Do's and Don'ts for Resume Writing
As managing director for the recruiting firm Whitehouse Pimms, Mark Rich reads “thousand of resumes each year.”
Although many of them “list personal accomplishments that [the jobseeker] is proud of, like playing a musical instrument,” Rich says, “most of the time it’s pretty basic stuff.”
But lately, Rich notes, more resumes contain a number, which in itself is noteworthy if it falls within a certain range: the applicant’s SAT or GMAT score.
The SAT, a college admission test, as well as the GMAT, the entrance exam for graduate business programs, are becoming “expected by certain businesses, like management consulting and investment banking when they’re hiring younger workers for professional roles,” says Rich.
But jobseekers should only include test scores on a resume if the numbers are stellar. “Clients often want the 95th percentile,” says Rich.
But distinguishing oneself with these types of accomplishments – usually listed in the leisure/volunteer activities section of a resume – could backfire unless the applicant can discern how the potential employer will view it.
For instance, “tech managers are looking for problem-solvers, so participation in ‘hackathons’ could be something to highlight on a resume,” says John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology.
“Or,” adds Reed, “a company working on ‘gamification’ projects might view your passion for video games as relevant.”
On the other hand, “A lot of people view gaming as a hobby, and not an activity with real world applications,” Reed adds.
But anything you’re really proud of, and that represents an accomplishment not many others share, is probably resume-worthy.
“I’ve seen people who put that they earned all their college costs themselves. That’s pretty impressive,” says Reed.