The Resume: A How-To
W. Christopher Horst
Human Resources Coordinator, HOPE International
Rev. March 2009
The resume can be a document which bolsters and supports you as a job candidate or it can quickly dispel you from consideration. While even the most-effectively designed resume can’t make a poor candidate a strong candidate, it can be a tool which separates you from a pool of similar applicants. While creating your resume, there are several principles which should guide you. Your resume should…
- …highlight your strengths;
This seems fairly straight-forward, but very few people create resumes which do so. What makes you prepared for the position? What are your strongest assets? If you have very little experience, but a shining educational background, highlight your education. If you struggled in school, but have excelled vocationally, ensure your resume features your successes.
Nobody wants to read a five-page resume. If the employer is interested in more information about your past experiences, they will ask for more details in an interview. Avoid highly-technical jargon. Your resume should touch on the highlights of each of your jobs and degrees not provide lengthy job descriptions and educational transcripts. Keep your resume to two pages or less if at all possible. If you are a recent college graduate, there is no reason your resume should be longer than a page.
- …be professionally formatted;
Sharp formatting is like strong nonverbal communication. It guides the employer’s eyes, is consistent throughout, and enhances the tone your resume pervades. If possible, convert your resume from a Word document to a PDF for submission as this makes the resume easier to read and looks more professional. Also, if you don’t have a professional personal email address—get one (e.g. john.smith@gmail.com). Having an email address like soccerstar39@aol.com comes across casual and, while this might seem petty, can actually make a difference in the employer’s perception of you as a candidate.
- …be personalized for the position you are applying for;
Be sure your resume highlights the right things for the job which you are applying. Compare the potential position’s job description with your resume. How does your resume match up with the position—and what items have you not included which might be valuable to include in light of such?
- …and exemplify your commitment to excellence.
Throwing a few bullet points and achievements on a document in a rush will send a poor message to your potential employer. Spell check carefully and, preferably, have a friend or colleague do a final check for errors. Put time into this and don’t create it all at one time. Over time you will start to notice holes and mistakes which you may have missed in your first draft.
Below is a resume which demonstrates these points and can be used as a template.
John L. smith
123 W. Main St., Thomasville, IL 12345
(123) 123-2321, johnksmith@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2004-2006 Kellogg School of Management Evanston, IL
Northwestern University
Master of Business Administration, Majors in Finance and Marketing, Dean’s List
· Won the Harvey Fellowship from the Mustard Seed Foundation for leadership,
academic excellence, and integration of Christian faith with secular vocation.
· Kellogg Board Fellows: Co-chair of program that trains students to serve on
nonprofit boards.
· Neighborhood Business Initiative: Advised church on its plans to start a social
enterprise baking cookies.
1995-1999 Harvard university Cambridge, MA
Bachelor of Arts in Government, cum laude
· Wrote and edited for The Harvard Crimson, the daily student newspaper.
· Winner of the National Press Club/Harvard Institute of Politics Award for Political
Writing.
· Taught dance-theater to at-risk children to motivate classroom attendance and
improve self-esteem.
· College ministry leader at St. John’s Korean United Methodist Church, serving
150 Boston-area students.
Experience
2006-present Phillips Foundation Journalism Fellowship Evanston, IL and China
Research and write about North Korea and China, including stories on social
entrepreneurs working in North Korea, the plight of North Korean refugees
hiding in China, and the underground NGOs that shelter them.
Summer 2005 The New York Times New York, NY
Strategic Planning, Project Analyst
· Strategy: Helped formulate an online video strategy and action plan for The
Times, the first analysis of the journalism and business opportunity offered
by widespread broadband adoption. Researched the economics of producing
and delivering online video segments. Conducted an assessment of the
competitive landscape to determine where The Times holds strategic
advantages.
· New product development: Built a Profit & Loss spreadsheet for a new line of
business, a Times-branded website devoted to financial dealmakers.
Incorporated dozens of variables and analyzed a variety of scenarios,
including free and paid models. Sized the overall market and evaluated
competitive offerings.
· Mergers & acquisitions: Constructed a financial model for valuing the
potential acquisition of a major international newspaper ($400M in sales).
Developed a method for measuring the impact on print and online revenue for
The Times and its sister properties, The International Herald Tribune and
About.com.
1999-2004 San Jose Mercury News San Jose, CA
Metro Reporter, 2002-2004
· Covered local government and politics, social issues, crime, and the
environment. Reported front-page stories exposing mismanaged charities in
California and campaign finance irregularities in a local election.
· Nominated twice for the Society of Professional Journalists’ Excellence Awards,
for Outstanding Young Journalist and for Feature Writing (“When Alzheimer’s
Strikes Early”).
Business & Technology Reporter, 1999-2002
· Wrote for Silicon Valley’s daily newspaper, recording the boom and bust of the
dot-com era and its impact on the economy and people of the Bay Area.
Covered telecom and Internet access. Interviewed executives of top tech firms,
venture capitalists, economists, scientists, entrepreneurs and engineers.
Entrepreneur within the company
· Conceived and wrote business plan to sell staff photographs over the Internet.
Organized a cross-functional team from Marketing, Photography, and the
Internet division to successfully launch service.
· Selected as one of two reporters to serve on committee to revamp local news
coverage.
Summer 1998 The Wall Street Journal San Francisco, CA
· Interviewed senior executives and Wall Street analysts for features and spot
news. Wrote articles on high-tech agriculture in Idaho, the electronic book
industry, and underwater hockey.
Summer 1997 Newsweek Magazine Hong Kong
· Researched and reported for three cover stories: Hong Kong’s transition from
British territory to Chinese rule, China’s ascent to superpower status, India’s
50th anniversary. Filed five stories/week for website.
ADDITIONAL DATA
· Reported stories from China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Japan. Conversant in
Cantonese. Amateur photographer.
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