Why You Need to Audit Resume Contact Info
No matter what you hear - the resume is NOT dead. The resume is still the only way you will get your foot through certain doors.If you have already done all the hard work to prepare your resume and get it in front of the potential employer, do not sabotage your own job search with errors or omissions in the contact information.Make sure that employers can contact you. It's the only way to the next step. Use this checklist to proofread the contact information on a resume for content, relevance and accuracy.
Audit Resume Contact Info
It sounds simple but the resume contact info is can really kill your job search. For example, your email address could send the wrong message to a recruiter and you could have changed your phone number but left the old number on your resume. Use this checklist to audit resume contact info on your resume.
Phone Number and Email Address
Using multiple phone numbers? Pick one. Recruiters won't necessarily call and leave messages at every one.
Is your phone number correct and current? It won't leave a positive impression if the employer gets a message that your phone is disconnected or if you can no longer be reached at the number indicated on your resume. Leaving a resume in cyber space with incorrect contact information does you no good.
Did you set up a professional voice mail? Is there music that is too loud? Is the voice mail in another language? Are there distracting sounds like dogs barking or horns?
At the phone number you have listed, will someone answer who does not speak English? Will a child answer? Will they be able to take a message for you?
Include a fax number if available. Yes. This is still a possibility. This might make it easy for the employer to send you a job application or an offer letter. You can still set up a free 30-day fax account at myfax.com.
Does your email address look professional? If you are using multiple email addresses-pick one? Have you changed email accounts recently and need to update this on your resume? Are you regularly checking the email account listed?
Top of resume
Is the margin at the top of your resume less than a half inch? Contact information might get cut off if your resume has to be faxed.
You might want to temporarily lower security level or check your spam or junk folder to make sure you are not missing responses from employers.
Do you have an adopted name as well as your given name? Use both. Suggested layout would be to include your adopted name in parenthesis eg. Rosemary (Ginger) Thyme
Make sure your name and contact information appears on every page of your resume. New college grads rarely go beyond a one-page resume anyway.
Address
You may include a website URL for an online portfolio in your resume contact information.
Use both a permanent and temporary addresses if you are in college or transitioning to a new region.
Does your address use too many lines? Limit name and address to two lines. eg First line with name and email on both ends; 2nd line with complete address and phone numbers separated by symbols.
Is your address above your name? Make sure your name is the first thing on your resume and is in a slightly larger font than everything else.
Formatting
Contact information does not always have to be centered. Experiment with alignment to left and right as well to improve styling.
Use text boxes to save space when aligning text side by side in the contact information section.
Use small, appropriate graphic elements such as lines of varying weights for emphasis to separate your contact information from the body of the resume.
Aim for consistent letter-head look of contact information for resume, cover letter, thank-you letter and reference sheet.
Are you using a font that is too small to be readable? Many resume templates c use a default font that is too small. If you have to fax your resume, your address could look like just a blur.
Revised - Original published on Yahoo Voices by Marcia F. Robinson in 2007