When we talk about content we refer to the way you phrase your information on your resume. You should phrase your information in a way that will sell your skills and experiences effectively. Remember this is the document that will be getting you into the interview rooms or getting you past the first step.
Content can be very confusing at times as each person depending on your educational background will perceive the content differently. Some say that your resume should be written in the first person, meaning; me, I, I am, I managed and some say your resume should be written in the third person, meaning; he, she, it, he is, he managed, his and hers. Stick to the professional approach to writing your CV and it is obvious you will have to choose the first person or the third person when writing your resume. However when using the first person one tends to use the terms I and me repeatedly which is not a good idea as it makes the resume too personal and therefore it can be perceived as being:
- being unprofessional
- very informal
- as being self absorbed and arrogant
- insufficient experience
The best solution is to use the third person however this can prove discomforting to the writer of the document referring to his skills and experiences in the third person however keep the pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, this) to a minimum. Your reader will know that the information in your resume is about you therefore the pronouns are not needed.
An example of this can be illustrated as follows:
Instead of this: I engage confidently at board level to analyse a corporate culture, the market place and potential international avenues. I also apply this data to the development of a customer and staff-centric solution to deliver bottom line growth
Try this: Engages confidently at board level to analyse a corporate culture, the market place and potential international avenues. Applies this data to the development of a customer and staff-centric solution to deliver bottom line growth
Clearly in this example Engages replaces I engage and Applies replaces I also.
Lets consider your resume for a minute if we do not apply the third person and we continue to use pronouns. Your resume would look something like this:
- I managed a group....
- I succeeded in achieving......
- My primary goal and objective......
- I achieved green belt......
- I am confident.....
You see what I mean, if you write your resume in the first person and you use pronouns there is a danger of becoming an “I” specialist and you want your reader to absorb the information on your resume so that the information becomes effective when you are being considered for a vacancy or position. In the above example your reader may become so transfixed by your use of the word “I” that he fails to take in the information written in your resume.
The use of Positive Adjectives
When using positive adjectives you can help reinforce your statements and some examples of this are:
- Experienced
- Positive
- Proficient
- Resourceful
- Versatile
- Productive
- Efficient
- Astute
- Flexible
- Responsible
- Diligent
It would also be a good idea to consider Verbs - Doing or Action
Using these action verb examples will help your resume have a greater impact it would be a good idea to start your sentences with the:
- Managed
- Launched
- Implemented
- Developed
- Accomplished
- Designed
- Founded
- Fostered
- Expanded
- Negotiated
- Organised
- Oversaw
- Improved and there are many more examples
Make use of these words and other similar words when describing your skills and experiences so that you can emphasise what you have achieved. Also make sure your use of the action verbs are used in the correct context and that they are relevant to the role you are applying for.
Repetition
We have already demonstrated how unprofessional repetition can be in example above using the third person. Therefore again we need to reiterate the importance of non repetition and again it is as important when writing your resume in the third person. Repeating words like managed over and over provides a lack of depth and again could be the cause of your resume not landing on the correct pile.
Spelling
One of the most important factors when preparing your resume is to check for spelling errors. Spell check makes life easier these days when preparing your resume on your PC, however don’t only rely on your spell check to correct spelling and if you are not certain ask your closest friend or spouse to check your spelling.
Here are a list of commonly misspelled words:
- Program - Programme
- Liaison - Liason
- Personnel - Personel
- Necessary - neccesary, neccessary
- Separate - Seperate
These are just some of the tools that you can use to get you started. You may also engage in a professional resume writing company that will write your resume for you.
For more information also see:
- Resume
- Advantages of a really good Resume
- Common Resume Questions
- Common Resume Mistakes
Also look at the following resources for building your resume
- Personal Details
- Professional Profile
- Adding an Objective
- Education and Qualifications
- Career History
- Skills and Achievements
- Other Details, Interests and Activities
