Wrong Advice Can Create the Wrong Resume

Identify the Right Information and the Best Way to Apply for a Job

Apr 24, 2009 Deborah S. Hildebrand

There is a lot of information on the Internet about how to create the perfect resume. Job seekers need to make sure they find the best advice.

Scour the Internet and most job seekers will find that there is a lot of advice about how to create the proper resume. The difficulty is determining who is offering the best advice.

With so many people – from everyday workers to human resources professionals – offering their suggestions, it is important to ensure that the information job seekers use when creating their resume is the best information.

Read and Compare Information Carefully

There’s nothing worse than reading a single “how-to” article on resume writing and immediately absorbing all the advice without giving a second thought as to how it compares with other recommendations out there. Truth is, there is plenty of conflicting information available about the proper way to prepare a resume.

One of the first things to keep in mind is that a resume is not a CV. A CV or curriculum vitae is traditionally utilized outside the U.S. or for positions in science, medicine and academia. And while it is not wrong to use it when applying for openings within the U.S., it has a completely different look. For more complete information on the difference between resumes and CVs, check out the article The Difference Between a CV and a Resume.

In the meantime, things such as length, personal information – height, weight, marital status and hobbies – and publications, while often found on CVs, are not a normally part of a resume. Yet, there are articles available on the Internet that advise job seekers to include this type of detail on their resume along with a passport-size photograph – another big resume no-no.

The reason behind not including things such as personal information or a photo on a resume is the federal and state laws that govern most U.S. employers. Because it is against the law to discriminate in employment practices, job seekers should avoid providing employers with access to information that would obviously influence decisions.

Find a Trusted Resume Expert

One of the best ways to ensure that the information provided regarding how to write a resume is to review the bio on the author of the article. Most websites that post articles of any type will either include a mini-bio of the writer’s expertise at the end of the article or as a link to their by-line.

Be sure the person giving advice has the type of professional experience – recruiter, career counselor, human resources professional – that would suggest he has a solid understanding of proper resume development.

Job seekers should not stop at reading just one article and think they know the proper way to format a resume. Read several and compare notes to see where there are commonalities or inconsistencies. Review resume templates provided on line, speak to professionals at community-based job services, and ask friends who are steadily employed.

When someone suggests that a resume is merely an “outline of personal information, dependents if any…” or suggests that resumes should be “legible and clean. If handwritten make sure the writing is clear…” or recommends job seekers create a logo using their initials, know they are wrong. Do not submit personal details, a handwritten or overly embellished resume.

Take the time to learn how to construct a proper resume. Wrong advice can create the wrong resume – and the wrong first impression.

The copyright of the article Wrong Advice Can Create the Wrong Resume in Career Advice is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand. Permission to republish Wrong Advice Can Create the Wrong Resume in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.