How to Write a Quality Resume

I have spent much of my professional life reviewing resumes, and in an earlier article I offered advice on how to review a resume. Today I have some suggestions for those of you who find yourself writing a resume, either for the first time or the first time in a long time.

First and foremost, always remember that the only purpose of a resume is to get you an interview. A resume is a marketing tool; a great resume by itself will not land you the job, but a poorly done resume can keep you from even having a chance at it. A resume is your one chance to make enough of an impression for a hiring manager to want to talk further with you.

All resumes follow a fairly standard format, at least with regard to what information is included:

Contact Information. I have frankly been amazed at the number of people over the years who have sent in resumes with incorrect or missing contact information. Sometime it's simply a case of not updating an address after a move, but the result is the same; no matter how good you look on paper, it doesn't matter if the hiring manager or Human Resources representative has no way to contact you.

Always include your name, current home address, e-mail address, and at least two contact phone numbers, preferably home and cell. If you include your e-mail address, be sure to check it daily. If your resume is longer than one page (and later in this article we'll discuss why it never should be), put your name and phone number in the top right corner of the second page in case the pages get separated.

Objective Statement. An objective describes the type of work or specific position you are seeking; it should also tell the prospective employer what you are offering them. Avoid general phrases such as "challenging and rewarding career" and "potential for growth" which don't tell the reader anything anyway.