Amitabh Sharma
Features Coordinator
A résumé is your first level of introduction when applying for a job. There are some critical do's and don'ts that have reiterated to get an effective résumé. Your résumé should stand out and catch the eye of the Human Resource managers.

Experts say, how a résumé looks decides whether you get that interview call or not. There are some critical pointers that you should keep in mind.

Simple is good
The résumé is your reflection, make it what you want to be; neatness is the key here. White paper should be used to print out, refrain from using coloured or fancy papers. If the paper is not white then an off-white or cream shade is also acceptable.

Do not print in coloured ink; it becomes difficult to read the text when your résuméis scanned, photocopied or faxed. The experts also recommend printing on the smooth side of the paper.

Human Resource (HR) managers and experts also recommend that a cover letter should also be attached to the resume, to save on time and give the essential information. It is also recommended that you carry an extra copy of your résumé when you go for an interview.

Crisp and straight
It is essential that you do not fold your resume; when mailing it, use a large size envelope to put the résumé and the cover letter. Carry your résumé in a folder, and ensure that it is not bent, stained or crumpled, when you go for an interview.

HR managers say they prefer high-quality paper with clean print and a good feel; a résumé with no grammatical or spelling errors stands out than the one with design element in it.

Restrict the content of your resume, make it short, precise and to the point. You can use the following to make your résumé stand out:

• Highlight your contact information


• Use of headings and subheadings to add clarity


• Use bullets instead of lengthy paragraphs but avoid using those 'funky' types


• Always try to keep the look of the résumé as 'corporate' as possible


• Always use New Times Roman or Arial

It is important to have a professional sounding e-mail address. Keep the creative ones for your friends.

Still relevant
The world has moved to online now, searching and applying for a job is mostly done over the Internet. But the HR managers say that the 'old fashioned' paper version is not redundant as yet.

Given this aspect, experts reiterate that you review your résumé before hosting it. It should look as same as it is on paper. At times, the formatting gets spoiled, if you have tried to experiment on the paper.

Experts further say that the whole idea is to attract more attention than the 15-30 seconds usually spent looking at a résumé. Unlike with electronic documents, a printed résumé will always look exactly the same to the receiver end as it does to the sender.

If the job profile or the organisation allows you to be creative then you can burn a DVD to highlight your career path., you can use the opportunity to highlight your career.
End of the day, it is essential to follow-up with once you have submitted your résumé.

Exercising simplicity goes a long way.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com