Writing wisdom from Strunk and White
The The classic "The Elements of Style" by William Strunk
Jr. and E.B. White is not just for term papers. If your copy has been
buried in a box since graduation, dust it off and polish your résumé
with its timeless advice.
Elementary rules of usage and composition
· "Use the active voice."
· "Put statements in positive form."
· "Use definite, specific, concrete language."
As
the book's introduction states, the authors are all for "cleanliness,
accuracy and brevity." They want writers to select words that convey
exact meaning -- an excellent idea on résumés when you want to make a
big impression in a small space.
"I often see dry, passive
language that makes the job seeker appear as a follower or simple doer
rather than a leader or someone who drives results," says Abby M. Locke,
master résumé writer and personal brand strategist for Premier Writing Solutions in Washington, D.C.
"For example, 'Responsible for the development of new programs and
services' works better when rewritten with active, engaging language
like 'Conceptualized and created revenue-generating programs and
services that increased the company's bottom line by 20 percent.'"
Locke
also reports that candidates get stuck in a rut of using the same verb
over and over again, such as "developed new brochures," "developed
marketing materials" and "developed a system." "When bullets like these
are read very quickly, the only words that the reader remembers are
'developed, developed, developed.'"
Another elementary rule to
remember: Watch tenses. Strunk and White note that "shifting from one
tense to another gives the appearance of uncertainty and irresolution."
Tiffani Murray, a résumé writer and career consultant for PersonalityOnaPage.com, says that she's seen gaffes where the applicant has used two different tenses in the same sentence.
"For
past roles, you should use past tense," Murray says. "For the current
job that you are working in, present tense works unless you are
referring to a project that is completed. You want to be consistent and
accurate with your tense in portraying what you have done in the past
for an employer and what you are doing now."
Words and expressions commonly misused
Many
a candidate writes that he "lead a team" when he meant "led." Another
common dilemma: "effect" versus "affect." (The former can be a noun
meaning "result" or a verb meaning "to accomplish" or "to bring about."
The latter is a verb meaning "to influence.")
Carolyn Yencharis Corcoran, assistant director of the Insalaco Center for Career Development at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa., reports that job seekers often confuse:
· "to" and "too"
· "your" and "you're"
· "there" and "their"
· "then" and "than"
· "wonder" and "wander"
· "its" and "it's"
·
"a" and "an" before a word that begins with a vowel (as in "a
excellent opportunity" when it should be "an excellent opportunity")
An approach to style
· "Avoid fancy words."
"Using
language that is too formal or too academic can make an applicant's
résumé and/or cover letter sound derogatory or speechlike, which may
appear like you are trying to fool the employer about your
qualifications," Corcoran says. "The best way to set yourself apart is
with examples that use industry-relevant words from your experience, not
formal words that may make the reviewer feel stupid or -- if used
incorrectly -- laugh at your application."
· "Do not take shortcuts at the cost of clarity."
"Most
people write about their titles and functions in terms they understand,
instead of taking into account if it will be understood by a hiring
authority," says Tony Beshara, author of "Unbeatable Résumés: America's
Top Recruiter Reveals What Really Gets You Hired." "Likewise, most
people write the names of the companies they have worked for with no
explanation about what the companies do. There are 7.5 million companies
in the United States ... most of us don't know what any of them do. It
needs to be explained in detail."
· "Do not overstate."
Finally,
heed Strunk and White's warning, "When you overstate, the reader will
be instantly on guard, and everything that has preceded your
overstatement as well as everything that follows it will be suspect in
his mind."
"I advise students not to say they are 'excellent
speakers who have extensively ... ' or other similar phrases," says
Cynthia Favre, director of career services at Gustavus Adolphus College
in St. Peter, Minn.
"Comparative words like 'excellent' raise the question: Compared to
whom? And most hiring managers will have a hard time believing a
21-year-old new graduate has done anything 'extensively' anyway.
Instead, give evidence, and let the reader decide if it is excellent or
extensive."