In their best-selling book, Made to Stick (Random House), authors Chip and Dan Heath tell the story of a study conducted at Stanford University by Dr. Elizabeth Newton. She assigned people to one of two roles: “tappers” or “listeners.”

Tappers received a list of well-known songs, such as “Happy Birthday” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” They were to pick a song and tap out the rhythm by knocking on a table. Listeners on the other hand, were to try to guess what the song was.

Out of 120 songs, listeners guessed only 2.5% of the songs! That’s three out of 120 or one out of 40! Tappers couldn’t understand why the listeners did so poorly. Prior to the results, they predicted that the listeners would guess 50% of the songs…or, one out of two.

The book offers this explanation: “When a tapper taps, she is hearing the song in her head…. Meanwhile, the listeners can’t hear that tune – all they can hear is a bunch of disconnected taps, like a kind of bizarre Morse Code.”

I tried this with my family and not only were the results the same, but when my son was the tapper, his lips mouthed the words to the songs as he as he tapped them out. He wasn’t even aware he was doing this. Further proof that he was hearing the song in his head.

When writing your resume, keep in mind that you are the tapper. YOU can hear the “song” in your head…what it is that you are trying to communicate.

The person reading your resume however, the listener, can’t hear your “song.” They read your words and try to figure out what it is that you’re trying to communicate. And unfortunately, more than likely you won’t be looking over their shoulder explaining the parts they can’t “hear.”

For example, I work with clients from PGCC. Oftentimes, that’s how they reference PGCC on their cover letters and resumes…they abbreviate it. If you were the reader, how would you know what PGCC is? Google it and PGCC could stand for Prince George’s Community College; the Professional Golfers Career College; the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge; or the Penang Global City Centre project…to name a few.

Your job as a tapper therefore, is to be clear and specific when writing your cover letter and resume. Leave nothing open for the reader to misinterpret. If you plan on abbreviating a name, always spell it out the first time you use it and type the abbreviations immediately following in parentheses: Professional Golfers Career College (PGCC).

Also, have someone (or a bunch of someones) read your cover letter and resume. Have them refrain from asking you questions to clarify “sticky” parts until after they’ve finished. Were they able to hear what you were trying to communicate?

Have them point out areas that were unclear or confusing. Make the corrections, then have them read it again… make corrections, then have them read it again… make corrections, then have them read it again…you get the picture. Repeat until your cover letter and resume flow smoothly and effectively communicate who you are and what you’ve done.