6 tips on resumes from a professional writer

The world gets more technical, but one item remains the same: We still rely on the tried and true resume for conjuring up our next gig. Yes, there's LinkedIn and Glassdoor and Indeed. But, in the end, I would guarantee you that somewhere in the digital process you will have to supply that resume. So, here are a few notes on that from someone who used to teach a resume writing class on a college level. (Yes, me.)

1. Ditch the objective.

Objectives are so 1995. And they remind me of a lecture I would give in my writing and composition classes about never, ever using the phrase "in today's society." Why? Because you are where right now? In today's society. So, that can be assumed. The objective is similar. I should be able to assume that you want a job in the power industry by you applying for a job in the power industry. So the objective is superfluous to the Nth degree. And the rest of the objective is hot air and marketing doublespeak. Don't waste your valuable resume space with that.

2. Tighten it up. 

Ditching the objective will help some, but your future employer really doesn't need to know every single thing you did on your last job. Put in the items that: (1.) show you taking initiative or responsibility, (2.) are unusual or show creativity and/or (3.) reveal a necessary job skill. Give details on the last two jobs. Simply list ones back the last 10 years. Additionally, college degrees? Great. College activities, clubs, sports, ROTC? No. And while some may argue that you should list current volunteer work to look like a well-rounded person---I'm looking at you Linked In profiles---I say: not unless it applies to the job you're applying for. If it does, work it into the cover letter. Don't put it in the resume itself.

3. Understand that cover letters are important.

I hate them. You hate them. We all hate them. They're extra work in a job market that, these days, seem to take massive effort already through online forms and multiple interviews. No one really knows what to say in those things, and yes, we all want to just write: I can do this (expletive) job; just hire me. But, cover letters are important. Really. They are. I'd love to be able to say "ditch it," like I do the objectives, but in a world where the first round of job seekers have to get past software and keywords, you have to remember that getting past the second round means setting yourself apart. So, please don't take the list of requirements and then write out how you meet each of them in the cover letter. (Everyone does that. I promise you.) Instead, tell a story that applies to the job, to the topic area, to the needs of your future employer. Let's say you're applying for a job as a customer rep for a utility. If you've worked for a utility before in that capacity, finding a story should be easy. If you haven't, tell a story that relates---even if it's that time you called in and ended up angry and frustrated. Tell that story and then reveal how you'd be the opposite of the customer rep who made you that darn mad.

4. Spell check. Spell check. Grammar check. Spell check.

Yes, that many times. When you're done writing out your first draft, run the spell check on Word. Then walk away. A day or a week later, read it all over again. Double check names, company names, phone numbers. Then send it to a friend who, maybe, has a degree or two in English or writing. Ask them to proof it for you. When you get it back, check it again. And, every single time before you send it to someone, read it over again. (I can't tell you how many times I don't find typos until the last step of this process, and I DO have those degrees.) Remember this: Nothing says "I'm an idiot" like spelling words such as "to" and "also" incorrectly. Or your own name. (I've done that.) Or your last employer's name. (Done that, too.)

5. Hit those keywords.

Remember that note about getting past the software in #3? Here we are. No one thinks about this, but you should. Be your own Google SEO here. Words that apply to your job, get them in there as often as possible. That first round is run by HR bots, for lack of a better term. Bots love simplicity and repetition. So, remember how I said don't write out that list of requirements in your cover letter? Don't. Do it here. Pull every important word in that list of requirements and put them in your resume. If you're applying for a gig as a substation engineer, make sure both of those words are in your resume multiple times. I also suggest in this industry you put the word "power" in there. If you worked at, say, San Diego Gas & Electric, make sure your list of items has the word "utility" in it somewhere. See where I'm going? (Yes, it will be difficult to balance this and #2. But I have faith in you.)

6. Expand digitally.

Yes, a resume is still the bottomline of the gig-getting. But, you can expand on that option and show how tech savvy you are at the same time. I would suggest making sure your resume is available not just as a Word document you can cut and paste from (for those million forms you'll have to fill out online) but also as a PDF. (A PDF version will "freeze" your layout, as well as being prettier to look at, and it won't have your track changes show up.) Finally, if you have the time and capacity, I would suggest also building yourself an online resume at a simple-to-use website builder such as Wix.com. It's free, and the time put into the project shows real initiative, real drive for a change in employment. It shows you're giving 110% to the job search effort, which likely means you'd give 110% to your future employer.

This article was originally written for Energy Central's new communities. Check that out here.

Got suggestions of your own for the right resume for the job? I'd love to hear all of those in the discussion chain below.

Liked this piece? You might also like:

• The dangers of the passion search
• How can engineers prep for a more complex power system? Education.
• Navigating energy HR: the interview series
• Proper care and feeding of your creative employee