Importance of the Resume - An Oldie But Goodie

(First published in 2007...but still relevant!)

I know many of you have heard the phrase, "It's important to make a good first impression." We try to do it all of the time. You do not want to say or do something stupid and cause your own downfall. For many students applying for an internship, externship, job, or student program, a cover letter and resume are the first impression for the employer.

When you find someone attractive and first approach him or her, you make sure (well, you should make sure...) that you do not look sloppy, do not have bad breath, and do not offend the person. If you are not following the abovementioned advice, give a it try. You will increase your batting average when it comes to dating.

Now, back to resumes...That same advice can be applied to resumes and cover letters. You do not want your resume to look sloppy. You want your resume to be neatly organized, spaced correctly, easy to read, and straight to the point. A resume and cover letter exude "bad breath" when they distract the reader from the resume's and cover letter's content. This is caused by poor grammar, spelling errors, and wordy phrases. Finally, do not offend the employer. You offend an employer by submitting a resume that is too long and/or by addressing the cover letter with the wrong name and/or title.

I have included just some of the pitfalls that students should look out for when creating their resume and cover letters. However, a general conclusion can be made. Avoid sloppiness, bad breath, and offending the reader, and make a good first impression.