Years ago, the precision involved in resume writing could cause people to stress over doing everything right. Having a formal resume was "essential" in its development. If there happened to be one minor error in resume formality, you felt you lost your job opportunity. However, years have gone by since the first resume has been written and the Internet has revolutionized communication. Today, when we read websites, we expect a more informal tone than the brochures of the past. This informal pattern has been seen through almost all communication channels today to make content more personable.
Obviously there are professions where the employers tend to be older and prefer a formal resume, but for many, the formal resume is not the right way to go anymore. Young job seekers who are out for competitive jobs, have the ability to write in first person to convey a sense of their personality and work style. This type of informality was unheard of in resume's ten years ago, and the reaction from human resource recruiters has been primarily positive.
Elements of a formal resume, however, should not be forgotten. Certain senior executives still prefer this type of formality in a resume. For these types of resumes, you can stick to third person, while weaving in a lot of their language throughout the document. However, even if you have a formal resume, informal techniques can be used, such as using as few words as possible to say a lot. Remember: Less is more. Recruiters are busy and don't have a lot of time to search for the information they need.
So, in today's job market, to be received as more personable, and depending on your industry, an informal over a formal resume may be the way to go. You may find that by dropping the formality you have a better approach to effectively communicate across the board.
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