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Featured Article
Job Hunting Skills in a Post-Bubble Economy
Part I - Resumes
September 6, 2002
Recruiters offer insights on the recruiting process from
their perspective. Their advice: target your resume, sharpen your
interview skills, and leave a lasting impression.
Representatives from ChevronTexaco, Lockheed Martin, and Informatica
offered the following tips at last week's Recruiting Kickoff
for Engineering, Science and Technical Careers. The second part
of this article will appear next week.
Have a well-written, targeted resume
Bob Anderson from ChevronTexaco provided the following advice
on resume writing:
- If you use a resume template, modify it in some way. Otherwise
you run the risk that your resume will look almost exactly like
all the others submitted based on the same template. Make it your
own by changing the font or spacing.
- Most resumes are one page, but if you are a MS or PhD student
and have a lot to communicate, it's OK to have a two-page resume;
e.g., list publications, administrative/leadership experience,
patent application/grant-writing experience, etc. on a second
page. It is better to have a second page than to shrink the font
below 10 point and cram too much on one page.
- If you use bulleted lists, limit them to 3-5 items. A long list
of bullets is hard to follow and significant achievements are
hard to find amidst the detritus.
- Most employers are interested in the skills and experience you
have to offer in relationship to specific jobs. Ask yourself if
your resume tells a message that is important for that particular
employer to hear.
- More applicants are listing a personal website on their resume
and it can be a good way to market yourself - but only if the
website pertains to employment or your technical work. If it is
personal, e.g., it includes vacation/parties/ family pictures,
then don't include it.
- When listing your experience, state your contributions with
a focus on actions taken and the results obtained.
Check back next week for expert advice on what to expect in an
interview and how to make a lasting impression.
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