This document provides tips for an effective resume as a writing sample, including that a resume should be a marketing tool that allows a hiring manager to quickly determine if an applicant meets over 75% of the job requirements based on relevant experience, accomplishments, and ability to stay up-to-date in the industry. It recommends using a readable scannable format with consistent formatting, brevity, and free of errors, as well as tailoring content to the specific audience. The document also answers common questions about resumes and provides suggested outlines.

1. Your Resume as a
Writing Sample
STC Carolina Career Day
May 19, 2018

2. I write & design resumes professionally.
I also screen & interview interns.

3. What is
a
resume?

4. What your resume is not…
• A chronological history of every job you’ve
ever held.
• A copy-paste of your job description.
• An autobiography.
• An employment application.

5. It’s a
marketing
tool!
It’s a work
sample!

6. Can you impress in 30 seconds?
A hiring manager needs to discern quickly that:
• You meet >75% of the job description.
• You have relevant experience, paid or not.
• You don’t have any unaccounted-for
employment gaps or a pattern of job-hopping.
• You have some quantifiable accomplishments.
• You have stayed up-to-date with the industry.

7. Your resume speaks volumes about
your ability as a technical writer
• Readable/scannable format
• Consistency
• Brevity
• No spelling/grammar errors
• You can cater your information to a specific
audience
• Most important information is in 1st half

8. Readable /
Scannable Format
• Bullets line up
• Use 1-2 fonts
• Don’t color hyperlinks
• Headings 1 & 2 are clear and consistent
• Use STYLES!
• Some hiring managers want to see how
you formatted your resume and will
ask for an editable version.

9. Consistency
• Dates are formatted the same:
• Jan. 2008 – Feb. 2009
• January 2008 – February 2009
• Dates aligned the same (right- or left-aligned)
• En dash used — no mix of hyphen and en- or em-
dashes
• - Hyphen
• – En Dash
• — Em dash
• Use periods with bullets or don’t, but be
consistent

10. Brevity
• Don’t use large words just because you can.
• Write like a human, in your voice.
• Don’t expand on details unless it strengthens
your candidacy.
• Don’t use prepositions (“I” is understood)

11. Accuracy
• Double-check dates, company names, and titles.
• Run spell check (please!)
• Proofread backwards
• It’s a 1- to 2-page document. There should be no
errors

12. Tailored Content
You need to get through the “Black Hole” (ATS) –
write for machines but design for humans:
• Use audience analysis skills to tailor your
resume & CL
• Put most important information first
• Match skills/requirements order from job ad
• Identify keywords & add organically
• Use the same language
• Use Jobscan to identify areas of improvement

14. Quick-fire Questions
• One page or two?
• Full address?
• Objective vs. profile/summary?
• Photo?
• GPA?
• Interests/hobbies?
• Cover letter?
• Template?
• Word or PDF?
• New resume for every job?
• Should your LinkedIn profile match your resume
exactly?
No more than two. One for students/grads.
City & State
Profile (or Summary)
NEVER
Only if it’s good AND recent
Nope!
Yes
Make your own
PDF
Yes!
No

15. Suggested Outline
(Students/Recent Grads)
• Name
• Contact Info
• Summary / Profile
• Education
• Skills
• Experience
• Affiliations / Volunteer

16. Suggested Outline
(Experienced Professionals)
• Name
• Tagline
• Contact Info
• Summary / Profile
• Skills
• Experience
• Education
• Affiliations / Volunteer
• Publications & Presentations
• Awards & Honors