IQ Insight | Summer 2006


Summertime...Dust Off Your Resume

By Judy Sheridan

The thermometer's bursting and the grass is brown; summertime is upon us. The summer months are traditionally a quieter period, a great time to reflect and tie up loose ends. How about looking at your career tools too? You know that resume that's been sitting in your documents since your last career change? The one that still has your parents' address and the email that you haven't checked in 3 years? It's time for an update. 

Even if you are very happy in your current position, it's always a good idea to keep your information current. Defining your present role, responsibilities and duties while you are still there helps keep the content fresh and current. Your thoughts on a position you are no longer at can be hazy, incorrect and sometimes negative.

But what to include? And when do you stop writing, assuming you can get over the blank page syndrome? Some one should write a book on these things. (Actually, someone has… please see Karen Schaffer's new book The Complete Book of Resumes, available now from Sourcebooks Inc. and IQ PARTNERS). We at IQ PARTNERS see thousands of resumes every month and can spot mistakes, problems and errors in the blink of an eye. So, I asked around the office for some of the most common resume mistakes or errors. This is what we all came up with, in Top Five format (apologies to David Letterman):

Number 5: Give me some personality! Spice it up, but watch the "too much information" line. Personality can give new life to a dull resume; every recruiter has seen interests including travel, reading and sports (usually in that order) thousands of times. What about "Planning second trip to the Antarctica, reading all the Harry Potter books (for the third time) and awaiting the 14th annual Margaritaville Indoor Golf Invitational." But be mindful of crossing the line: you probably shouldn't include your membership on the women's correctional intramural hockey team three years running (unless you work there!)

Number 4: Use concise dates and explain gaps. "Functional" resumes that omit dates and chronological references can be frustrating. If your career path isn't clear from your CV, you can raise more questions than you answer. It's always good to provide an explanation for time away from the workforce, such as: Paternity Leave; Managed twin boys and move to new town 2001-03 - 2002-03.

Number 3: The K.I.S.S. principle (no, not platforms and makeup.) Your resume must be efficient; we understand the desire to "stick out" from the pile, but if you have to do that with a 16MB file or more than 2 pages, then there’s simply too much information and it needs to be trimmed down. Resumes should be clean and easy on the eye. Reducing the formatting or imbedded images is a good start, unless you are specifically a "creative" but demonstrating your knack for graphic design is what your portfolio is for. This also allows it to be accessible and understandable by everyone. You should be concise and to-the-point. If a recruiter can't read your resume and find the information they want within a few seconds, you will quickly end up in the discard pile.

Number 2: You did what, where… why and how well? Don't simply highlight your job description and responsibilities. Always explain what you did and how well you did it, after your title. Explain the exceptional things you did that make you stick out and demonstrate your achievements in quantifiable terms (this is especially true for sales people). Because a recruiter may not know all the companies in the world (though we do try), insert a short profile of the company or employer; if we understand what the company does and how well they do it, we can better grasp the scope and transferable skills the position has provided you.

And the number 1 resume mistake or error is (insert drum roll here): Grammatical and spelling mistakes, believe it or not. Your resume is a document representing you to the world. If you don't care enough to proofread it carefully, then maybe you are sloppy and careless in other areas. And that is not what you want to suggest to future employers or recruiters. Ask a couple of friends or family members to review your resume before you send it out.

Have a look over your resume; does it need some dusting off? Does it have any of the preceding faux pas? Does it need a total renovation? There's no time like the present.

Here are some basic questions to ask yourself in order to get started:

  1. Is the contact information correct and detailed?

  2. Does this document "sell" me and what I do best?

  3. Is the work information valid and correct? Does it include too much information or not enough?

  4. What about education (this includes professional development courses too)? Is it included and accurate?

  5. Are there any spelling, formatting or visual errors?

And if you get to a point where you feel professional help is needed, contact us about a Resume Report Card. While we won't write your resume for you, we will explain to you what areas can be improved on and how to do so!

-Judy Sheridan is IQ PARTNERS' Manager of Office and Operations. [full bio...]

IQ Insight is published by IQ PARTNERS Inc.

IQ PARTNERS helps intelligent companies hire better, hire less and retain more. Our services include Executive Search & Recruitment, Qualification & Assessment, Employee Retention, Career Management and Contract HR Services. We specialize in Marketing, Communications, Media, Technology, Legal and Financial Services, and operate at the mid-to-senior management level. IQ PARTNERS has offices in Toronto and Ottawa, and internationally via the Aravati Global Search Network.
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