Resumes that Guarantee No Job

Boys and girls, it's time for today's lesson: RESUMES and COVER LETTERS. That's right, we are going to learn how to create documents that shape your job potential in the hopes that you don't wash out of every prospective job on first contact.

1. Your e-mail address and file names should be career-appropriate.

Do not send me a resume with a reply e-mail address "sexykitten22@hotmail.com". Do not name your cover letter file "drabjob1.doc". You aren't going to win any points by giving me insights to the less-then-optimal sides of your character based solely on your naming conventions.
Instead, try simple firstname.lastname e-mail addresses and file conventions (i.e. "John.Public resume". I'll have no question whose information I'm reviewing.

2. Your contact and job history information should be up to date.

I know that resumes are a pain in the kiester, but they are your ticket to a job so you need to check them at least once a semester to make sure the information is current. Even if you aren't on the market, you should update your resume each time you move, get a new phone number, change your e-mail address, or take on a new role in your company. I don't have time to call disconnected numbers; and I will not e-mail you to let you know (I'm not your secretary, after all).

3. Keep your work & education information career-related.

You don't need to list all elements of your work history here; nor do I need to know where and when you attended high school. All I want to know is about your skills and history related to the job for which you are applying. If you are applying for different kinds of jobs, you may need more than one resume (see #1 regarding naming conventions). You may have been a great cashier at Bloomingdale's when you were 16, but what does that have to do with being a librarian?

4. Omit personal data.

You are not applying for a scholarship. What you do on your own time is none of my business; and in fact, if I ask you about it, I may be violating the law. I don't want to know about church, your kids, your hobbies, or your favorite color. The ONLY time this may be acceptable is if your hobbies or side-skills directly relate to your work (i.e., you are applying for a job as a music teacher and you play organ for a choir).

5. Clean up your formatting.

Always submit your documents as attachments, because no e-mail program retains clean formatting. Microsoft Office software is advanced enough to walk even the most computer-illiterate person through using bullet points and indents. Use a clean true-type font (Times New Roman is just fine), and don't underline anything. The word here is organized - not "pretty". Please, no graphics, unless your job calls for graphic design.

6. Spell check.

If I see a spelling error, your resume goes in my "delete" file. Have enough respect for me to hit F7.

7. Keep it simple.

This goes for resume and cover letter. Your cover letter should be one page long. Your resume should be one page as well, although you MAY stretch it to two if your content is vital. You will have plenty of time in the interview to talk about why you want the job, and what your qualifications are, and how you've wanted to be a librarian since third grade. Do not expect me to take a half hour to read your life story. Think of a resume like a PowerPoint - each job or education point should have no more than six bullets (and that is pushing it); each bullet should have no more than six words. Craft your cover letter carefully so that you are both clever and concise.

8. Prepare questions in advance.

The interview begins the minute you submit your resume. I am going to Google your name; I am going to call you and ask you introductory questions about the positions and your skill set. I may call your references (if you provided them). Be prepared with some thoughtful questions and answers - which leads me to my next point...

9. Do your homework.

I am primarily writing this toward library candidates, but this applies to anyone out there looking for a job: research your potential employers in advance. The last thing that you want to do is look stupid because you don't know anything about the company where you are trying to gain employment. I expect that many of you are applying or have applied to 10, 20, even 30 or more jobs, but that is not an excuse for not having your facts straight. Know about the person or committee members to whom you are submitting the application. If you are applying for a job outside of where you live, know about the town and the area. Know what kind of products your company sells, and what kind of clients they attract (if you applied at a school, know the programs that are offered).

10. Be assertive (but not overly) about your expectations.

You should be prepared for discussions about your salary and benefits requirements, your work schedule, your working environment, etc. I admit that you should be flexible about these points - I've yet to see anyone get everything that they want - but if you need to make 40 and the job only offers 32, then don't waste your employers time with a second interview. We want to make the process efficient for you, as well.

Alright, so maybe you're reading this and thinking "this can't be true - what does she know about resumes?" As a hiring manager, these are my big no-nos. I won't even call a candidate who commits most of these errors.

If you need guidance on your resume or cover letter, seek out your school's Career Services office. Or, check out a book on the topic. Monster also has some great tips on this subject, as well as sample resumes to peruse.