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Nothing majorly drastic, but she said that since I'm new to this field (the field of web analytics/SEO/internet-marketing-make-website-double-plus-good/etc) I should put my education at the top, and add a skills section, to highlight the salient attributes I possess. Do you guys see any major problems with this, so long as I can still keep it all on one page?

georgew's picture
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The recruiter is wrong. Stick with the standard MT format. As a hiring manager, I completely skip all skills sections. And what does your education have to do with SEO?

What real results show that you are great at web analytics & SEO? Highlight those.

George

AppleJack's picture
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Interesting, I had not realized until I read George's post that I NEVER read the skills and similar fluff sections on people's resumes. Leave it off  -- instead your skills should be reflected in your results and how accomplished them. For example: "- achieved X% increase in Y by Z"; where Z = one of the things that good web marketing people should know how to do well.

Regarding education - traditionally new graduates put that information at the top of their resume. This is so that hiring managers know that the applicant has no experience and that they can expect that the applicant doesn't know anything and can't take on much responsibility, but could be hired to do entry level work for less money. In other words it's at the top to help hiring managers quickly weed out less qualified candidates, without reading the rest of the resume.

Exception to this: non-Manager Tools style resumes for some science jobs that require a PhD in which the recent graduate's research and thesis would be of specific interest to the potential employer. In this case you want the PhD at the top, so the hiring manager doesn't have to trudge through all the jobs you had at fast-food restaurants, etc... while in grad school in order to find out that your research area is relevant to them. However, if you are using Manager Tools guidance this exception does not apply --- because your thesis and research would be listed as your most recent accomplishment -- at the top of your resume.

RDHodgson's picture

 Haha! Yes, that's my thinking too. 

"Regarding education - traditionally new graduates put that information at the top of their resume. This is so that hiring managers know that the applicant has no experience and that they can expect that the applicant doesn't know anything and can't take on much responsibility, but could be hired to do entry level work for less money. In other words it's at the top to help hiring managers quickly weed out less qualified candidates, without reading the rest of the resume."

That made me smile. It's very true. 

Given what you've said, I think I'm gonna ignore the recruiter's advice.

pucciot's picture
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Education section :

I am in an Academic Institution.

I do expect Education to be on top of the resume for every position application.  It shows an orientation to our mission.

If you are applying to a College or University I would suggest putting education on top.

Otherwise do what MT says.

Skills section :
I only look for skills to be listed in relation to the Job Experience section and the Cover letter if a skill wants to be highlighted.

Making a Skills Sections wastes space, I often ignore that.   If you used a skill on a particular job then list that skill with the Job.

If you must have a Skills section -  put it at the end, if you have space.

TJPuccio