Effective writing and formatting of your resume will ensure the hiring manager can quickly and easily evaluate your suitability for the role and gain a clear idea of the value you bring.
The first step in editing and refining your resume is to make sure you have included only information relevant to the role you are applying for. However, cutting things out of your resume isn’t easy. If you are struggling with this, create a master resume file. The master resume file will store all your experience and you can then edit as required.
Once you have culled irrelevant content, the next step is to check that your resume includes these four elements for effective writing.
If you haven’t already, you may also want to review this article: Resume Writing Conventions. This article explains accepted resume writing conventions with examples. These examples will help you edit your writing.
Related: Frequently Asked Resume Questions
Contents
Simple Words
Do not try and impress with vocabulary. Instead, use your own words. Also, avoid slang, jargon, clichés and vague claims.
Here is an example sentence found on a before version resume:
Before:
Conceptually strong and technically astute, I have a proven record for managing complex projects effectively.
The use of ‘conceptually strong and technically astute’ does not add additional weight or persuasion. It is actually unclear what this means.
The new version of this sentence ended up something more like this:
After:
My current role is Project Consultant for XYZ Group. In this role, I have delivered engineering project consultancy to diverse clients, including the AAA Company. To date, I have overseen 25 high profile projects to meet project delivery targets.
You do not need to use complex words or phrases. Your experience will speak for itself.
Apply Simple Sentence Structures
Reading your resume should be effortless, with no need to re-read sentences.
The optimal sentence length is 20 to 30 words, with variation within your document. However, resume writing has a unique style, and it is appropriate to keep your sentences tighter. Aim for an average of 15. This will ensure that your resume is direct and to the point.
Read over any lengthy sentences and check if you can say the same thing with fewer words.
Look out for phrasing like, “with regard to”, “because of”, “for instance”, “in order to”
Here are some example sentences re-written concisely:
Before:
The health and safety procedures were reviewed by the executive team and positive feedback was received.
After:
The executive team provided positive feedback for the health and safety procedures.
Before:
When I was provided with minimal background and teaching materials, I demonstrated my ability to improvise in order to deliver quality learning.
After:
I improvised when provided with minimal background and teaching materials to deliver quality learning.
Additional examples: Cover Letter Mistake: Wordiness
Explain Critical Background Information
If there is a crucial piece of information required to make sense of your resume content, explain immediately.
For example, if your work history appears more complicated due to company acquisitions and mergers. Straight away, provide the information required to make this clear to the reader.
Alternatively, perhaps you have referred to an obscure internal computer system. Give the reader context by listing the nature of the computer system. So instead of ‘Oversaw maintenance of FairyFloss101’, you should write ‘Oversaw maintenance of FairyFloss101 (an internally developed CRM system)’.
Short Paragraphs & White Space
Avoid big blocks of text. Your resume will initially only be scanned briefly. If key points are buried within a slab of text, they are very likely to be overlooked.
Use white space and design elements wisely. White space gives a page order and direction. Use headings and white space to allow the reader to locate the information needed quickly.
Using design elements, including headings, bulleted lists and shading, you can direct the reader’s attention to important points.
Related: Formating & Style Tips
Once you have edited your resume, the next step is to proofread. So is the next step after that! Proofread many times. Advice for proofreading can be found here: Tips for Proofreading Your Resume
Proofreading Checklist
Next Step: Targeting & Keyword Optimisation
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