The Three Cs of Great Resume Writing

How to Use Clarity, Content, and Cohesion to Get the Interview

Mar 23, 2009 Deborah S. Hildebrand

When job seekers create their resume they need to keep the three Cs in mind - clarity, content and cohesion.

Just like education has three Rs – reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic – developing a resume means incorporating the three Cs – clarity, content and cohesion. But what exactly does this mean to the resume writer?

Resumes Should Paint a Clear Picture

This means clearly spelling out who the job seeker is using simple, straightforward language that is easy to understand and not likely to be misinterpreted. Think common words, concise sentence structure and no pseudo-intellectual babble. Using five-dollar words does not make someone sound smarter than they are.

A great resume spells out abbreviations and acronyms so the reader doesn’t have to guess if NHRA stands for the National Human Resources Association or the National Hot Road Association. Include only relevant information that clarifies specific experience, education, skills, and abilities. No personal details such as height, weight, marital status, hobbies, or such.

Resumes Should Provide Details

The whole idea behind writing a resume is to ensure that the reader understands who the applicant is and what they have to offer. The content of the resume should spell out exactly what the job seeker has done that has benefitted her career and will benefit the employer.

While it is important for resumes to contain standard details such as contact information, work history and education, it is even more important for a resume to tell a story. Job seekers can do this by quantifying their experience. It is one thing for a candidate to say he answers phones in a call center; however, it is much more impressive if he says he assisted 60+ members daily while maintaining an average handle time of 390 (under the 435 standard) along with a 98.5 percent quality rating.

Resumes Should Pull the Information All Together

Sometimes when job seekers develop their resume (especially first timers) they put more thought into content and less into making it a cohesive document. However, it is important to ensure that all the elements of a resume work well together.

That means keeping the look plain and simple. Use one single, easy to read font face like Bookman or Garamond, preferably 12 pt., and no script. No reason to strain the recruiter’s eyes when she is trying to read it. Keep the format simple and easy to follow with each section of the resume clearly separated. And make sure to check for typos and poor grammar.

While experts are divided on the best resume layout to use, job seekers need to be sure that the information flows smoothly and makes sense. For instance, candidates who have both paid and volunteer work experience sometimes separate these two types of jobs causing it to appear as if they have gaps in their work history. Having to jump back and forth between sections in order to get the complete picture can be tiresome, especially if they are on separate pages.

At the end of the day, it’s all about presentation. Be sure the resume focuses on the three Cs – clarity, content and cohesion. How job seekers present themselves on paper to potential new employers is the first step in getting the chance to present themselves in person.

The copyright of the article The Three Cs of Great Resume Writing in Career Advice is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand. Permission to republish The Three Cs of Great Resume Writing in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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