Five Easy Ways to Improve Your Résumé

Ah, the wisdom of teen movies. Remember in “Clueless” when Cher and Dionne gave Miss Geist a makeover in the faculty lounge? All it took was a few minor adjustments to turn the disheveled teacher into “not a total Betty, but a vast improvement.”

The same principle can be applied to your résumé. Look at your résumé: Would you still be compelled to read it if it wasn’t your own, or would the vast array of typos, unusual fonts, long sentences and obscure language turn you away? While your résumé may not be a full-on Monet (meaning, up close, it’s a big old mess), it may simply need some minor tweaking in order to get noticed. Take these five small steps to see big results.

1. Spell check… the old-fashioned way.

Spelling and grammar errors can be the kiss of death for résumés: They show employers that you don’t pay attention to detail. Computer spell-check programs don’t always pick up these errors, so make sure you proofread it yourself before handing it in. For insurance and a fresh perspective, have a friend look it over, too.

2. Put it in reverse chronological order.

Organize your résumé to reflect your most recent job at the top and include dates of employment. Employers tend to prefer these over functional résumés, which can be great if you’re switching career paths, but otherwise make it difficult to determine when you worked where and can hide employment gaps.

3. Simplify your language.

Keep your sentences short and don't worry about fragments.
Leave out personal pronouns like “I,” “my” and “me.” Saying, “I performed” this or “I demonstrated” that is redundant. Who else would you be talking about if not yourself?
Omit the articles “a,” “an” and “the.” Instead of “Coordinated the special events for the alumni association,” simplify it to say, “Coordinated alumni association special events.”
Take out terms like “assisted in,” “participated in,” and “helped with.” If you assisted in managing client accounts, simply say, “Managed client accounts.” You can explain later what this role entailed.

Change passive statements to active verbs. Saying “Coordinated client meetings” instead of “Ensured client meetings were coordinated” adds punch and clarity to a job description.
Exclude words like “responsibilities” and “duties” under job listings. Your résumé should focus on accomplishments, not tasks.

4. Eliminate clutter. Format your résumé for consistency and easy reading.

Bold, italicize or underline important headlines (just don’t do all three at once – that’s overkill).
Create a bulleted list – not a paragraph formation – for job descriptions
Use a standard font like 11 point Times New Roman or Arial. Fancier fonts are not only harder to read, but they may become garbled in an e-mail format.
Combine series’ of short, odd jobs into one listing. (For example: “1999-2002 Barista – Village Café, Starbucks, Seattle’s Best…”)

5. Read it aloud.

Reading your résumé aloud will help you identify areas that need improvement or clarification. If something doesn’t sound right to you, it won’t sound right to a hiring manager.

10 Résumé Killers

Writing a résumé isn't exactly a speedy process. First there's the brainstorming. Then, you have to write -- and rewrite, and rewrite -- your educational and work histories until your résumé perfectly boasts your background. Plus, there's all that proofreading.Even though your résumé took you hours to write, hiring managers will typically spend less than one minute reviewing it.

If your résumé has any glaring errors, however, employers will waste no time deleting it. To ensure your résumé gets proper attention, avoid these 10 all-too-common blunders:

1. Not bothering with a cover letter.Cover letters are so important to the application process that many hiring managers automatically reject résumés that arrive without them. Make the most of your cover letter by expanding on a few of your qualifications, explaining any gaps in employment or providing other information that will entice the employer to read your résumé.

2. Assuming spell-check is good enough.In a 2007 survey, 63 percent of hiring managers told CareerBuilder.com that spelling errors are the most frequent mistakes they see in résumés. Spell-checkers can pick up many typos -- but they won't catch everything (manger vs. manager, for example). Always proofread your résumé several times, and ask a friend to give it a final once-over.

3. Being too generic.In the same CareerBuilder.com survey, 30 percent of hiring managers said résumés not tailored to the position was the most frequent or annoying mistake. Always customize your résumé and cover letter for each job and employer to which you apply. This way, you can tailor your materials to show how you will be a perfect fit for the position.

4. Focusing on duties, not accomplishments.Instead of writing a list of job duties on your résumé, demonstrate how each duty contributed to your company's bottom line. For example, anyone can plan the company fund-raiser, but if you note that your fund-raiser brought in 50 percent more money than the previous year's event, the hiring manager will be more impressed.

5. Having a selfish objective.Employers are trying to determine whether you're a good fit for their organizations, so everything on your résumé should point to your experience. A summary of qualifications that conveniently displays your accomplishment and background is far more effective than a generic objective statement ("To gain experience in...").

6. Giving your résumé format a little "flair."Unusual fonts or fluorescent pink paper will certainly make your résumé stand out -- in a bad way. Keep your résumé looking professional by sticking with standard white or cream-colored paper, black type and a common font like Arial or Times New Roman.

7. Guesstimating your dates and titles.With the proliferation of background checks, any "upgrades" you give your titles or stretching of employment dates to cover gaps will likely get caught -- and you will be eliminated from consideration.

8. Tell everyone why you left.Never put anything negative on your résumé. If you left the position due to a layoff or you were fired, bring it up only if asked.

9. Include lots of personal information.It's fine if you enjoy fly fishing on Sunday afternoons, but unless your hobby relates to your career, it doesn't belong on your résumé. The same goes for your height, weight, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or any other facts that could potentially be used against you.

10. Going long.Your high school job scooping ice cream probably isn't relevant to your career anymore, so there is no reason to include it on your résumé. Your résumé should be no more than two pages -- and no more than a page for most professionals -- so only include your most recent and relevant work history. Take it from hiring managers: 21 percent think a résumé more than two pages long is the most frequent and annoying résumé mistake.

10 Tips for Writing a Professional Resume

1. Start with an attractive layout. Use bold and italics to highlight key points. I do not recommend downloadable templates because they are very generic and dull. Get creative but not crazy. You can use a little touch of color if you are modest.

2. Justify the text instead of using left align. Most people are accustomed to reading justified text. This will make your résumé easy to follow.

3. Choose a common font. Times New Roman, Arial, and Verdana are some of the best fonts for a résumé. Now is not the time to experiment. Most computers do not have 600 different fonts installed so the file will not read correctly if you use your decorative fonts. Do not use cutesy graphics such as candy canes or teddy bears if you want to be taken seriously. (Yes, I have really received a résumé with teddy bears and candy canes on it.) It is NOT appropriate for business correspondence, and I guarantee your résumé will be canned if you do this.

4. Do not use the word "I" in your résumé. Start each sentence with a powerful verb. For example: • Organized annual student symposium by securing speakers and working closely with marketing department executives. • Implemented production bonus incentives and "best practices" matrix for all divisions, raising overall productivity by as much as 40 percent.

5. Write a proper cover letter for each position to which you apply. Do not ever send out a résumé without a cover letter. This is basic business etiquette. Personalize each cover letter directly to the position you are applying to. A generic cover letter will not work to your benefit. If possible, address the letter directly to a person. If you do not know the hiring manager's name, use "Hiring Manager."

6. Print your résumé and read it word-for-word. You can use the grammar and spell check function, but don't rely on it.

7. When you have a degree, list only the year that you obtained your degree. When you list your dates of attendance, many résumé scanning systems will not recognize that you obtained a degree, only that you attended college for a period.

8. Deactivate all e-mail links and Web addresses in your résumé and cover letter. To do this in Microsoft Word, highlight the link with your mouse, go to the "Insert" drop-down menu, scroll down to and click "Hyperlink", and on the lower left-hand side of this screen there should be a little button that says "Remove link." When you find it, give it a little click and voila! Alternatively, you can highlight the link with your mouse, right click on it, and scroll down to "remove link" to deactivate the link.

9. Be consistent! For example, don't list one date as 1/2005 and then list another date as 9/22/2005. List software consistently, too. MS Word and Microsoft Excel are both correct, but not consistent when used together.

10. Adhere to punctuation and capitalization rules. Use a reference manual if you do not understand standard punctuation and capitalization rules.

Jobs Before They Were Famous

We’re bombarded with images of today’s celebs, but did you ever wonder what they were doing before their faces were splashed across the tabloids, television and Internet?
Whether just trying to pay the bills or taking that first step on the ladder of success, these celebrities all had modest starts - a far cry from the uber-celebrity, paparazzi bait they are today.

Here are some of the jobs your favorite celebrities held long before superstardom.

George Clooney
Today’s hunkiest of movie heartthrobs held a smattering of odd jobs to get to where he is today. In his native Kentucky, Clooney sold men's suits and shoes and worked in department store stockrooms. He also cut tobacco, earning $3 an hour. Upon arriving in L.A., he did odd jobs for his aunt, singer-actress Rosemary Clooney, worked construction and cleaned a theater to pay for acting lessons.

Katie Couric
CBS’ perky evening anchor landed her first job as a desk assistant at ABC, where she worked for veteran news anchor Sam Donaldson.

Simon Cowell
After quitting school at the age of 16, Cowell held a series of odd jobs before landing a job in the mail room at EMI Records. “I understood instinctively that this wasn't something where you were going to get handouts. This was a job where you could fail or succeed based on your own instincts, your tenacity,” Cowell said on CNN. “So I would just drive everybody crazy from the minute I was delivering mail because I would walk into everyone's offices and tell them they should give me a better job.”

Ellen Degeneres
“I actually liked my first job. I was driving cars out of a car wash, you know, once the car comes out, you get in and you wipe it. That was exciting to me to drive the nice cars and wipe down the [dashboard] with Emerald,” Degeneres said on Larry King Live. “The worst job I ever had -- and I lasted a half a day -- was I worked in a glove factory in Atlanta, Texas. It was horrible. I was checking for too many fingers or a hole or something and gloves would just go by ... Everything I did that was a nine-to-five job I hated ... I worked in a law firm. I was a court runner. I just hated being in an office.”

Nina Garcia
Week-to-week, this regular judge and critic on television hit “Project Runway” helps decide which fashion designers are in and which are out. The Colombia native started her career in the public relations department of Perry Ellis and its then-designer Marc Jacobs. She moved on to Mirabella magazine and worked her way up the ranks until she became fashion director of Elle magazine, which is still her day job.

Faith Hill
Way before she was Mrs. Tim McGraw, selling more than 30 million records and earning countless awards, Faith Hill was trying to make it big in Nashville. Hill sold T-shirts at the renowned country music event Fan Fair, worked as a receptionist at a music-publishing company, and packaged fan merchandise for country legend Reba McEntire.
John KrasinskiBefore he was making us wish he worked in our office, John Krasinski was a script intern on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”

Oprah Winfrey
The media mogul and philanthropist began her broadcasting career while still in high school. Winfrey was an announcer at WVOL radio in Nashville.
Emeril LagasseLagasse’s roots in the culinary arts started way before he coined the terms “Bam!” and “Kick it up a notch!” As a teenager, he recognized his hunger for cooking at a local Portuguese bakery in Fall River, Mass.

Ralph Lauren
He’s this year’s No. 13 on the Vanity Fair 100 list but the founder of Polo Ralph Lauren started his preppy empire with a stint in retail sales. Lauren’s first foray into apparel was working as a salesclerk at Brooks Brothers.

Jay Leno
Upon arriving in Los Angeles after graduation, the late-night funnyman wrote for the TV show “Good Times” and performed a warm-up act for singers Johnny Mathis and Tom Jones.
George LopezBefore he played a guy working in an aircraft-parts factory, he was the guy working in an aircraft-parts factory. While trying to launch his comedy career, Lopez worked at two Van Nuys, Calif., aircraft-parts plants. "I was an expediter. That was the politically acceptable term for ‘gofer,' " Lopez told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Vince VaughnIf
Vaughn ever decides to change careers, he could probably be pretty successful going back to his first job. Before he was a “Swinger” or “Wedding Crasher,” the actor who’s known for his quick-and-slick talking performances, worked as a telemarketer in Waukegan, Ill.
Denzel WashingtonWashington's mother helped him get his very first job at a local barbershop called Modernistic when he was just 11 years old. “I learned about business … Just about the value of a dollar,” Washington said on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” “I was brushing collars. I think my base salary was $11. And I could turn that into 50 if I was good.”

10 Best Excuses for Calling in Sick

Did you hear the one about the woman who couldn’t go to work because her chickens’ feet were frozen to the driveway? It’s not a joke — it’s an actual excuse given to a boss.
Gone are the days when an employee called in sick and coughed a little to make the story believable. Today, workers give a variety of excuses when they stay home from the office. And they’re doing it a lot.

Almost one-third of employees admitted to calling in sick to work last year even though they weren’t ill, according to CareerBuilder.com’s annual survey. Fortunately for them, 75 percent of employers believe their employees are sick when they say they are.

But some bosses aren’t falling for it.

Thirty-five percent of employers checked up on their supposedly sick employees. The majority (67 percent) of those suspicious bosses demanded a note from the doctor. A determined 14 percent actually drove by the employee’s home.

So what should you tell your boss if you need a rest but there’s not a holiday in sight?
Honesty is the best policy, says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder.com. “If you’re a strong employee and you’re truthful about the time you need off, your employer is likely to give it to you.” But if you get caught in a lie, you risk your reputation and possibly even your job.

Luckily, many employers are beginning to understand that an employee doesn’t have to be suffering from the flu to need a day off. Mental health days, which allow employees to stay home from work to escape the stress and chaos of the office, are gaining acceptance in the workplace. Sixty-nine percent of surveyed employers consider mental health days acceptable uses of sick leave.

“Employers are placing a greater emphasis on work/life balance, offering more opportunities for employees to recharge and return to the office more productive,” Haefner says.
So the next time you call in sick — whether you have the flu or a desire to stay in your pajamas until noon — you can decide if you want to tell the truth or a little white lie. If you choose the latter, here are some of the most unusual excuses bosses revealed.

1. At her sister’s wedding, an employee chipped her tooth on a mint julep, bent over to spit it out, hit her head on a keg and was knocked unconscious.
2. While at a circus, a tiger urinated on the employee’s ear, causing an ear infection.
3. An employee’s dog wasn’t feeling well, so the employee tasted the dog’s food and then got sick.
4. “Someone put LSD in my salad.”
5. An employee’s roommate locked all his clothes in a shed for spite.
6. “Stuck on an island – canoe floated away.”
7. An employee was upset because his favorite "American Idol" contestant was voted off.
8. “I didn’t think I had to come in if I had time in my vacation bank. I thought I could take it whenever I wanted.”
9. An employee said he wasn’t feeling well and wanted to rest up for the company’s holiday party that night.
10. A groundhog bit the employee’s car tire, causing it to go flat.

10 Sexiest Jobs

You’re at a party. You spot someone across the room and you make your way toward each other. Things are going well, so after some small talk you ask, “What do you do for a living?” The answer you receive determines if you exchange phone numbers or say goodnight.

Whether or not we admit it, what people do for a living affects their sex appeal. A recent CareerBuilder.com survey asked participants what occupations they consider the sexiest. You might be surprised that the top picks weren’t necessarily based on salary or looks.

Here are the 10 sexiest jobs, according to the survey.
1. Entertainer/ModelWhy they’re sexy: Entertainers and models make a living by looking good, so you can bet they’re easy on the eyes. Their dedication to their dream in such a competitive industry is also attractive.Where you’ll find them: Supermodels are on the runways in Paris, Milan and New York or at photo shoots in major cities around the world. Entertainers can find work in any city, but New York and Los Angeles certainly have the best opportunities.Pros: They travel the world, are famous and have huge paychecks.Cons: Competition is fierce and there’s a lot of pressure to maintain their looks.

2. Cocktail WaitressWhy they’re sexy: Although it might not seem like an obvious top pick, consider the fact that the waitress is probably dressed in a short skirt and bringing you drinks, which never hurt anybody’s sex appeal. Where you’ll find them: At any establishment that serves alcohol — casinos, bars, clubs, restaurants and concert halls.Pros: A good cocktail waitress can make a killing on tips alone, especially in an upscale establishment.Cons: They have to deal with drunken customers and they often work in smoke-filled bars and clubs.

3. AthleteWhy they’re sexy: Professional athletes are likely in good — no, great — shape. Not to mention they’ve probably been practicing their sport since childhood, so you know they’re disciplined and goal-oriented.Where you’ll find them: When they’re not training, they’re on the field (or rink or court or at whatever venue they perform at).Pros: The chance to be famous and internationally adored is pretty nice.Cons: The odds of making it big are slim.

4. FirefighterWhy they’re sexy: Firefighters are brave and selfless. Who wouldn’t find that attractive? Where you’ll find them: Everywhere. Every city needs firefighters, though some smaller towns have volunteer squads.Pros: They save lives and serve the community.Cons: They risk their lives every day.

5. CowboyWhy they’re sexy: Few archetypes are as ingrained in our culture as the cowboy. He’s masculine, chivalrous and everything else we admired in Western movies.Where you’ll find them: On ranches in rural areas. Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and California are the most traditional examples of cowboy country.Pros: It’s a quiet life away from the city.Cons: They have to work with their hands and outdoors, regardless of the season.

6. NurseWhy they’re sexy: Nurses keep you comfortable, make sure you’re healthy and bring you morphine when you’re hurting. That they devote their lives to caring for others and understand all that medical jargon only makes them sexier. Where you’ll find them: In hospitals, your doctor’s office and other health care facilities. Pros: They care for patients, watch them get better and put a baby in its parents' arms for the first time.Cons: The hours are long; patients and their families can be demanding; and there are plenty of sad events they have to witness, too.

7. ArtistWhy they’re sexy: The average artist is doing what makes him happy, not what will bring him fame or money — and that’s pretty sexy. How many occupations can you say that about?Where you’ll find them: Everywhere. Painters, photographers, sculptors and other types of artists work in their own studios, in offices for ad agencies or on location for photo shoots.Pros: They spend their days being creative and get paid for it.Cons: The paying work that’s easiest to find is often boring and doesn’t allow artists to express themselves.

8. Military ProfessionalWhy they’re sexy: Well, they’ve got the ultimate uniform, if you’re into that sort of thing. The military also instills a sense of discipline, so you can count on them to be responsible and dependable.Where you’ll find them: On military bases throughout the country.Pros: Job security and good pay.Cons: Risk of dying a war; long-term commitment and willingness to relocate frequently, which means sticking with a job no matter where it takes you.

9. Construction WorkerWhy they’re sexy: Didn’t you see that soft drink commercial where all the women stare out their window to watch the construction worker take off his shirt?Where you’ll find them: Wherever a new building is going up, a house is being renovated or a road is being repaved.Pros: Their job keeps them in shape and their hard work is often rewarded with a nice salary. Cons: Performing manual labor every day is tiring and sometimes dangerous.

10. TV Anchor/PersonalityWhy they’re sexy: Maybe it’s the way they talk with authority, seem to know everything and make you feel like you’re best friends. (Or maybe it’s the fact that you don’t know if they’re really wearing pants under that desk.)Where you’ll find them: On your TV in the morning, at noon and at night. Pros: They get to be on television and get the news before anybody else.Cons: They can spend years working in small cities before they get a job in a major market.

13 Things Not to Share with Your Co-workers

It’s happened to everyone before. The constant flow of words that just keep coming, long after you’ve made your point (if there ever was one) and even longer after people stopped caring. The kind of gibberish that just won’t stop unless someone else starts talking. The type of chatter that inevitably ends with you wishing you’d put a sock in it.

Yes, verbal diarrhea is never a good thing – but it can be worse in some places more than others.
Like the workplace.

There are certain things co-workers need not know about each other – your baby-making plans and stomach issues, for example – but some folks just can’t seem to keep their mouths shut.
Some people talk to hear the sound of their own voice; others share because they don’t really have a life and, by revealing details you’d rather not know, they create the illusion of one, says Linda Lopeke, a career advancement expert and creator of SmartStart Virtual Mentoring Programs. “Then there is the person who believes gossip, even about them, creates instant emotional intimacy. It doesn’t.”

Walk the line
Because people spend more time at the office with co-workers than anywhere (or anyone) else, some workers have trouble drawing the line between business and friendship, says Susan Solovic, co-founder and CEO of SBTV.com, and author of three books, including “Reinvent Your Career: Attain the Success You Desire and Deserve.”

“It’s a social environment as well as a work environment. However, you must remember while you can be friendly and develop a good rapport, business is business and friendship is friendship.”
Most workers don’t realize that what they say has as much impact on their professional images as what they wear, Lopeke says. People who say too much, about themselves or others, can be seen as incompetent, unproductive and unworthy of professional development.

To avoid your next case of verbal diarrhea, here are 13 things to never share or discuss with your co-workers.

1. Salary informationWhat you earn is between you and Human Resources, Solovic says. Disclosure indicates you aren’t capable of keeping a confidence.

2. Medical history“Nobody really cares about your aches and pains, your latest operation, your infertility woes or the contents of your medicine cabinet,” Lopeke says. To your employer, your constant medical issues make you seem like an expensive, high-risk employee.

3. GossipWhomever you’re gossiping with will undoubtedly tell others what you said, Solovic says. Plus, if a co-worker is gossiping with you, most likely he or she will gossip about you.

4. Work complaintsConstant complaints about your workload, stress levels or the company will quickly make you the kind of person who never gets invited to lunch, Solovic warns. If you don’t agree with company policies and procedures, address it through official channels or move on.

5. Cost of purchasesThe spirit of keeping up with the Joneses is alive and well in the workplace, Lopeke says, but you don’t want others speculating on the lifestyle you’re living –or if you’re living beyond your salary bracket.

6. Intimate detailsDon’t share intimate details about your personal life. Co-workers can and will use the information against you, Solovic says.

7. Politics or religion“People have strong, passionate views on both topics,” Solovic says. You may alienate a co-worker or be viewed negatively in a way that could impact your career.

8. Lifestyle changesBreakups, divorces and baby-making plans should be shared only if there is a need to know, Lopeke says. Otherwise, others will speak for your capabilities, desires and limitations on availability, whether there is any truth to their assumptions or not.

9. Blogs or social networking profileWhat you say in a social networking community or in your personal blog may be even more damaging than what you say in person, Solovic warns. “Comments online can be seen by multiple eyes. An outburst of anger when you are having a bad day … can blow up in your face.”

10. Negative views of colleaguesIf you don’t agree with a co-worker’s lifestyle, wardrobe or professional abilities, confront that person privately or keep it to yourself, Lopeke says. The workplace is not the venue for controversy.

11. Hangovers and wild weekendsIt’s perfectly fine to have fun during the weekend, but don’t talk about your wild adventures on Monday, Solovic advises. That information can make you look unprofessional and unreliable.

12. Personal problems and relationships – in and out of the office“Failed marriages and volatile romances spell instability to an employer,” Lopeke says. Office romances lead to gossip and broken hearts, so it’s best to steer clear. “The safest way to play is to follow the rule, ‘Never get your honey where you get your money.’”

13. Off-color or racially charged commentsYou can assume your co-worker wouldn’t be offended or would think something is funny, but you might be wrong, Solovic says. Never take that risk. Furthermore, even if you know for certain your colleague wouldn’t mind your comment, don’t talk about it at work. Others can easily overhear.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.