|
An External Evaluation of Your Resume
The best way to conduct an external evaluation of your resume is to give it to several individuals whose opinions you value for being objective, frank, and thoughtful. Do not select friends and relatives who might flatter you with positive comments. Professional acquaintances or people you don't know personally but whom you admire may be good candidates for this type of evaluation.
An ideal evaluator has had experience in hiring people in your area of expertise. This may be someone with whom you conducted an informational interview. At the very end of the informational interview, you should ask the person to examine your resume for ways you can strengthen and improve it.
The following checklist can be given to persons you are asking to evaluate your resume.
Instructions: Circle the number that best characterizes various aspects of your resume as well as include any recommendations on how to best improve the resume:
1 = Excellent 2 = Okay 3 = Weak
- Overall appearance
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Layout
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Clarity
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Consistency
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Readability
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Language
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Organization
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Content/completeness
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Length
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Contact information/header
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Objective
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Experience
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Skills
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Achievements
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Education
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Other information
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Paper color
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Paper size and stock
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Overall production quality
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
- Potential effectiveness
1 2 3 _____________________________________________________
Summary Evaluation:
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
SOURCE: Adapted from Carl S. Savino, Major, USAR (Ret.), and Ronald L. Krannich, Ph.D., Military-to-Civilian Resumes and Letters (Impact Publications) pages 73-75. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
|