Resume Do's and Dont's

DO ..

[1]  Remember: there is no one "right way" to do a resume.

[2]  Organize data in reverse chronological order, most recent first.

[3]  Focus on skills.

[4]  Use action words.

[5]  List skills with evidence to support them.

[6]  Use a formal style - no abbreviations or contractions.

[7]  Have someone proofread your resume for grammar, spelling, tense and syntax. It's difficult to  
      proofread your own work. It must be grammatically perfect.
 
[8]  Looks count. How your resume looks and reads reflects your communication and writing skills,
      and your ability to attend to detail. Research shows that 60% of employers make up their minds
      about a resume based solely on its appearance.

[9]  Look at your resume from a distance. Does it look neat? Is the layout pleasing? Does it look easy
      to read? Does what you want to emphasize stand out? You should notice your name, section
      headings, job titles, places worked. Use spacing selectively for emphasis. Keep in mind that your
      resume will probably be skimmed quickly - for about 20 seconds.

[10] Have your advisor or someone in your field of interest read it and give you feedback on technical
       language.

[11] Use high quality white or off-white paper and black ink. Research shows that employers may
      react somewhat negatively to colored paper.

[12] Photocopy to see how well your choice of papers copies. This is especially important if you use
      colored or speckled papers. Workplaces often copy your resume and distribute the copies to
      various departments.

[13] Use 10 - 14 point fonts, a 1" margin all around, and simple typefaces.

[14] Using underlining and italics draws the eye to specific areas.

[15] Limit the length to 1 page, adding a second only if absolutely necessary (when you have acquired
       significant experience).

[16] Send a cover letter along with the resume.

[17] Update frequently. Is your Career Objective current? Your address correct? Your most recent job
       listed?



DON’T ..

[1]  Give an employer any excuse to eliminate your resume from consideration.

[2]  Try to make your resume "stand out from the crowd" through the use of fancy graphics or art
      work, unless you're applying for an artistic job.

[3]  Use complicated typefaces, graphics, or shadings.

[4]  Use acronyms without first spelling out what they stand for.

[5]  Lie, exaggerate or misrepresent your background.

[6]  Include any personal information, for example, height, weight, marital status, age, health.

[7]  Overuse bullet points!

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