Did you know that most resumes are read for 15 seconds or less, and if they are unsolicited, recruiters will only spend about 3 to 5 seconds?
What a sad story! In addition, research has shown that out of 200 resumes received by potential employers, only one candidate is selected for an interview. This means that your resume will most likely be quickly scanned and mechanically filtered rather than read by an actual person.

To land an interview, you have to immediately catch the reader's attention and impress the reader quickly enough for him or her to take a further look into your background. So how does one write a powerful and effective resume?

As you know, since there is no 'correct' or 'incorrect' resume form, we cannot give you a definitive way to write a solid resume. However, we can advise you on what you "should" and what you "should not" (capitalization) write on your resume to make a good one.

• You should always write the first draft on paper before you type it in the computer.

Understanding yourself better is the only way you can market yourself more effectively.


• You should begin with your name, address, phone number, and e-mail.

If you have a cellular phone or a pager, it is advisable that you note those numbers. This will allow potential employers to contact you immediately.


• You should choose a simple and easy-to-read font.

For example, 'Times New Roman', 'Palatino', and 'Arial' are common fonts used. Avoid complex and hard to read fonts. Remember, your qualifications should stand out, not your visual sense unless you are interviewing for a design-related position.


• You should note your career or background summary before the main body of your resume.

Let people know immediately what is special about you! If you are a recent college graduate with little experience, then start with your education. If you have good computer skills, then state it in the beginning! Write your specialty down on your resume!


• When describing your activities, you should generally begin your sentences with an "action verb".

When you write about work experience, start with an action verb, but when you write about 'job objectives' or 'career goal', try to avoid using an action verb at the beginning of sentences.

Here are some 'action verbs' that you can choose from:

• Always be concise!

As a rule of thumb, resumes containing five years of experience or less should fit on one page. More experienced individuals can justify using a second page. Consider three pages (about 15 years or more experience) an absolute limit.


• You should quantify your experience wherever possible.

Cite numerical figures, such as sales quota increases, lowered turnover, saved money, and/or increased customer satisfaction. Quantifying your experiences will clarify each accomplishment.


• You should note all of your skills.

Make sure that all of your skills, computer knowledge, foreign languages, and other special talents are written down. Get it all down!


• You should use special effects only for functional reasons.

Use boldface, underlines, bullets and other special effects to highlight and organize the contents in your resume. Once you decide on a design scheme, be consistent so that text effects do not become too distracting for the reader.


• You should always proofread your resume. (Very Important!)

Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! Try to catch all spelling errors, grammatical weaknesses, unusual punctuation, and inconsistent capitalizations. Remember, word processors don't always catch simple mistakes. Proofread it numerous times over two days so that you can catch any hidden mistakes. Better yet, show your resume to your friends or family before you submit it to a potential employer.

Should Not

• You should not expect the interviewer to search through your resume.

Know the job requirements precisely so that you can highlight your qualifications that fit those requirements. Keep your resume clear and relevant like a map for the interviewer to follow.


• You should not include personal information. (For English resumes only)

Do not include marital status, number of children, health, height, weight, and other personal attributes. Add hobbies and interests only it is relevant to the job description, thereby making you a more qualified candidate.


• You should not crowd your resume with too much information.

Remember that interviewers go through hundreds of resumes and will not appreciate looking at a condensed, hard-to-read resume. Keep your resume simple enough to relay your qualifications and skills.


• You should not over-exaggerate your experiences and qualifications.

Use your common sense here. Don't lie about your past job titles, qualifications, and educational background. It willl always catch up to you in the end.