| 4. BE BRIEF AND CONCISE
One page, short and to the point works best. Be a skillful editor, deleting
the portions which are not relevant or least helpful to your securing
a particular position. Emphasize your most recent experience, the last
five to seven years. Cover in detail the major job duties performed.
5. BE TARGETED
Focus every resumé to the job title being applied for. It's much
more effective to create a different resumé for each job title
(i.e., one resumé for Trainer, another for Program Director)
and incorporate only the information pertinent to doing that job.
6. VISUALLY APPEALING
The formatting of an online resumé must be kept readable, sharp
and professional. Make sure sentences are concise and that there is
adequate white space between points. This online resumé posting
program eliminates italics, bold formatting, and fancy fonts. Stick
to Times Roman or Arial fonts; use 12 - 14 point size. Use bullets to
emphasize important points.
7. BE CLEAR
No vague generalities. Say exactly what you mean, using the smallest
number of words to make the point.
8. BE ACCURATE
State your skills, qualifications, and experience as positively as possible
without exaggerating or misstating the truth. If your job responsibilities
are not adequately described by your job title, indicate your abilities
with appropriate terms (i.e. Events Coordinator, instead of Staff Coordinator).
List job titles, employers, and dates/years of employment.
9. USE ACTION VERBS
Start each sentence with a descriptive action verb — such as established,
managed, organized. They add power to your sentences. And, never use
“I” on the resumé, only short impact sentences. Example:
Designed the company’s new marketing flyer.
10. BE COMPLETE
Spell out names of schools, cities, abbreviations, and titles completely,
since employers may not recognize abbreviations or acronyms.
11. MAKE POINTS QUICKLY
Complete sentences are not necessary in resumé writing; it is
better to use simple descriptive statements to make a point. Be sure
any technical terms are understandable to non-technical personnel.
12. JUSTIFY EXPERIENCE
In all your sentences, use past tense words since they imply that you
“have done it” before. This reassures employers you can
do it for them.
13. BE PERFECT
The resumé you send out must be flawless. No mistakes or typos,
especially in emails. Typos are HR manager’s chief complaint and
they insist they won’t hire offenders.
14. PROOFREAD CAREFULLY
Don't trust computer spell checkers. Read every word out loud to be
sure it is correct.
15. MAKE IT READABLE
A crammed, cramped resumé often goes unread. Make deletions wherever
necessary to achieve a readable product. Use white space; bullets to
highlight key points; and eliminate redundancies.
16. AVOID GRAPHICS
Complex designs are distracting to the reader. Lines, boxes, shadings,
fancy borders or clipart should be avoided as they cause major errors
when sent electronically.
17. DON'T INCLUDE PERSONAL STATISTICS
It is no longer considered professional or wise to include information
about marital status, gender, height, weight, health, or to insert a
picture on your resumé.
18. NO TAG LINES
Employers know you'll provide references if they request them, therefore
it is not necessary to put "References upon request" at the
end of your resumé.
19. DON'T ADVERTISE NEGATIVE INFORMATION
The resumé is the wrong place to advertise that you were laid
off, fired, or had an extended illness. Never state why you left a position;
simply list the dates of employment. Don’t mention what salary
you want to receive.
20. BE CURRENT
Update information every six months. Keep a current resumé on
this website with email alert turned on to learn of promotions or new
opportunities whenever you hear about them.
21. FINAL TEST
Does your resumé get results? Does your resumé clearly
and quickly communicate to employers that you can do the job? Do your
strengths come across? Does everything support the job you are targeting?
Should anything be removed? Are employers calling? If not, rework, get
professional help or check out several resumé books to help you
improve yours.
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