Do
consider a bulleted style to make your resume as reader-friendly
as possible.
Don't
get overwrought about the old “one-page resume rule.” It’s good
to keep your resume to one page, if possible, but if you have a
lot of experience, 2 pages may be more appropriate. If your
resume spills beyond one page, but you have less than a half a
page of material for the second page, it may be best to condense
to one page.
But don't
go beyond two pages with your resume.
Do
consider a resume design that doesn’t look like everyone else’s.
Many jobseekers use Microsoft Word resume templates and wizards.
There’s nothing wrong with them, but your resume won’t look
distinctive if you use one; it will look like the resume of
everyone else who used a Word template.
Don't
use justified text blocks; they put odd little spaces between
words. Instead, make your type flush left.
Don't
ever lie on your resume.
Do
include as much contact information as possible -- any
information that would enable an employer to reach you during
business hours. But put it at the end of the document.
Do
give your resume as sharp a focus as possible. Given that
employers screen resumes for between 2.5 and 20 seconds, you
need a way to show the employer at a glance what you want to do
and what you're good at. One way to sharpen your focus is
through an objective statement and in this day of being able to
manage our own computer files, you can have several versions of
your resume that are exactly the same except for the
objective. A specific objective is always better than a vague or
general one
Do
consider a section such as "Summary of Qualifications," or
"Profile," which can also help sharpen your focus.
Don't
discount the possibility of a functional format for your resume.
This format can be strategic for career changers, students and
others who lack experience, those with gaps in their employment,
as well as those re-entering the workforce. A functional resume
is organized around functional skills clusters. After listing 3
to 4 skills clusters and showing how you've demonstrated those
skills, you provide a bare-bones work history at the bottom.
Don't
use personal pronouns (I, my, me) in a resume.
Do
list your job information in order of importance to the reader.
In listing your jobs, what's generally most important is your
title/position. So list in this preferred order: Title/position,
name of employer, city/state of employer, dates of employment.
Do
list your jobs in reverse chronological order.
Do
avoid the verb, "Work" because it's a weak verb. Everyone works.
Be more specific. For example "Collaborate(d)" is often a
good substitute.
Do
think in terms of accomplishments when preparing your resume.
Accomplishments are so much more meaningful to prospective
employers than run-of-the-mill litanies of job responsibilities.
Don't
use expressions like "Duties included," "Responsibilities
included," or "Responsible for." That's job-description
language, not accomplishments-oriented resume language that
sells.
Do
emphasize
transferable skills,
especially if you don’t have much experience or seek to change
careers.
Do
quantify whenever possible. Use numbers to tell employers how
many people you supervised, by what percentage you increased
sales, how many products you represented, etc.
Don't
list too much experience on your resume. The rule of thumb for
someone with many years of experience is to list about 15 years
worth of jobs. Age discrimination, unfortunately, is a reality,
and employers may think you're too expensive if you list too
much experience on your resume.
Don't
emphasize skills and job activities you don’t want to do in the
future, even if they represent great strengths for you. In fact,
you may not even want to mention these activities. Why describe
how great your clerical skills are if you don't want to do
clerical work in the future?
Do
remember that education also follows the principle about
presenting information in the order of importance to the reader.
Don't
include on your resume your height, weight, age, date of birth,
place of birth, marital status, sex, ethnicity/race, health,
reasons for leaving previous job(s), names of former
supervisors, specific street addresses or phone numbers of
former employers, picture of yourself, salary information, the
title "Resume," or any information that could be perceived as
controversial, such as religion, church affiliations, or
political affiliations.
Don't
include hobbies or other irrelevant information on a resume. In
most cases, they are seen as superfluous and trivial. An
argument can be made that hobbies are interview conversation
starters or that they make you seem well-rounded, but they are
generally seen as fluff or filler.
Do,
however, list sports if you’re a college student or recent
graduate. Many employers specifically seek out athletes because
of their drive and competitiveness, as well as teamwork and
leadership skills.
Don't
list references on your resume. References belong in a later
stage of the job search. Keep references on a separate sheet and
provide them only when they are specifically requested.
Do
realize that the phrase "References available upon request" is
highly optional because it is a given that you will provide
references upon request. If you couldn't, you would have no
business looking for a job. The line can serve the purpose of
signaling: "This is the end of my resume," but if you are trying
to conserve space, leave it off.
Do
proofread carefully. Misspellings and typos are deadly on a
resume.
Do
put your name on each page, as well as the number of pages, so if
they are separated the reader knows which page belongs to which
resume.
