How to Use Resume Bullet Points
Don’t slay your reader with too many bullet points.
May 29, 2009
By Lisa Vaas
FILED UNDER:
Bullet Problem,
Results-Oriented Resumes.
Solid, unbroken chunks of text are daunting to read in any format. So the best
advice for those writing their own resume has always been to lighten the task by
describing their work experience in sharp bulleted sentences instead of
paragraphs.
But be careful not to slay the reader with too many of these graphic daggers.
Professional resume writers caution their clients to use bullet points in
moderation.
Andrew Pearl, a certified professional resume writer who works with TheLadders
recently overhauled a resume that was drunk on bullet points - three pages of
them to be exact.
"[The] original resume was all bullets, and the all-bulleted approach is
difficult to navigate," Pearl said.
Pearl transformed the all-bullet resume by alternating brief informative
paragraphs of text with bulleted lists that highlight specific achievements.
In this particular case, the resume, which described a senior-level
technologist, now uses a bulleted list to highlight, among other things, the
specific total dollar amount in savings the job seeker achieved by implementing
a centralized server farm to house an accounting package. The paragraph that
precedes this bulleted list incorporates powerful words that speak to leadership
and strategy as well as keywords that are relevant in the candidate's field,
including infrastructure, architecture, user support, training, project
management, and system development.
Career Advice from TheLadders
·
Will your Resume Pass the 10-Second Test?
·
Top Secrets of Combination Resumes
·
Beware the Functional Resume!
"By creating a document with a clear organizational structure, we have built
something that clearly demonstrates value," Pearl said. "Decision makers don't
have time to hunt for the important details. The new document has a clear road
map to what is most tangible. By being selective about what we highlight, we
create a document that speaks at a higher level."
Another thing to keep in mind about bulleted lists: When stacking bullet points,
"Put the brightest ones on top," said Steve Burdan, also a certified
professional resume writer who works with TheLadders.
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