How to Write a Resume - Avoiding Industry Speak
If your background is very technical, you will need to be careful of too much industry terminology, and not enough focus on transferable and value-add skills. This may also happen when someone has become too institutionalised i.e. been with a company for many years.
When writing a resume, think about the reader and not yourself.
Key points to consider:
- Awards and Achievements – try to list what the award means as well as an Award Name.
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Numbers – use numbers to qualify
results, including percentages. When quoting
numbers or figures in a resume, the reader needs something
to compare it to. Therefore, try to think about
industry
benchmarks and will mean something to someone from the
outside
- Position titles – translate company specific position titles to something that can be understood and compared against in the outside world.
-
Plant & Machinery – if listing plant
and machinery, try to list only select few items and/or
try to group products. Avoid using up more than
1/2 page dedicated to listing equipment and machinery,
and remove old and obsolete items.
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Remember, when learning how to write a resume, you don’t want the resume to be too generic but you also don’t want a resume document that only you and your boss will be able to interpret.
Next on how to write a resume: Online resumes - are they worth it?
