Jenny Wood, a former Google executive and author of the forthcoming book “Wild Courage,” has specific preferences when it comes to resumes. She appreciates seeing a touch of personality and concise, impactful bullet points.
### Elements Jenny Wood Loves to See:
1. **Personality**:
Wood enjoys resumes that showcase the candidate's unique traits. One of her favorite resumes included the line “in constant pursuit of the perfect oatmeal raisin cookie recipe,” which highlighted the candidate's curiosity and willingness to take risks.
2. **Short, Succinct Bullet Points**:
Under each job description, Wood prefers short, one-line bullet points. “It makes you look like an absolute superstar when you have bullets that are one line only,” she says.
### Red Flags to Avoid:
1. **Too Many Bullet Points**:
Avoid listing too many bullet points under each job title. Wood advises, “If you have 10 bullets under a role, it tells me that you cannot give an executive summary of what you did. It tells me that you don’t know how to prioritize and separate the important from the unimportant.” This can indicate that you might not be concise or discerning in your communication, raising concerns about how you’ll interact with clients. Wood recommends, “Don’t go over five bullets on any given role.”
2. **Excessive Links**:
While links can showcase your achievements, Wood cautions against overdoing it. “Don’t overdo it with links,” she says. Including a link in every bullet can make the resume hard to read and suggest a lack of discernment. Instead, link to key projects, portfolios, or significant customer feedback.
3. **Crammed Information**:
White space is crucial for readability. “Spacing creates visual hierarchy and ensures that the information can be digested more easily,” Wood explains. Avoid cramming too much information into your resume. Ensure there are margins at the top, bottom, and sides, and include spaces between sections. A cluttered resume can make it difficult for a potential boss to imagine reading your emails.
By following these guidelines, you can create a resume that stands out positively to someone like Jenny Wood.