A Resume MUST: Be Truthful - A Lesson Learned

By Randi S. Lewis

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Why is it so important to tell the truth on your resume? The answer is simple: if you fabricate something on your resume, one way or another, your untruthfulness will be uncovered.

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Last week, the headmaster of an elite all-boys prep school in Maryland was asked to resign due to a non-academic fabrication on his resume. During an annual evaluation of the headmaster (an experienced educator with three academic degrees) it was discovered that he had NOT been a member of an intercollegiate hockey team, as he had noted on his resume and discussed in interviews at the time he was hired 6 years ago. Was it worth the fabrication? Of course not.

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Three years ago, a young lawyer was given three months to find another job because it was mutually agreed that it just wasn't working out. His supervisors agreed to give a favorable reference. When he first started looking for a job, he was still employed with the firm. So, it was accurate for him to indicate his employment dates were from Sept. 2002 - Present. But by the time he was poised to receive his first offer to join another firm, he had left his firm and his biography had been removed from the company website. This young lawyer did not advise the new company that he had left his current firm. In checking references, the new firm learned he was no longer employed. He didn't get the offer. Would he have landed the offer if he had let the firm know that he had a mutual agreement with his firm that he would be leaving at the end of the month? Maybe, particularly because his supervisors had agreed to give a favorable reference. But failing to provide pertinent information was as fatal here as it was to the headmaster, who told an affirmative untruth.

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LESSON LEARNED: TELL THE TRUTH.

• For more resume and interview tips, contact Randi S. Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC ~ 410.602.2500.
• http://www.resumeboutique.com/ ~ info@resumeboutique.com
• © 2007 Resume Boutique LLC. All rights reserved.

Job Fair Tip: Consider It An Interview

By Randi Lewis, Resume Boutique LLC

In April 2007, I provided free resume critiques at a law school job fair sponsored by the Maryland Daily Record (http://www.mddailyrecord.com/calendar.cfm?fuseaction=event_details&eventID=263). A few of the students I met knew I both owned this resume business and was a recruiter at a large law firm in town but most did not. Yet, everyone I met acted very professionally even though they were asking me for help on resumes and more. This is something that I, in my role as recruiter, will remember. And if one of their resumes lands on my desk in the future, my vision of their professionalism will be foremost in my mind.

• I also was struck by how well-groomed and professional looking the vast majority of the students appeared. The few who forgot to "dress up" stuck out. The people who dressed professionally did absolutely the right thing. You always want to dress for your audience - and they did.
• Don't forget to dress up or dress for your audience when you attend a job fair. In addition, prepare your "elevator speech" about yourself, your academic record and your professional goals and have it ready to use at the proper time. Your next employer could be in the room.

http://www.resumeboutique.com/ ~ info@resumeboutique.com ~ 410.602.2500

Resume Tips: A Resume Don't

My colleague emailed me a resume the other day and commented that the applicant did not place her contact information on it. I opened the resume and indeed the information was not there -- until I clicked on VIEW and then on HEADER AND FOOTER. The applicant had made a common mistake. She placed her name, address and contact information in the header.

Placing your contact information in the header 15 years ago, when it was common to send resumes through the U.S. mail, was a style choice that had no consequences. But today, when you are emailing your resume to a busy professional who has only seconds to look at your resume and decide whether to read on, it is unwise to place your contact information in the header. Why? Because it is hidden on the document that appears on the computer screen. And that sometimes is enough for the reader to hit DELETE.

So, the resume tip for the day is: place your name and contact information in the text of your resume, not in the first page header.

By: Randi S. Lewis © Resume Boutique LLC 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.resumeboutique.com/

A WORD ABOUT MILITARY RESUMES

By Randi S. Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC

Are you in the military now looking for a civilian job within the next several months? Are you a military vet in transition? Are you a professional with prior military experience? How do you highlight your experience in civilian terms? It's not easy! We've collaborated with current and former military professionals in transition, including Iraq War veterans, a Patriot Missle Defense specialist, a 25 year Army vet, and numerous second career professionals with significant military backgrounds and accomplishments. Each resume has its own challenges and there is no template for a successful military to civilian resume. Here are a few tips:

1. Define as clearly as possible your civilian career path.
2. Solicit the help of your military transition office if you are having difficulty defining your next step or if you need help with your resume.
3. Surf the internet for military resumes and study the sample resumes prepared by other professional resume writers.
4. Organize your resume in terms of the defined core competencies required for each civilian job. You may need to created more than one resume with slight variations.
5. Place general skills, competencies and achievements at the top in civilian terms.
6. Translate military terms and acronyms into civilian terms.
7. Highlight the aspects of your experience most relevant to each position you seek.
8. Exclude military experience, accomplishments or awards that have no relation to the civilian position you seek.
9. As a general rule, your resume should be no longer than 3 pages. If it is, it probably means you have not adequately translated your military experience into civilian terms.
10. Always keep in mind that the training, discipline and experience you receive in the military are invaluable to civilian employers. Be proud of your service and accomplishments.

By: Randi S. Lewis, President, Resume Boutique LLC. ~ info@resumeboutique.com ~ 410.602.2500 ~ http://www.resumeboutique.com/. © Resume Boutique LLC 2007. All Rights Reserved.

EXECUTIVE RESUME TIPS FOR CEO's, VP's, DIRECTORS AND TOP MANAGERS

• By Randi S. Lewis, Executive Resume Writer and President of Resume Boutique LLC

Executives at all levels need powerful, up-to-date resumes in substance and in format. But more often than not, some of the most accomplished CEO's, VP's, Directors and others in top management don't. And when another business opportunity presents itself, they often send their current resume - the format of which they haven't updated in 8 years, 10, years, 15 years, 20 years - to a retained executive search firm that posted the position. Twenty years ago, we used personal typewriters. Fifteen years ago, Word Perfect was the program of choice. Now most of us use an updated version of Microsoft Word and we've become more sophisticated in our ability to market everything, including people. Even if their credentials get them past the search consultant, the resume is unlikely to wow their true target audience: the entity looking for top talent. Other top executives have skeletal resumes, relying instead on their biographies written by their company's marketing departments. Bios are different from resumes. We've worked with many top executives who have submitted bios in applying for corporate positions only to be asked to submit a resume. Then they search the web for a company to help with their resume. We believe that's not the best time to be looking for a skilled resume writer.

Below are ten executive resume tips from Resume Boutique:

1. Hire a professional to revise your current resume and to draft or punch up your company bio at the same time. It's easier for someone else to tout your accomplishments and be a bit more bold about them.
2. Talk with the actual resume writer - the person who will be revising or drafting your resume - before you engage the company to determine her/his: -- Process for working on your resume. -- General comments on the current resume and what types of changes she/he anticipates. -- The total cost and the precise services you will receive [e.g.: are cover letters or other ancillary documents included; is there any period of time for free updates or consultation after the resume is completed; the charge for a resume and a bio]. -- Establish a comfort level with the writer. Use your instincts to determine if this writer is the right one for you.
3. Once you have an updated and professional format of your resume and your bio, it will be ready at a minute's notice to present to the next professional opportunity.
4. Update it every 5 years even if you have no intention to seek new employment.
5. Although I am not a fan of the functional resume, we suggest a hybrid between that and the traditional chronological resume. It will be different for each of you. [The next suggestions relate to your experience and accomplishments.]
6. At your level, you have significant accomplishments, success is typically measured in return on investment, exceeding projected margins, cost savings and more. Your resume should feature prominent accomplishments.
7. Your resume also should feature your leadership and management skills and achievements as well as your ability to collaborate well with colleagues in your organization and organizations past.
8. It also should contain a brief summary paragraph of 3 or 4 sentences below your name and contact information but above your list of experiences. Think of it as an introductory marketing tool.
9. In some cases, a section on representative skills/competencies or something similar should follow to help the reader understand who you are and what value you'd bring.
10. Then you would present your experience chronogically but in a manner that groups and organizes your experience in each position.

Although your resumes and achievements vary dramatically, at the end of the resume writing process, we hear the same thing from every top executive: "I should have done this years ago. "

For other resume questions, contact Randi Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC. http://www.resumeboutique.com/ ~ 410.602.2500 ~ info@resumeboutique.com

© Resume Boutique LLC 2007. All Rights Reserved.

Happy New Year and Thank You to our Clients

As the new year begins, we would like to thank our clients and referral partners for your business and we hope that you realize and are fulfilled by your professional goals. We have bee rewarded by the personal connections we have made with you and we are thrilled when you let us know you've landed that job or that you've been accepted to your college of choice. Remember that we offer free resume updates for a year so let us continue to help you look your best on paper. Below are some of our 2006 clients and referral partners:

PROFESSIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS

• Administrative Professionals
• Business Consultants
• Business Owners/Entrepreneurs (seeking political appointment, seeking other opportunities)
• Controller
• Corporate Vice Presidents
• Engineers
• Human Resources Professional
• IT Executive Director
• IT Professionals
• Journalists (changing careers)
• Lawyers (partners, associates, in-house counsel, government lawyers, judicial clerks)
• Marketing Professionals (directors and managers)
• Medical Coordinator
• Museum Director
• Paralegals
• Plant Manager
• Real Estate Manager/Sales Agent
• Retail Sales Manager
• Teachers/Adjunct Professors (college, high school, law school)

STUDENTS

• College Graduates (seeking their first jobs)
• College Students (for summer jobs)
• High School Students (resumes and interview preparation for college applications)
• Law Students (seeking summer positions, judicial clerkships, and permanent positions)

MILITARY VETERANS

• 25 Year Navy Vet (seeking security position)
• Iraq War Vet
• Army Vets

REFERRAL PARTNERS

• Executive Recruiters
• IT Recruiters
• Legal Headhunters
• Sales and Management Recruiters

THE A B C’s OF INTERVIEWING

By Randi Lewis

Interviewing is a learned skill. And the more you interview, the more skilled you become. When we work with professionals and students on interviewing skills, we tailor each session to the individual and the job focus. But, there are some universal do’s and don’ts that every job seeker should learn. If you remember nothing more, remember these simple A B C’s of interviewing:

• A = Appear professional. Dress in a conservative, dark suit.
• B = Be prepared. Research the company and interviewers.
• C = Communicate confidently your qualifications & interest.

Appearance.

1. It is of the utmost of importance that you look clean, crisp, and professional. Make sure you have showered, brushed your teeth, and that you are well-groomed. When in doubt, dress up. Wear a suit. It shows respect.
2. Men, wear dark suits with a white or light blue shirt and a conservative tie.
3. Women, wear a dark knee-length suit (not pants) with a light blouse or a dark dress with closed toe shoes and pantyhose.
4. No Distractions. The Focus is on YOU. Do not wear heavy cologne or perfume because your interviewer may be allergic to it or find it unappealing. Lose the nose ring, the purple hair, the black nail polish, and the short skirts. Lose the bow tie, the tattered shoes, and the polyester suit.
5. First Impressions Are Hard To Break. For each interviewer you meet, extend your hand, shake hands firmly, introduce yourself, smile, and look the interviewer in the eye. That’s a great start. Maintain good eye contact throughout the interview.

Preparation.

You should prepare for each interview as if you were studying for an exam. Find the company on the internet and study the site. Learn what is important to the company and how it positions itself. Find commonalities between the company’s philosophy and yours.

Learn about your interviewers if possible. Have they spoken at conferences, have they written articles; have they won awards? You are going to store this information and use it, where appropriate, during the interview.

Know Your Resume. Know everything on your resume. Prepare two talking points about the highlights of each prior job position.

Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses. Think about your strengths and the positive feedback you have received. Be prepared to discuss your greatest strengths, how you could add value to the company, and what your supervisors and peers have said about you. Be prepared to talk about your weaknesses. This is tricky. You don’t want to say that you don’t have any weaknesses because the interviewer might conclude you are unable to self-reflect. But you want to talk about a weakness very briefly and then turn the conversation into how you have managed to overcome it or how, with experience, the problem has become less of an issue. Don’t offer your weaknesses and don’t dwell on them.

Prepare Three Questions. Prepare three questions (or more) to ask each interviewer.

The Interview.

Take Your Cues From The Interviewer. Check you audience. Don’t talk too much, too fast, or too slow. Don’t answer in one or two word answers. Weaver your prepared strengths into the conversation. Talk about commonalities between the company’s needs and your experience.

Be Engaged During The Interview. Turn off your cell phone. Sit tall, maintain eye contact, respond appropriately. Show your knowledge about the company in your answers to questions and in the questions you ask. When it is your turn to ask questions, always ask a question from your prepared question list or one more appropriate to the conversation. The questions should be about the company, the position, or the interviewer’s career.

Behavioral Questions. You may be asked what are commonly known as behavioral questions. Some companies spend thousands of dollars on consultants who study the organization and determine questions that might elicit whether you have the right stuff to join the company. They may ask you how you have handled work-related situations in your current or prior jobs. The theory behind the questions is that the best way to determine an applicant’s suitability for a job is to learn how he/she has handled prior work experiences.

Sound Directed and Project Confidence. Be able to discuss your career goals, why you want this job with this company, and why you would be a fit for the position. Highlight your accomplishments and attributes in concrete examples. Keep the conversation focused on the company and your suitability for the position. Don’t talk about your personal life.

What You Do At the Conclusion of The Interview. Stand up, look each interviewer in the eye, shake his/her hand FIRMLY, smile, and thank him/her for taking the time to meet with you. Don't ask about next steps. You can call the HR person or recruiter later.

Send Thank You Notes. Take the time to send individualized thank you notes either by email, or in writing by hand or typewritten.

For more detailed information about interviewing, you can contact Randi Lewis at 410-602-2500 or by email at info@resumeboutique.com. © Resume Boutique LLC™ 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.resumeboutique.com/

HOW TO LEAVE YOUR COMPANY GRACEFULLY

By Randi Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC

You’ve made the decision to move on. You’ve updated and perfected your resume. You’ve interviewed, received an offer or more, and you’ve chosen a new path. How do you tell your company? How much time do you give them? How do you keep the door open either to return or for referral or other business opportunities? These are questions our clients regularly ask. Every situation is different but here are a few basic points to keep in mind:

1. Supervisor First. Tell your immediate supervisor in person first.

2. Be Direct. Tell him or her up front that you have decided to leave the company and where you are going.

3. Give the Reason. In general, the reason you are leaving should be about you and your career, not a criticism of your company.

4. Praise Your Supervisor. You should be telling your supervisor and others with whom you work how much you appreciate the company and what your colleagues have done for you. Discuss specific examples of their leadership, mentoring, and support.

5. Keep Door Open. Where appropriate, find a way to discuss keeping the door open for you to return or for a mutually beneficial way each can refer business or collaborate. Depending upon here you go, this may not be possible.

6. Exit Interviews. Many companies ask for you to participate in a formal or informal exit interview. Be prepared to talk constructively about issues that may have caused you to look elsewhere.

7. Notice. Most protocols require that you give a minimum of two weeks notice. But in some circumstances, in order not to leave your employer in a difficult position, the professional thing

to do would be to offer to remain longer. When in doubt, do the professional thing even if your new employer wants you to start ASAP. Your new employer will respect your concern to do a good job. But remember to think about timing in relation to health insurance.

8. Health Insurance Considerations. When deciding when to leave your company, you should factor in how long, if at all, you are covered by your current firm’s health insurance and when your new company’s health insurance becomes effective. Sometimes a day makes a big difference. You want to revert to costly COBRA benefits only as a last resort.

9. What to Take and How. You may have created documents, Outlook contacts, and other tangible projects or items that you want to take with you. Make sure there are no company policies that would prohibit you from doing so. Similarly, if the company requires you to request permission, go through the proper channels. Follow the rules. Often, your current company will coordinate with your new company to exchange computer-based documents and data.

© 2006 Resume Boutique LLC . All rights reserved. http://www.resumeboutique.com/

For more information, contact Randi Lewis, rlewis@resumeboutique.com, or 410.602.2500.

THE FUNCTIONAL RESUME. DOES IT REALLY HELP A PROFESSIONAL GET THE JOB?

By Randi Lewis

The Functional Resume. What is it and does it really help a professional get the job? I have worked with a number of professionals recently who have inquired about the functional resume. These men and women were told by career counselors that they should craft one. Why? Either because they had long careers and it would mask their “age,” or because they have gaps in their employment history and it would mask those gaps.

• What do I think? As a recruitment professional who screens thousands of resumes per year, I think the purely functional resume doesn’t help at all. It raises questions about your work history and what you did where. If recruiters have to work too hard to understand what you did where, they may become suspicious that you are hiding something, which you are, or they may become frustrated because they can’t determine where you received your experience. Consequently, they are more likely than not to place your resume in the “no thank you” pile.
• What's a Functional Resume? What do the resume professionals mean by a functional resume? The functional resume groups experience in skill-related categories rather than in reverse chronological order like the more typical resume. The purely functional resume doesn’t list your employers or your job duties. Recruiters looking to hire professionals such as accountants, senior sales professionals, marketing professionals, lawyers, doctors, CEO’s, CFO’s and so on, want to see your job history. It’s as simple as that. So, the resume that lists employment history in reverse chronological order will make it to the top of the pile.
• Common Questions: How do you minimize the employment gaps? How do you conceal your age? How do you highlight prior work experience that may be more relevant to the job you seek? Each case is different but here are a few suggestions:
• Employment Gaps. If you are a mom or dad who has stayed home for a number of years raising your children, consider mentioning that in the profile section. You might say, “Accomplished marketing professional with eight years of experience in global marketing and branding returning to workplace after working at home full time raising three children and managing family.”
• Worried About Age? If you are concerned that your age will place your resume in the “no thank you pile” before you’ve had a chance to meet them so they’ll know you are perfect for the job, here are my thoughts. If you have a long history of employment, consider crafting the employment heading with a slight change such as RELEVANT EXPERIENCE or RECENT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE. Then omit employment experiences that occurred 20 years ago or more. Also consider omitting the dates you graduated from college or graduate school. But, if you omit the dates, know that it will alert the employer that you don’t want your age known. That’s not a bad thing but prepared to let people know your graduation years if asked. Also, don’t be untruthful about anything in an interview. If asked, freely talk about the work experience you omitted without apology.
• Prior Work More Relevant? If your prior work is more relevant, place it first under a section such as, RELEVANT EXPERIENCE. The next section would read something like, OTHER EXPERIENCE. A PROFILE paragraph and/or SUMMARY OF SKILLS section may help too.
• But can you have a winning chronological resume that INCLUDES skill-related categories? Yes. And in some instances, I recommend it. For example, if you are an experienced professional having substantially similar experience with multiple employers, it would be wise to include a section of representative skills or key accomplishments before the chronological job history. But you still must write something substantial under each job.
• What about the OBJECTIVE Section? I am not a fan of the OBJECTIVE section at the top. I have never seen a resume with an objective that has made a difference. Instead, in my experience, objectives sometimes distract from the substance of the resume because they are poorly written and tell us nothing of import. Instead, I recommend that the resumes of seasoned professionals include a PROFILE section at the top that summarizes and highlights the essence of their experience and strengths. How many years of experience do you need to have before it would be appropriate to add a profile? It depends. I have written profile for professionals with as few as 3 years experience.

~ ~ ~ © Resume Boutique LLC. All rights reserved.

410.602.2500 ~ info@resumeboutique.com ~ www.resumeboutique.com

How to Help Your High School Seniors Prepare for their College Interviews

By Randi Lewis

The college application process is around the corner. It is a stressful time for students and their parents, in part because of the increasing competitive nature of the process. When we work with high school students to help them prepare for interviews, their parents often take an active role in the process. We go through "The ABC's of Interviewing" with our students and our parents so that our parents can take home what they have learned in our preparation sessions and help empower their children to be themselves and to do their best. Here are a few tips for parents to help your teenager navigate the interview process. We call them, “THE THREE P’s.” PREPARE ~ PRACTICE ~ PRAISE

PREPARE. Help your child prepare. Study the school’s website with your child. Help your child organize and write down:

• Academic or career goals.
• Interest in each school.
• Accomplishments such as AP classes, honors, extra-curricular activities, unique interests.
• Why each school would be a good fit, finding commonality between something about the school's values, culture, academic program, etc., and your child. (Examples: Yale's honor code is similar to the honor code in your child's school; UCLA's commitment to public service is important to your child because it offers opportunities to give back to the community like your child has done in high school; the small class learning environment of University of Maryland's Honors Program is of itnterest to your child because . . . .)

PRACTICE. Help your child practice. Strategizing while role playing works well for some students. Others prefer just talking. Play it by ear.

• Start with a firm handshake and eye contact. Both are important in making a good impression.
• Help your child practice talking about him/herself and his or her academic and career goals.
• Help your child practice talking about his or her interest in that school, weaving in the commonalities between the school and your child's accomplishments, interests and goals.
• Help your child devise three questions for the interviewer.
• Practice answering and asking questions and talk about what to say at the end of each interview.

PRAISE. Praise your child’s efforts.

• Understand your child is under tremendous pressure to continue high school studies and extracurricular activities while completing college applications.
• Let your child know OFTEN how proud you are of how well he or she is juggling the demands of school, extracurricular activities, and the college application process.

A WORD ABOUT ATTIRE. Discuss how your child will dress for each interview. The dress may vary by school but here are a few things your child must keep in mind:

1. Don't dress like a kid. No shorts. No tennis shoes. No short skirts or low cut blouses.
2. Boys should wear a suit or khaki pants a white or blue shirt and a dark blazer.
3. Girls should wear a knee length skirt with a jacket and a white shirt.
4. Dressing up, even if you feel overdressed, is a sign of respect.
5. No weird piercings. Remove the nose ring.
6. Keep your hair well-groomed.

Trust the process. Randi

© 2006 Resume Boutique LLC™. All rights reserved.

Thirty-Something, Forty-Something and Changing Careers

We are working with a growing number of professionals who, for one good reason or another, have decided in your thirties and forties that you need a change. Each of you has a different reason for wanting a change. Your flexibility to make a change will depend largely on your family and financial situations. Some of you provide the sole financial support for yourselves or your families. Others share the financial burden. Others are going back to work after a hiatus managing your families. And some of you need flexibility so that you can continue to manage your families. Some of you can relocate and others can't. Notwithstanding these differences, there are some general things you can do to conduct a meaningful job search.

1. Define and Package Your Story. Define what you want to do. Then package that desire in one paragraph that has an upbeat tone to use when you see people at the store, at social functions and elsewhere to let people know you are looking for a new challenge.
2. Contact Your Base. Make a list of 100 to 250 people you know including relatives, friends, business colleagues, colleagues of family and friends. Call, email or write a personal note advising them that you are looking for new opportunities and asking them for their help (what/who they know).
3. Assess Your Opportunities. Be realistic about your opportunities and the market.
4. Hire Professionals. If you need career counseling, help putting your resume together, or a headhunter to help in your job search, invest in a good professional. It will be worth the investment. Also, make sure you determine how your resume should look for the new industry or position.
5. Follow Up With Your Base. Follow up with your base. Contact the leads they provide.
6. Keep Searching. Look in local papers; search key websites and post your resume where appropriate; go on informational interviews.
7. Think Out Of The Box. Brainstorm with anyone who will take the time. What do you like to do? What are you good at doing? Think about what professions value those qualities and whether those positions might be a fit for you.
8. Persevere. Be thick-skinned about rejections. Keep a positive attitude. Be flexible. Don't be deterred. Something better is around the next corner. You can do it! Randi

Written by Randi S. Lewis, Founder, Resume Boutique LLC.

www.resumeboutique.com

© 2006 Resume Boutique LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Ten Tips For A Better Legal Resume

By Randi Lewis, Esq.
Are you getting ready to update your resume to search for your first full time job as a lawyer? Here are 10 Tips to help your resume make it to the top of the stack:
Tip No. 1 - The Five Second Rule. Legal recruitment professionals review hundreds, sometimes thousands, of resumes per year. List your education, grades (see below), honors and important activities at the top of your resume in bullet points, not in a string cite, so they are able to be read within 5 seconds, the time it takes to decide whether to read on or to place your resume in the “no pile.”
Tip No. 2 - The Font & The Format. The text should be no smaller than 11 point in Times New Roman, Garamond or Georgia. Headings should be in larger font and bold. The format should be compatible with OCI+ and reader-friendly for receipt by email.
Tip No. 3 - The Order. List education first and experience second (even if you are a second career law student). List experience first only after practicing for at least 5 years.

Tip No. 4 - Honors, Law Review and Activities. Group all honors, law review/journal positions and law school activities with your law school. Similarly, keep all undergraduate honors and activities with college information.
Tip No. 5 - Law School Grades. A general rule of thumb: list law school grades if they are a 3.0 or better.
Tip No. 6 - Undergraduate & Graduate School Grades. Another general rule: list undergraduate and graduate school grades if they are a 3.0 or better EVEN IF law school grades are below a 3.0. (Reason: if you don’t, the reader may assume you received less than a 3.0 in law school, grad school and college.)

Tip No. 7 - Employment Achievements. Where possible, describe your employment in terms of substantive work and/or successes, keeping descriptions short to use as talking points in your interview. Example: “Drafted successful motions to dismiss in contract dispute, securities fraud case and products liability matter.”
Tip No. 8 - Use Action Words. Use action words to add power to your resume. Examples: prepared; analyzed; collaborated; managed; led; devised; researched; drafted.
Tip No. 9 - Bulletize and Italicize. Use bullet points and italics to add visual interest and help guide your reader.
Tip No. 10 - Proofread. Always proofread your resume several times to ensure there are no typographical or grammatical errors.

Randi Lewis, Esq., is the founder of Resume Boutique LLC, http://www.resumeboutique.com/, which provides resume and interview consultation to professionals and students, including lawyers and law students. A former practicing lawyer, Randi also runs the Recruitment Department of, and reviews resumes submitted to, an AmLaw 250 law firm. For more resume tips, contact Randi at info@resumeboutique.com or 410-602-2500.

© 2006 Resume Boutique LLC. All Rights Reserved.