects,


3. Education,


4. Awards and professional recognition,


5. Professional goals,


6. Personal interests.

Your resume will have various uses and different audiences. You will probably need more than one version to provide an appropriate view of yourself in various situations. This does not mean that you should create different versions of yourself, just different ways of looking at the same person. For example, a recruiter needs some basic information to make a rapid decision about your general fit. You should not provide the intimate details of every project to that person. On the other hand a hiring manager will have more interest in the specifics, but here too you must keep his attention span in mind.

In looking for a new position, you should view your resume as a document that provides enough information to prepare you and your audience for a direct discussion. It should clear the path, not become the center of attention. You will distract your audience, if you create an unclear, lengthy or overly detailed resume.

You may find resume templates in the brief article: “How Recruiters Read Your Resume.”

Next Entry: How should I use my resume?

Contact Jason Sanders