What Are the Differences Between Telecommute Resumes and Standard Resumes?

Ever think about the differences between standard and telecommute resumes? If you're considering a change in job, it might be time to take a look at this! Find out the basics on both formats, as well as what potential employers are looking for by perusing each type.

Our ultimate goal is to make your transition into telecommuting easier than ever before. Let's get started with some telecommute resume dos and don'ts!

Do: Keep it brief and write "telecommuting" instead of "working from home". The shorter you leave something like that, the better. List any applicable skills that would be handy in a telecommute job (e.g. previous experience, software/hardware knowledge). Don't be afraid to include any awards or achievements you've received that may not have been part of an official job description.

Don't: Don't give out too much information about your potential employer. This is one of the most important things you need to know when writing a resume for a telecommute job (or a standard one, for that matter). Mentioning the name of the company could eliminate the possibility of being hired by other organizations in the same field. Also, don't include contact information—particularly e-mail addresses and phone numbers—unless specifically requested.

Do: Make sure you have an active e-mail account and a professional title. You'll need both of these in order to be considered for a telecommuting job. It's also important to set up your e-mail address with a combination of your name and the company name so that it stands out from spam mail. If you're unsure about what kind of e-mail address to use, it's best to ask a friend or family member for advice first.

Don't: Don't use slang or abbreviations that are going to confuse the reader. Even if you think it's perfectly fine, you never know who is going to read it. Stick with normal language as much as possible.

Do: Be detailed! If you've got a lot of relevant experience, list it all down (e.g. retail management experience, business-to-business sales experience). Show the potential employer that you have everything they need in a telecommuting employee.

Don't: Don't be too general! It's good to show that you're experienced in certain areas, but don't overdo it or else the employer might think you don't have more important skills and won't even bother reading your resume. Instead of using a generic list (e.g. "hard worker"), make sure you're addressing specific problems or challenges that you've had to overcome.

Do: Use the right font and formatting! Make sure that the format is easy to read and understand. Experiment with font, size, spacing and margins so the resume looks professional, but not boring on first glance. Don't use too much or too little text or white space, as it can make it difficult to follow a resume if too much is crowded onto one page (not everyone has as large of a monitor as we do!). Don't forget to keep spacing consistent throughout, as it can make reading difficult if the font you're using isn't the same in all of the paragraphs.

Don't: Don't forget to use headings! It might be tempting to bold or add color, but that can make your resume look more like a comic book than something a potential employer will want to read. Use descriptive headings that are understandable by all readers. Also, avoid images (e.g. photos) as they just take up space and do not help with readability at all. Lastly, don't overuse capital letters—this will make it more difficult for your potential employer to follow during their skim-read of your resume.

Do: You need to highlight your experience by adding bullet points in a chronological order. The trick is to make sure the points you want to emphasize are easy for readers to understand and remember. As long as you use the right font, spacing and formatting, your bullet points should stand out completely on their own.

Don't: Don't overdo it! It's tempting to try and cram every single thing you've ever done into your resume, but keep in mind that this will only result in a cluttered and unread resume. Also, don't rush the process of creating your bullets—let each detail come naturally with time. The goal is to get a potential employer to read all of your resume, so don't waste time trying to make each bullet section seven words long.

Do: Use short and concise statements that show the ability to get things done! These statements can be as short as two words—as long as they're effective. Mixing it up and using different types of statements (e.g. phrases, one-word sentences) can help with the overall appeal of your resume. Just remember—make sure you know what you're talking about when writing any kind of statement!

Don't: Don't use clichés or phrases that everyone else is using in their resumes (e.g. "hard worker"). This isn't a chance to show off how creative you are—it's about communicating your skills effectively.

Do: Keep it updated! It's important for potential employers to be able to see how much you've progressed since the last time they were in touch with you. Regularly updating your resume—particularly when major life changes have occurred—is a good way to communicate this progress. Consider listing any professional affiliations, seminars and meetings attended, websites or online communities frequented and any other noteworthy activities that should be emphasized on a regular basis.

Don't: Don't give up! If your resume isn't accepted at first, that doesn't mean all is lost. Make sure you modify it until it's just right and then try again—but don't start over from scratch. Just make sure you take the time to repeat the process of sending it to employers so they can see all of your progress toward a successful telecommute position.

Do: Be aware of your potential employer's habits, preferences and traditions. This might seem like a somewhat strange item on a list of things to do before creating a resume, but bear with us for a moment. If you're planning on working for an organization that has very specific ways of handling the hiring process (e.g. they want to see a list of references at the bottom of your resume), then you'll want to mention this in your resume ahead of time. This will enable the employer to see that you have an understanding of what they're looking for in an employee, and it might even increase your chances for being hired!

Don't: Don't be too informal! Keep in mind that a resume is a professional document—so professional language should be used as much as possible. Also, don't over-complicate things by using overly-advanced words. Being clear and concise will help with communicating your message, which is at the heart of any professional document.

Conclusion

By following the guidelines laid out in this article, you can successfully create a resume that will get you hired. Next time, we'll talk about some of the things to avoid when creating your resume.