TANDEM’S TIPS: OPINIONS AND RESUMES
Kent R.
Over the next several weeks, I’ll be responding to frequently asked questions that have not been addressed here on the blog recently. Q: I get so many differing comments regarding my resume. How do I know that I have used the best approach?
A: The bad news is that there isn’t a “best” approach for a resume, simply because different formats/approaches appeal to different people. The GOOD news is that following certain standards and conventions will work in your favor a majority of the time (these standards vary a bit depending on the industry, etc.).
People – in general – have a variety of personal opinions regarding resumes. Constructive criticism is always great. Remain open-minded when someone points out things such as potential errors or lines that don’t sound quite right. That kind of feedback keeps you in a frame of mind where you are always looking to fine-tune your resume. Be careful, though, of feedback that offers no value or is merely an opinion.
Remember, the goal is to have a resume that gets you closer to securing interviews – not one that makes your friends happy! And, again, there is no “best” way to approach a resume – only certain things that work very effectively much of the time. So, for example, a couple of fonts have been shown to screen the best with both computers and people. Would I select them outside of a resume? Maybe, maybe not. The same holds true when it comes to format; adherence to certain formatting conventions, like them or not, will produce a resume that works more effectively for you.