Job Seeker's FAQ  -  Resume Tips  -  Interviewing Tips  -  Submit Your Resume

While there are several approaches to writing an effective resume, the goal should be to create a crisp, concise document, which quickly conveys your message to an audience who may not share your depth of knowledge in your area of expertise. Your resume is your personal marketing literature. Here are a few "Dos and Don'ts" to keep in mind when preparing that all-important document.

DO:

• Print your resume on a laser printer. A high quality photocopy or typewritten original is also acceptable, but avoid dot matrix printouts and low quality copies.

• Use white 8-1/2 X 11 paper, printed on one side only, limited to 2 or 3 pages.

• Use standard typefaces such as Times New Roman, Univers, Helvetica, Optima, New Century Schoolbook, and Courier.

• Use a font size of 12 to 14 points.

• Avoid fancy embellishments such as italics, underline, shadows, and reverse (white letters on black background).

• Avoid vertical and horizontal lines, graphics, and boxes.

• Avoid two-column format or resumes that look like newspapers or newsletters.

• Make it clear who you are and where you can be reached. Your name should be placed at the top of the page on its own line. Use a standard address format below your name. Your name should also be the only text at the top of all additional pages.

• Begin with your most recent job. The heading should be: company, title, and dates of employment. Clearly describe your duties, skills and accomplishments. Wherever possible, quantify the accomplishment so that its impact is clear. An example might be: As a senior buyer for IBM, I personally streamlined our purchasing system resulting in net annual savings in my department of $5,000,000. Then list the information from your previous jobs in reverse chronological order.

• Use action verbs that evoke accomplishment and leadership such as achieved, controlled and managed.

• Briefly describe educational experience. Use short phrases rather than complete sentences. Be concise.

• Proof read your final product for typographical, spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors. Such errors show inattention to detail, which undermines confidence of potential employers.

DON’T:

• Disclose why you left your last job.

• Overstate your qualifications and education.

• List references. Reserve them for the interview.

• Include salary history.

• Mention age, religion, sex or national origin. Reference your physical condition, health, or perceived personal appearance.

• Write in the first person beginning sentences with action words.

• State accomplishments in a manner that cannot be quantified. For example: As a senior buyer for IBM, I personally streamlined our purchasing system resulting in substantial net annual savings in my department.

• Go Hollywood with odd-size or odd-color paper.