It isn't so easy to create a resume that sets you apart... makes you very appealing... and neutralizes your liabilities. Friends and spouses may say your resume is impressive, but they are seldom knowledgeable about what really works. The following questions will help you make an accurate assessment about where your material needs improvement.

If you answer no... or uncertain...
on more than a handful of these, then chances
are you need an entirely new resume.

	Does your resume present an image of distinction?	yes	no	uncertain
	Does it feel like your are worth the income you seek... or more?	yes	no	uncertain
	Will it work well with scanning systems?	yes	no	uncertain
	Is the position you seek clear?	yes	no	uncertain
	Are your transferable skills highlighted early on?	yes	no	uncertain
	Is there a 20-second summary... of your best selling points at the top of your resume?	yes	no	uncertain
	Are your achievements clear?	yes	no	uncertain
	If you are highly marketable, is this immediately apparent?	yes	no	uncertain
	Do sentences flow smoothly?	yes	no	uncertain
	Is your resume persuasive?	yes	no	uncertain
	Are the challenges you faced... the problems solved.. & opportunities uncovered... clear?	yes	no	uncertain
	Are your sentences or paragraphs too long? They discourage people from reading.	yes	no	uncertain
	Does your resume avoid over-identifying you with a specialty or single industry?	yes	no	uncertain
	Do you have an "A" resume? With today's competition, a B or C resume won't work.	yes	no	uncertain
	Have you conveyed an exciting presentation in a single page?	yes	no	uncertain
	If you have liabilities... does your resume reveal them?	yes	no	uncertain

Have you avoided revealing any of the
common liabilities in your resume?

• You're currently unemployed.
• You've been unemployed a while.
• Age is a problem.
• You changed jobs too often.


• You are too specialized.
• You are too generalized.
• You've been in one firm for a long time.
• You've been in one industry for a long time.


• You lack a formal degree.
• You career has peaked.
• You lack blue chip / large co. experience.
• Your firm has done poorly.


• Your titles are not impressive.
• You lack career progression.
• Many of your jobs appear too similar.
• Your career history shows gaps.