Writing a Résumé

A résumé is one of the first impressions that a potential candidate makes with any prospective employer. Often, however, they are too long, fail to appropriately reflect a candidate's capabilities, or are presented in a cluttered format, making them difficult to read or understand.

A résumé is the "sizzle before the steak." It is the introduction to a book, not the book itself. Therefore it needs to be concise, focused, and full of relevant material. It has to entice the reader to want to learn more about the candidate.

There are two types of résumés: chronological and functional. A chronological résumé lists work experience from most recent to least recent (although some are ordered the other way around). Conversely, a functional résumé lists all skills and experiences first, then lists the names of present and past employers and tenure with those employers. Chronological résumés are preferred in AMGI's offices so that it can be determined how current a candidate's experience is in any particular job. Typically, clients do not question chronological résumés.

The purpose of the résumé should be to permit the reader to learn a lot about your work experience in a short period of time. Here are some criteria to keep in mind while you are developing your résumé:

Keep it short.

• One to two pages are preferred but ensure that it is no longer than three pages.

Proofread carefully.

• Use the spell-check and grammar-check features of the software programs you are using, bearing in mind that these features will not catch all mistakes. Ask someone with an eagle eye for errors to proof it for you.

Format it clearly.

• If someone only has time to take an initial quick glance, they need to be able to discern dates, time frames and key experiences quickly.
• Use point form, and ensure a flow from one position to the next. For example, did you leave a full-time position and work on a series of contract roles before returning to full-time? List the contract positions under one heading so it does not appear that you are a job-hopper.

Discuss relevant information.

• Describe specific accountabilities and accomplishments, and be sure to substantiate your roles and achievements wherever possible (e.g., achieved or surpassed revenue targets; managed a budget of $750,000, restructured departmental reports in order to eliminate redundant reporting, etc.).

We hope we have presented a framework to assist you with the task of writing a strong résumé. Good luck!