Just like with online dating...you want to put the best photo possible in your profile, right? Well resumes work the same way. Don't underestimate the importance of how you "look" (on paper) to an employer. Resumes are much more than just a mere prop. They need to quickly and clearly demonstrate why you are a match. Make sure yours passes the test!

Resume Rules of Thumb:

1-Level of Detail (Be specific when you need to be and avoid any details that might work against you.)

• If you worked for a company that people won't easily recognize, provide a brief description right under the company name and include the URL. Many times these Industry specifics can be a selling point to your background.
  
• If you have a technical resume, make sure to include actual specifics for each role. Many people leave these buzzwords out of their job descriptions since they've already been mentioned in their skills summary...big mistake! Don't leave them guessing about the specifics.
  
• If considering an out of state job, consider leaving out your address and provide only your cell # and email to avoid being cast off as a difficult relocation issue. Or list the local address of a family member you will be staying with temporarily until you find a new home.
  
• If you've changed jobs a lot, but have defensible reasons for doing so (company relocations, lay offs, contract job, etc..), you may want to think about putting those brief explanations in parenthesis next to your dates of employment so that you don't get stigmatized as a dreaded "job hopper".
  
• Only provide references upon request. You'll not only save space, but you can cater your choices to that specific company and position when the time comes. This will also allow you to prepare them better for this call from the employer!

2-Content (Include only the most valuable data and lose the fluff. It's just a distraction.)

• 1 to 2 pages tops! Doing more is only OK if you are a PHD with 30 yrs of experience with a Nobel peace prize under your belt. Bottom line...don't indulge or you'll come off as self-important.
  
• Cover letters should be very brief (if you even do one at all - I'm not big on them personally). Also, assume it won't get read. So don't ever include any important information here that isn't also somewhere on your resume.
  
• Consider leaving out an objective. Most hiring managers don't put a ton of stock in them anyway. All it will do is take up precious real estate on your resume and could actually, unintentionally, create a mismatch if you are too specific. It's a "can't help, might hurt" kinda thing.
  
• Personal section should also be kept to a minimum. A few hobbies to list are fine (hockey, oil painting, cooking). However don't go overboard or list any personal hobbies that might raise an eye brow (body piercing, hunting). Also, think twice before including your myspace or facebook link. Unless you have built an professional online profile (such as linkedin or zoominfo), you probably don't want employers looking into your personal life.
  
• NEVER use adjectives built an "amazing" piece of software or pronouns "I" or "me". It sends an unsophisticated and self-absorbed message about who you are.

3-Order (The employer has an order they use to screen resumes. Use this to your advantage in layering your content)

• Your contact information should be listed first.
  
• Your skills summary should come second. List things in order of prominence and relevance. Employers want specialists, not generalists! So never list every single thing you know. Leave out the antiquated or obscure stuff. Let managers focus on your most valuable and current core skills.
  
• Avoid functional resumes that list out skills and work experience separate from the job history. 9 out of 10 managers will admit to you that these are harder to read and understand. Stick to traditional chronological job history.
  
• Your job history should come next starting with your current position. In describing each job, start with a % breakdown of the role and work backwards. make sure the order of what you discuss starts with your most prominent responsibility and continues on to cover everything you did.
  
• Always stick to bullet points (2-3 sentences each) and lead with action verbs that emphasize your overall responsibility. This will keep things easier for the manager to scan/read. No one wants to read long paragraphs!
  
• Education, certification and training usually goes at the end unless this information is very rare. In other words, if you are an MIT grad or hold a rare certification, I'd list this at the top! Certain industry certifications should also accompany your name (Beth Gilfeather PMP).
  
• Personal information comes last.