#101
	Sheena Martin Jones
	Corporate Controller

Before: Sheena Martin Jones After: Sheena's Makeover

As Featured in eResumes: Everything You Need to Know

Sheena's resume needs some serious help! Major problems include:

• No summary statement: This resume does nothing more than provide a list of jobs and facts. It does not pass the "15 second" test nor does it provide adequate information.
  
  
• Unprofessional appearance: This resume's design design looks amateurish and lacks eye appeal. In addition, the page is not balanced.
  
  
• Poor contrast: The background graphic is too "busy" and too dark – making it difficult to read the text.
  
  
• Inconsistent design and typography: Formatting enhancements and typography are inconsistent and sloppy.
  
  
• Poor strategy: Instead of listing job descriptions, Sheena's original resume provided links to them. In Sheena's case, linking to job descriptions is not a good strategy and makes it harder for potential employers to find what they need.
  
  
• Underlined sections: Sheena made a classic mistake in underlining her categories and job titles. Underlining should not be used on Web resumes, because most viewers assume that underlined sections are hyperlinks.
  
  
• Poor use of HTML hyperlinks: in addition to unnecessary links to the job descriptions, Sheena's resume also includes a hyperlink back to itself. Needless to say, hyperlinking to the same page serves no purpose!
  

Sheena's Makeover

Linking to the job description is a bad idea in this case. If you want an employer to click on a hyperlink for more information, they need to be motivated first – and this resume is too sparse to accomplish that. Keeping the job descriptions with the resume is a more effective strategy.

BACK

Unless the references have "name recognition" (i.e., the potential employer knows them personal - or they are prominent in your field, don't provide a reference sheet online.

BACK

While listing the URL at the bottom of the resume provides the Web resume address for future reference, making it a "live" link is pointless. Instead, Sheena should list the contact information – instead of linking to it on another page – so that if the resume is printed, the phone number will be accessible.

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