Category: International Credentials

Being Forthright and Original in a Resume


Honesty conveyed in a resume

In addition to having your professional life presented in a way that reflects the best of your skills, education and other qualification elements, it is important to make sure that your resume and cover letter showcase your ethics and sincerity as well; because that resume document which you worked so hard to get right is a reflection of who you are. So when you compose your well-written resume, make sure there are no errors or gaps that would raise questions or leave open to misinterpretation, exactly what you are attempting to convey.

Additionally, while highlighting those qualifications that present you as the best candidate for the job, make sure that you include any credentials, certificates/licenses (where applicable) or specific language which could convey to your potential employer that you are a polished, detail-oriented professional who is also trustworthy, capable and reliable. Of course, doing all these things can be a difficult task, since the conveyance of honesty coupled with good intentions in a form letter and a resume is not an easy thing to do.

However, many employers keep a strict no tolerance policy against dishonesty, and therefore you will have to take extra care in making sure that all the information on your resume is authentic and truthful. Intentionally lying on a resume is not acceptable, but there are certain areas of your resume that may cause you to unintentionally list incorrect information; so pay close attention to the following aspects of your resume so that you can avoid giving your potential employer the impression that you are untruthful.

Avoiding unwanted interpretations

List your exact title under professional experience, because many professionals have titles that are company specific and therefore might not make sense outside of the organization where they work; so always list your exact title, but feel free to add a few words that explain what your responsibilities were in relation to the overall industry. This way, when your potential employer calls your employer for a reference check, they will confirm your exact title, but also understand the scope of your position as it applies outside of that specific organization.

When in doubt do not guess, because that could lead to unwanted interpretations and conclusions by a potential employer. For example, if you are unsure when you started or ended a job due to the length of time that has elapsed since you worked for that company, simply call the company and ask about your employment dates. Do not make assumptions about dates or titles of your references; and don’t take liberties with their contact information, certification dates, or any other pertinent information. Always take the time to verify any information you are unsure of before including it on your resume.

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Truthfully & adroitly filling employment gaps

It makes no sense to cover up your employment gaps, so don’t commit this unforced error, since having gaps in employment on a resume has certainly been done before and is therefore something that a potential; employer will understand. Many professionals have gaps in their experience for various reasons, but they don’t try to hide this from potential employers. So simply address any work history gaps in your cover letter, and be honest regarding the reasons you were not working during a specific period.

Be honest about your accomplishments, since it is futile to try and reinvent yourself by citing events, completed tasks and activities that never took place. Rather than worrying about the qualifications you may not have, be confident in those you do have and highlight your work experience and achievements in a truthful manner. Do not exaggerate skills, professional roles, or stretch the employment dates. Work on presenting yourself and your qualifications in the best possible light.

What a functional resume looks like!

Developing a comfort level with your resume

Take the time to quantify your accomplishments, and compose a positive professional summary for your resume; and revise the document until you feel comfortable that all the information included is truthful and will not raise any questions by a potential employer that you have not addressed in the resume or accompanying cover letter. The rule is: be honest on your resume; so by no means should you include any information that breaks that rule.

Keeping Your Resume Short and Concise


Appropriate resume length

One of the most common misconception of resume writing is that a person’s entire professional history has to fit within one page of white paper; and while the resume length may seem to be a rather basic understanding of how to prepare and properly format a resume, the question which persists is, does everything have to be put on the same page? The truth is, you should present a well-written resume that is concise, and it should promote your qualifications in the best possible manner.

That having been said, if making the very best presentation is impossible to do on a single page, by all means, extend it to multiple pages with the appropriate consideration, depending on your career level. Understanding that resumes cannot be designed in a cookie cutter fashion where one size fits all, it may be helpful to adhere to a few guidelines when preparing your own resume. Here are some helpful tips:

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A few resume-shortening tips

Be concise – Being as concise as you possibly can is critical, and therefore you should avoid using lengthy sentences and paragraph forms to disclose your experience and education. Employers want straightforward statements that highlight your qualifications; so keep in mind that a resume is no place to showcase creative writing skills.

Perfect your resume – Since you have only a second or two to catch your potential employer’s attention, you must make sure that your resume is properly formatted, and you are not trying to fit too much copy on a single page of paper. Create appropriate and professional sections for your resume because your potential employer is more concerned with your resume content – and perhaps its look – than with its length.

Knock ’em Dead Resumes: A Killer Resume Gets More Job Interviews!

Longer is not better – When you don’t have the experience to meet your career objective, don’t try to embellish the resume with irrelevant information. If you are new to the job market, changing careers, or have had only one job, stick to a one page resume; and if you don’t have the experience to meet your career objective – for whatever reason – do not apologize for it, simply do your best to highlight your transferable skills, and stick to the “short and sweet” resume version.

Write enough to meet career objective

Unless you are applying for an executive-level job, or are composing curriculum vitae, your resume should not exceed two pages, because the purpose of a well-written resume is to sell yourself as the best candidate for the job with a confident and a straight-forward approach. Do not oversell your skills; and do not list more than three to five previous positions you’ve held. Stick to those skills and experiences that best meet the job requirements and your career objective.

The most relevant information has to be included on the first page, and the second page should be numbered, with your contact information included as well (just in case the pages are separated when printed, you don’t want your potential employer to discard the second page of your resume completely). If you find yourself going over two pages, review your resume and make sure that you are not including information that is irrelevant to your goals or to the position you are seeking.

Pages commensurate with history

Make sure that your professional history warrants a resume that is three pages or longer, before you start adding information that could be viewed as an attempt to embellish. As mentioned above, unless you are a senior- or executive-level professional, or you are composing curriculum vitae, your resume should not extend to over two pages; but if you have a longer resume, you will have to make sure that every statement on the resume is applicable to your career goals and objective.

If you have had decades of leadership experience for example, demonstrate that by using the reverse chronological resume style and only list those jobs that best qualify you for the position you are seeking. If you need to include an extensive list of publications or certifications, your resume can take up more than three pages; so make sure that the important information is still listed on the first page. This includes your career objective and professional profile, and your current or most recent professional experience. All subsequent pages should be numbered, and include your contact information in the heading.