How to Write a 10-Second Foolproof Resume

1. Follow the basic principles for a good resume:

*Follow the directions given by your future employer. If they ask for three references, make sure you give three references.
*Revise, revise, revise. Make sure there are NO misspellings, misplaced punctuation marks, or incorrect grammar. --If the employer notices a misspelling in those 10 seconds, your resume might not make it into the "Keep" pile.
*Tailor your resume to the specific job to which you are applying. Make sure you know what your employer wants for that particular position. The descriptions you use for your Work Experience or Education can be worded to make your experiences appear to fit those needs.

2. Pick a good layout:

Ten seconds is not a lot of time, but you can ensure that that time is used only in a way that will be beneficial. In 10 seconds, the employer has about enough time to read your name and read the bolded material. But the wrong layout can distract your employer for a few seconds long enough to ruin your chances. Make sure that your layout draws the employer's eyes to the important information on the page. It will make good use of the 10 seconds you have to impress them.

*When picking a template, notice how your eyes are drawn across the page. Give yourself only 10 seconds to look at the resume. Are your eyes drawn immediately to your name at the top and then down to the left, where your material is bolded? Or are your eyes inexplicably drawn towards the right where there are a blur of explanations about Work Experience that you can't quite focus on?

3. Use Serif AND San serif font:

Serif fonts include Times New Roman, Bookman, or Lucida Bright. These fonts have semi-structural details at the end of the strokes that make up each letter. It helps your eyes focus better on large amounts of small print.

San serif fonts include Arial, Tahoma, or Verdana. These fonts lack the details at the end of each stroke. They make larger fonts easier to read.

USE SERIF font for the bullet points (the bulk) of your resume. Of course the employer can still read your resume with San serif font, but it takes more effort to focus on large amounts of small print which will ultimately lead to a few seconds of lost time--time which you don't have.

USE SAN SERIF for the heading and the bolded material. This will catch the attention of the employer because it is easier to read in larger fonts.

4. Use Negative Space:

Negative space is the white space on the page. It is the space on the page WITHOUT writing. If a resume has too much ink packed onto one page, it leaves the reader scatter-brained and unable to focus. Organize the page with white space in between paragraphs to give the employer the ease of moving from one main point to the next without difficulty. Keep a border of white space around the page (standard 1.5 inch indentation).

But be careful. Negative space can also be harmful if you leave too much white on the page. It will seem like you did not have enough experience to create a decent and complete resume. Use a sufficient amount of ink on the page to convey the appropriate information without overwhelming the reader.

Remember these tips are to impress the employer in the first 10 seconds. Once you have earned their future undivided attention, it is up to you to impress the employer with the rest of your resume.