Resume style: Paragraphs or Bullets?

[JerseyJanice]

I need to update my resume. I've always listed my responsibilities in paragraph form, but now that I'm typing it, I wonder if it would be more effective and easier-to-read if I list my job duties in bullet format. I do a lot of impressive-sounding things in my current job, and I think a bullet list would highlight that.

What are people doing now? Paragraphs or bullets?

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I do bullets for resumes, save paragraphs for cover letters.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

I vote for bullets that begin with action words

 

[spaceacewannabe]

Bullets. People are more likely to read them.

 

[froggygrrrl]

Definitely bullets. White space is important for resume reading. Recruiters go through so many resumes that the keywords need to jump out.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Good luck, Janice!!!

 

[hj0519]

Bullets! And use action words!

 

[Kimberly]

As an employer, I've seen more bullet points than paragraphs. You can certainly fit more information into paragraphs though, and I actually prefer them.

Just my 0.02 USD.

 

[Imzadi]

I was thinking it depends on how much info is in each paragraph.

Why not create two documents and bullet one and paragraph the other and see which one looks better to you?

Good luck!

 

[Binnie]

As an HR-type, I see tons of resumes. I like both bullets and paragraphs. In fact, when I do my own resume, I list the position, a brief description of the totality of the job (i.e. Responsible for all HR functions of a 100+ employee multi-state government contractor). And then I do bullet points of the most important tasks I did.

I make sure that the most recent job has the most information, and that previous employers get progressively shorter, but illustrate things I haven't already mentioned in descriptions of other jobs.

And just as a favor to the other HR-types out there, please include your dates of employment. I know a lot of people want you to "cover up" your age, experience, or inexperience. It's a big pain on the employer end, because I will figure it out (if I'm interested enough), but it will take me more effort, which increases the possibility that I won't stay interested. You don't have to include graduation dates (in fact I would say don't), but please include dates of employment.

 

[fall08CP]

I'm currently job hunting and many employers have said that my resume stuck out because of the bullets They said it's clean, precise, and easy to read.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I have always used bullets and kept it short and sweet. You want to get your main point across within the first 30 seconds because most people wont read for much longer than that. Details are for the interview.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I did it bullet style, and I like the way it looks, but I had to go to two pages. Is that O.K.? I didn't want to make the font too small, and I left 1/2 a line in between each bullet.

Yes, I listed my employment dates, and I even separated them for one previous, long-time employer to show when I received a promotion.

This is the first time I've applied for a position on-line. It's actually a multi-part, ardous on-line application. The employer's website tells you specifically NOT to mail paper resumes, but to upload them into the applicaiton. So I would use a PDF file for that, no?

If there is something that would be helpful to know about submitting an electronic resume, I'd sure appreciate hearing about it.

Lastly, I've always printed my resume on really good paper, and think I still should do that and bring it to the interview. Correct?

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Most of my job applications have been online anymore and I have always just uploaded my word document (making sure it is compatible with the older versions of word).

Then when I go into an interview I make sure I have multiple printed copies of my resume, references and cover letter and offer it to whomever is doing the interview. Sometimes they have had more than one person talk to me about the job so I like to makes sure I have enough copies to go around if need be.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Most of my job applications have been online anymore and I have always just uploaded my word document (making sure it is compatible with the older versions of word).

I use Word 2007 where I can save it as a PDF to prevent the margins and such from getting wonky when it's opened. I always send PDF files in my Outlook Emails unless I want the recipient to be able to edit the document.

Then when I go into an interview I make sure I have multiple printed copies of my resume, references and cover letter and offer it to whomever is doing the interview. Sometimes they have had more than one person talk to me about the job so I like to makes sure I have enough copies to go around if need be.

Yes, I plan on bringing a few copies of my resume. For references, do you list them with contact info on a piece of paper? Or do you bring copies of your recommendation letters with that info in them? What about the cover letter? I wasn't planning on writing one because the on-line application asks you to write a short essay that demonstrates you have experience in certain aspects of the job. What I wrote there sounds like what I'd put in a cover letter.

 

[froggygrrrl]

I did it bullet style, and I like the way it looks, but I had to go to two pages. Is that O.K.? I didn't want to make the font too small, and I left 1/2 a line in between each bullet.

Yes, I listed my employment dates, and I even separated them for one previous, long-time employer to show when I received a promotion.

This is the first time I've applied for a position on-line. It's actually a multi-part, ardous on-line application. The employer's website tells you specifically NOT to mail paper resumes, but to upload them into the applicaiton. So I would use a PDF file for that, no?

If there is something that would be helpful to know about submitting an electronic resume, I'd sure appreciate hearing about it.

Lastly, I've always printed my resume on really good paper, and think I still should do that and bring it to the interview. Correct?

It's perfectly fine that your resume takes up two pages, assuming that you are providing useful information and not filler. It can be hard not to reach two (or even three) pages if you have had a long and involved career.

As far as uploading your resume, a lot of places just want you to copy and paste. Does the application page specify? In any case, I would definitely still bring a printed copy to the interview.

 

[collegejunkie]

i've always been taught to do bullets

 

[Planogirl]

I use bullets.

I saw somewhere where someone suggested putting action words in your resume in white font. They said that the scanners that look for these would find them but they wouldn't be visible to HR people. Has anyone else ever heard of this?

 

[FredinFL]

Bullets OWN it girl!