How a 4th Grader Can Teach Us Everything We Need to Know About Resume Writing

It’s hard to fathom that a single piece of paper can have as large an impact on one’s career as the mighty resume. If written correctly, it can be a powerful advocate, weaving together a captivating narrative that presents you as the perfect fit for the job of your dreams. If done poorly, it could be a roadblock of your own creation, preventing you from passing through job screeners to even interview for a job. (Fun fact: the average job screener spends only 7.4 seconds reviewing a resume before deciding to pursue or discard.)

So how can you master resume writing - an exercise that has been bedeviling jobseekers as far back as Leonardo DaVinci? Why, take a lesson from a fourth-grader of course. Ok, maybe not entirely, or you might end up with a resume that lists finger painting as your main qualification. But there are three key learnings from childhood that you should absolutely factor into your resume to make it past the screener, and which I’ve seen work without fail over the past 20 years. 

1.    Use the magic words

When you were in 4th grade, remember how using “please” and “thank you” at the right times would often get you what you want, whether it was extra dessert or play time? By the same token, when you’re writing your resume, think about how you can tailor it to the job you want, using keywords that align with the job description and get you past the screener – whether it’s a human or screening software. But whatever you do, don’t use generic language or use the same resume for completely different jobs or you’ll wind up selling yourself short and signaling a lack of interest.

2.    Every resume is a snowflake

One of my favorite arts and crafts as a kid was when we’d decorate the classroom for winter with handmade snowflakes. We’d fold construction paper a few times and cut patterns, all while the teacher reminded us that every snowflake is different and special, just like us. I don’t advocate cutting your resume into shapes, but I encourage you to use the resume as an opportunity to provide a glimpse into your personality and what makes you special. Are you active in local politics? Are you an Eagle Scout? In a past role did you lead your department’s community service initiatives? Don’t be afraid to put a spotlight on yourself. Let’s face it, you’re pretty awesome, so why not show it?

3.    “I” before “E” except after “C”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard from hiring managers that they simply won’t read through resumes with typos or misspellings. It may sound short-sighted, but the implication is that if a candidate can’t take the time to proofread their resume, they can’t be expected to bring attention to detail to their work. Along the same lines, the importance of a well-formatted resume cannot be overstated. Use bullet points to include information in a concise way, rather than paragraph summaries that aren’t as effective at conveying the key points. Your resume cannot and will not encapsulate the entirety of your work experience, so choose the most pertinent skills and accomplishments to highlight for the specific job you are applying for.

I hope these tips help get you through to the next round, or at least remind you how much fun it was to have recess and eat paste. And if you’d like one of our recruiters to take a look at your resume, give us a call or visit our website (www.manningpg.com) and we can help.