Your College to Career Journey

I was watching the last season of 24, when I was inspired to include this important resume lesson! Can you just imagine what [the "previous experience" portion of] Jack Bauer's resume would look like?

Unless you are Jack Bauer, You don't need so many bullets!

One of the sure signs of an amateur resume is saying TOO much. We all know that Everyone Likes a Good Tease, but I cant emphasize enough the value of saying just what is needed, and nothing more.

Bottom Line - Do not include 4 bullets on your resume for each position, especially if what you did there is self-explanatory (yes, waitress-ing and cashier-ing is considered self-explanatory)- Include as little information as possible to convey the HIGHLIGHT of that accomplishment.

* For a technical position, list the technology (or languages) you used, and include one statement on the main objective of your work at that institution.
* For other positions or any other position, state on your main objective from your work at that institution, and include as many significant numbers as you can take credit for (for example, "I improved product sales by over 6%", or "I handled over $500,000 worth of products through the site I supported/created")!

For each bullet you write, ask yourself if its really necessary. Chances are, you are just filling up space! And, Filling up space is not a good objective - instead add to your experience, get a new certification, or add an "interests" column on your resume.

Here are some other resume rules to remember:

1. GPA Rule - If its above a 3.0, write it on your resume (Otherwise, just prepare to be asked about it if and when you get a call for an interview)!
2. Include a Professional Email Address, and Voicemail - Its better to play it safe, and have a professional (ie, firstname_lastname@...com) email address and voicemail to avoid bad first impressions.
3. Dont include your references - Whoever interviews you is a professional - They know that they can request references, so don't say so, and more importantly, don't include their names or contact information.

Main Moral: Use less bullets, and convey just enough.