HR Managers have a problem: they are confused about what you know and what you are trying to say in that sheet of paper you call your resume.

A good resume shows that you understand your prospective employers’ needs and are able to help them without wasting their time. This makes them look forward to knowing more about you. Remember, a manager spends an average of only 15-45 seconds in scanning a resume, and there are about hundreds of them. Always bear in mind that there are three qualities a manager always looks for in a resume: Brevity, Legibility and Good English.

How should you decide the content

1. The first criterion is to limit your resume to one page. However, make exceptions when applying to a non-profitable organisation or for research positions. Here you need to be elaborate in your details.

2. If this is your first job, begin with the skill sets you know and which is relevant to the job description.

3. Don't include details like sex, family, languages known, salary required, etc., unless specifically asked for.

4. Let not your resume carry the legendary title 'Resume'    it is implicit.

5. Take care that you don’t confuse a 'CV' with a resume. The former is much more detailed than a resume and runs into pages. Those applying for very senior positions or in research faculties state their background in a CV.

6. Never enclose a photo unless you are asked for one.

7. Do not attach any letters of recommendation.

8. Cut unnecessary details like 'Expected Salary', 'Current Salary', 'Objective', 'Aim', etc.

9. Keep pens away from a resume. Do not try to give a 'personal' touch by jotting details or making 'corrections'.

10. Include a cover letter that is legibly printed and does not exceed 15 lines. Try to contain in these lines the reason why you are applying, why you are quitting the present job, your strengths and why should you be given a chance. Briefly describe your responsibilities using phrases which begin with action verbs (eg: Administered, Managed, etc). Try to avoid using the words 'I', 'me', 'my', 'also', 'feel' and 'because'.

Draft the resume

Make an outline. Identify not more than two skill sets and highlight them. Make them into headings: for instance, 'Personnel Experience', 'Marketing Experience', or 'Literary Skills', and your relevant achievements in these categories. State your accomplishments, not duties. Describe what you did using active, varied verbs (instead of saying 'Made sale presentations', say 'Represented the company at trade shows'.

Formatting

1. Use a sans serif typeface, such as Arial, Helvetica, or Universal. Keep font height between 10 and 12, and don’t use italics or underlining.

2. Do not use coloured paper.

3. Never staple your résumé. If you must fold it, make sure the creases occur in white space between blocks of text    this would help if your resume is sent for scan registry.

4. If you must fax it, set the fax on 'fine' or 'super fine'. Always send the original and not the copies.

5. Use lines sparingly or not at all. If you do use a line, make sure there is at least ¼ inch of space around it. Never use shading.

6. Print on clean 8 1/2" x 11" paper on one side only.

7. Name should be at the top of the page on its own line and the address below it.

Final touches

Make sure your choices for indents, spacing, font size, special characters (like bullets) are consistent. You can vary the look for different levels of text (headings, running text, bullet points), but pieces of the same kind should look the same and have the same punctuation. Check the spellings. Check for the spaces. Finally, see if you can reduce, remove or replace, any other word so that it will make the resume look smarter.

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