Analysis Of Resumes Essay, Research Paper

TO:

DATE: March 8, 1999

FROM:

SUBJECT: Analysis of Resumes

In an effort to improve my resume writing skills, I have analyzed two resumes taken from the internet. Although both applicants have years of experience, they have approached resume writing with different formats. In my opinion, one applicant organized his resume in a format that makes it much easier for the reader to find information. That applicant does not appear to be the more qualified professional, but his resume is clear and well written. The resumes used were from H. Robert Gross and David R. Gonnion.

Although content and organization of all kinds of resumes are similiar, the author discusses the three most widely used styles of resumes as chronological, functional, and targeted. (Houp, Pearsall and Tebeaux, 38).

The chronological resume is “traditional and acceptable” and “shows a progression of your education and experience toward the career you seek”. (Houp, Pearsall and Tebeaux, 379). “A main advantage of the functional resume is that it allows you to highlight those experiences that show you to your best advantage”. (Houp, Pearsall and Tebeaux, 381). The targeted resume is a more narrow approach of displaying your capabilities and achievements”. (Houp, Pearsall and Tebeaux, 383).

H. Robert Gross

Although it is clear Mr. Gross has much experience in the world of business, the format chosen for his resume hinders his effectiveness to present himself well. His grammar and punctuation are correct but he used information in a disorganized manner when he could have made his point by combining information into a compact and more effective resume. Houp states on page 26, “In checking content, be sure you have been specific enough” and ask “are questions left unanswered that the reader will want answered”?

He does have links at the top of the page that guide the reader through the resume. The first link used is Key Words. However, with no transition wording and no defining headings, Mr. Gross begins to list his accomplishments. His accomplishments do not necessarily support his key words. It is unclear on what position these accomplishments occurred. Some accomplishments are specific but some appear to be vague. The author states on page 493, “You should include everything that is really relevant and nothing that is not relevant”. A more effective use of headings, bolding print, and change in font size would have created an easier to scan document. (Houp, Pearsall and Tebeaux, 386). The format Mr. Gross chose to use makes it necessary for the reader to read the entire resume in order to understand his qualifications. He should have divided the material in a more organized fashion so as to highlight his strengths, his background, and his experience. No key characteristics are emphasized except in the experience section of the resume. He provided an overview at the bottom which made his resume lengthy.

Although the resume does not fit basic examples in the text, it seems closer to the Functional Resume described in the text. I would give the resume a 2 out of 5 ranking.

David R. Gonnion

Mr. Gonnion has a narrow approach in his resume. He is seeking a sales position and his experience has been in sales. The information given in Mr. Gonnion’s resume is well organized and presented in such a way to show his attributes. His link wording describe his background, employment history, civil and professional activities, education and personal information.

He bolded the sections and subsections, making the resume easy to scan and key points easy to find. (Houp, Pearsall and Tebeaux, 386). I would suggest that a larger font on the sections than on the subsections would be more effective.

The grammar and punctuation are correct and Mr. Gonnion presents himself well. His resume is lengthy. Omitting the personal information would have made the information more concise.

The resume is a Targeted Resume which I would rank as a 4 out of 5.

Strategy for personal resume success

As I read the resumes of Mr. Gross and Mr. Gonnion, it became clear to me how important format and style are when presenting information about yourself. Choosing a design that provides the information the reader needs in a way that makes it easy for the reader to find and understand is important. (Houp, Pearsall and Tebeaux, 192). Mr. Gross had valuable experience yet the order of his resume made it difficult for the reader to determine his qualifications.

I will choose the Targeted Resume format in writing my personal resume. I will use headings, bolding, and font variations to make it easy for the reader to find specific information as indicated on page 385. Since my resume will be for an entry-level position I will need to emphasize my capabilities more than my work experience. The company may be interviewing applicants with experience for the same job. I must convince the reader of my ability to perform effectively on the job.

If you have suggestions for improving my resume, contact me at xxx-xxx-xxx or e-mail at xxx.xxx.xxx.

if you need the resumes used please email me

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