… … is to get someone, anyone, to talk to you.
In working with a turkey, a colleague, and a friend, they all make the same mistake. They create their sales document from their perspective.
If you start from a Unique Value Equation that you want to sell, then you have to create an ad (i.e., a sales document, which could be a cover letter and or a resume).
Then, the problems start!
Let's begin with the "Objective" section. While I personally think having the word their is redundant, some people like it for "balance". So you can have at a minimum: Objective, Career, and Education. You can have other section as you need them.
You have 15 seconds to induce the reader to read on. So people start rambling on about their objectives. Hey, get a clue. NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR OBJECTIVES! The reader cares about their objectives. And, how you are going to solve their problems. So the advertiser, and that's what you are, has to write an "objective" that will fulfill a reader's needs. Your objective is to solve their problem. Any objective that starts with "I" is wrong! It has to start with a "you". Here's one "we" just wrote:
“Delight Customers! Increase everyone’s satisfaction. Improve quality. Motivate a service team in a technical environment.”
How's that? Never once mentioned the word eye! If you had such a problem, would you read further?
Now in considering your 15 seconds of fame, why does everyone INSIST on making the Name Block a huge work of art? 16 point Arrial Dark, with an address, three phone numbers, four email address and two web page addresses. AND a partridge in a pear tree.
Let's assume that you didn't know any better and you put the name block on one line in two point font. You meant 24 but your finger slipped and you didn't notice it. I assert that if you have a compelling resume, the hunter will get a magnifying glass, everyone in the office, and three strangers on the street to find out how to contact you. That will not be a problem. If you are the answer to their prayers, then they will find you. They will make a telemarketer look like a quitter.
The name block imho should be there, because everyone expects it to be there. It should be in point size slightly smaller or the same size as the "objective". Why? Cause we want the reader to spend those precious 15 seconds on your "objective" statement of their needs; not learning that you live in Kalamazoo and AOL is your isp.
This is a pet peeve of mine.
That an one font family with no more than three different sizes. Left justified. Simple bullets.
IMHO YMMV FWIW
Reinke Faces Life 