How to Do a Killer Resume

If you want to land a job in this market, you need to have a killer resume. A job-hunting friend sent me a link to What Employers Want to See on Your Resume from Guy Kawasaki's blog. There were some good pointers, but too many and too long. If you really want a killer resume, model it after a CEO's. That's what I did about 15 years ago and, well, it seems to have worked out pretty well.

So, based on thousands of interviews with professionals and managers, as well as interviewing for quite a few management and executive-level jobs myself, here are my Top 10 Resume Pointers PLUS my Executive Format:

Top 10 Resume Pointers

1. Keep it short: 2 pages tops, 1 page for shorter career
2. Keep it simple, crisp, and direct; no jargon, no bull, no fluff; less is more
3. Absolutely no grammatical or spelling mistakes!
4. Get feedback, especially from executive, management or recruiter associates
5. 2 to 4 action-oriented (words that end in "d" - led, developed, achieved) bullets for each job
6. Focus on results of your accomplishments - especially operating results or other recognizable metrics, if possible - not just what you did
7. "Career Summary" (you can toot your horn here, but don't go overboard) may include objective, especially if you've had a limited career, but ensure it relates to the job you're applying for
8. If you've been around the block, you can add an "Executive Career Summary" list or similar above the "experience" section; just a bulleted list of last 5 company names, titles
9. Optional "Awards" and/or "Organizations" or other section at the end, but only to demonstrate initiative, drive, success
10. Avoid laundry lists of any kind, no personal trivia or minutia (my opinion)

Career Summary:
Accomplished, dynamic and highly regarded 25-year veteran of technology industry. Consistently successful in leading global organizations, big and small, in meeting growth operating metrics ...

Experience:
Technology Company Inc. 2000 - 2003
Senior Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Sales
Chief marketing and sales officer for public semiconductor company
- Exceeded corporate revenue and profit goals in each of the last 4 quarters without increasing expenses
- Developed and launched worldwide distributor channel program that increased sales by 10% annually
. . .

Education:
M.S. in Electrical Engineering, State University of New York, 1986
B.S. in Physics, State University of New York, 1984

That's it! Happy hunting and please, share your feedback and experience with BNET's audience.