FAQ:

Some resume writing rules:

Pages: 1.5-2 pages – 1 page is too short (look like you didn’t do much work before)

3 pages is too long (no busy managers like to read a long resume).

First page(or the words in first half page) is most important. When a manager has 40-50 resumes on his desk and he only needs to select 2-3 people for interview, you need to design your resume to catch his attention in his first 20-30 seconds. If you fail to do so, your resume will probably be put aside.

Date order: Always put most recent experience (or education) first.

Writing style: don’t use complete sentence – put VERB (and other important words) first;

(see following examples)

Using industry terms, not academic terms

Example 1.

Bad: I joined a research project on Chemical engineering. My work included chemical experiment design, XXXX chemical analysis using XXXX chemical methods, and wrote some computer programs for experiment data analysis

Suggested: Developed ^{(verb first)} software in XXX (big name) project for data analysis in chemical application. (may include some details, like language used, development environment, etc., make it looks more professional)

Or put it this way: XXX Project: Developed ……

Example 2.

Weak:

Developed process for reengineering 200-person division that cut costs

Stronger:

Developed process for reengineering 200-person division that saved $5.2 million

Example 3.

Weak:

Converted manual accounting system for retail company into integrated system that helped company build its business

Stronger:

Converted manual accounting system for retail company into integrated system that tripled business volume in first year

Example 4 (try to put most important words in the beginning to catch attention)

If you are applying for a Java position and you are writing your experience:

Draft:

Year/mth: Programmer

Working on an internet server system in a XXX project. My duties included software testing and programming, using CGI, Perl, Smalltalk and Java.

Revised: (Key word JAVA is the first word)

Year/Mth: Java developer

Java programming, CGI/Perl coding, and software testing for an internet server system in XXX project

put some solid info on practical projects you did before don’t use "empty words" – for example, only says "doing c programming". You should have a few words on "how", "what project", "what techniques used", "solved what problems" and so on.

you should be able to explain EVERY word you put in your resume. If you can't, don't put it. For example, if you put you worked on project A in year 19XX, you should be able to tell interviewers that

- what tools and technologies you used in this project

- how did you solve problems you had in this project

- what's this project for

- how many people in your group working with you in this project

- related technical questions about the technology you said you used in this project

Don’t be too proud of your advanced degrees and academic publications – don’t put your phd and papers

Don’t be too honest
Don’t offer any info against you (to get the position you are applying for) in your resume

For example, how to write you Education if your degree is not in computers

Example: a resume to apply for computer programmer position:

Bad:

Education

Ph.D., Dept of History, Thesis: Chinese History …., XXXX University, China, 1994

Master, Dept of Education, XXXX University, China, 1991

B. Sc., Dept of Education, XXXX University, China, 1988

After revised:

Education:

M.Sc., XXXX University, China

B.Sc., XXXX University, China

(don’t put year, otherwise, because you skipped you 3 yrs phd education you will have a GAP in your resume if they check the year of your first job)

If you still want to put your Phd title, put it in the end of resume(not prominent place, like on the first line your name Dr. XXXX Zheng – you are dead!)

If you worked in only one company before, try to put different groups/jobs/ projects you worked (emphasize different in functions, in techniques used, in areas of knowledge, etc )

YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE – even put one company name and only two months is better than nothing