By KEVIN ALLEN

Staff Writer

With unmerciful eyes, an employer sifts through a stack of resumes. Most are pushed to the side. A few are held in hand for closer inspection, but in the end only one remains.

John Caraway, manager of Cactus Jack's restaurant at 2803 S. Service Rd. W., said he knows exactly what to look for in a resume, and many college students do not realize how important they really are in the hiring process.

"Resumes are not taken seriously enough," Caraway said. "I saw one the other day that said, 'I bused tables.' The wording could have been a lot better."

Caraway said many of the resumes he receives often lack important information and overall attractiveness.

Cheryl Myers, director of the Career Center, said content and appearance are important factors to consider when preparing a resume.

"One of the most common mistakes students and graduates make is not proofreading their resumes carefully," Myers said. "Typographical, grammatical and spelling errors are critical errors that can result in the loss of an opportunity for a candidate."

Myers also said there are accepted guidelines for the format of a resume, pertaining to aspects such as length, wording, font, type size and margins. She said students should become familiar with these criteria and get qualified people to review their resumes before submitting them to employers.

Although the appearance of his applicants' resumes is of concern to him, Caraway said their past job performance is even more important.

"One of the first things I look at is how many places they've worked for in a period of time," Caraway said. "If they've worked for three places in one year, then something's wrong."

Amber Richardson, a senior interior design major, said she has worked in sales and clerical positions over the years and thinks her commitment is one characteristic that has been attractive to her employers.

"I know a lot of times [employers] will call your references to make sure you've been there, that you don't ever show up late and that you don't call in sick all the time," Richardson said. "I really think that being active and showing that you care is important."

Myers said students can demonstrate their motivation to potential employers by involving themselves in various activities during college.

"As students progress through college, they should take advantage of all opportunities to develop strong leadership skills," Myers said. "They should also seek career-related work experience in an internship or part-time, co-op or summer employment."

Richardson said she thinks an internship would be of great benefit to her because of the practical experience and its appeal to employers.

"I've talked to a lot of people, and everyone says that you get most of your learning experience from actually working in the field, not from school," Richardson said.

Although she does not plan to begin her internship until the fall, Richardson said, she has been developing her resume for several years. She said she wants to have a resume that will impress potential employers and she is even considering preparing an electronic resume on a CD-ROM or online.

"You really want it to be something that stands out, something that's different from everyone else's," Richardson said. "I know that when I go to do my resume for a job I'm going to get real creative with it, make it so it's not just two-dimensional."