Tips for Resume Writing and Layout

Here are some tips for resume writing and layout from McKinsey, one of the world's most admired employers by other employers.  Let's read some tips from an empoyer's perspective before we we talk about the hands-on skills to write an impressive resume.

• Your resume/CV should be neatly typed and clearly laid out.
• Use a reasonably sized font (e.g., size 10 or larger) and allow some margin around the text for reviewer’s notes.
• Do not be overly creative with the formatting—it will only distract from the real focus of the document, which is you.
• Write clearly and don’t forget to check your grammar and spelling.
• Include your name and contact details at the top, with daytime and evening phone numbers and an e-mail address.
• Lay out your prior jobs (if any) in reverse chronological order, with your most recent role at the top.
• It is best to list dates on the left hand side. You should be able to explain any gaps in your career or educational history.
• The length of your resume/CV will depend on you and your achievements—but don’t pad it out! The trick is to be concise, but not incomplete.

Remember, the person reading your resume/CV may not be familiar with your specific credentials. Avoid using any jargon. Ask friends from different backgrounds to read it for you. If they're impressed without being confused, you're looking good.

The first part of the candidate screening process at McKinsey is a resume review. We use a resume to help us determine whom to invite to our interviewing process. Therefore, it is important for your resume to be the best possible reflection of you and of your achievements to date.

Your resume should not only accurately reflect your achievements to date, but also provide some sense of the scale of those achievements. A successful resume will also give the reader a sense for who you are as a person, as reflected in the activities and achievements you view as important in your life.

Source:  Mckinsey Tips for Resume Writing and Layout

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