Organization
- Use action words to describe skills, completed tasks, job responsibilities.
- Expect to write more than one draft.
- Quantify with numbers, dollar amounts and percentages whenever possible (For example, "Organized event for 200 people which raised $2,000 for club charity fund raiser").
- Be brief, concise and action-oriented.
- Use bullets to set off each major idea.
appearance
- Error-proof your resume.
- Spelling, punctuation, typing errors, erasures, and correction fluid marks will screen you out from being considered for an interview.
- Use bond paper in white, eggshell or cream with black print.
- Be sure to leave plenty of margin space (approximately 3/4 to one inch).
- Better to use two pages than to squeeze everything on one page.
- Use standard print style for easy reading.
- Use letter quality or laser printers. Photocopies should be sharp and clean. Black spots, smudges or shadows are not acceptable.
- Special effects are primarily used for the creative industries of public relations, advertising, marketing and the media. Others should be conservative in nature.
Content
- It is unnecessary to put the word "Resume" at the top of the page.
- Listing job objectives can be restrictive. Your objective may be to get an interview for every job for which you qualify.
- Continuing education, certifications, company training workshops and licenses are included in the Education segment.
- DO NOT include personal characteristics (height, weight, age), gender, religion, marital status, health, number of children or organizations considered controversial.
- DO NOT include salary requirements or reasons for leaving a job.
- DO NOT include references in a resume.
- Never send a resume without a personalized cover letter.
- Avoid the use of the word "I".
- Avoid jargon and exaggeration.
- Do not use a nickname on the resume.