Resume Construction
For best results, follow these content, format, and production suggestions:
Content
- Start with a clear objective
- Tailor it to the specific employment position
- Maintain clarity and consistency of stated objective throughout resume
- List relevant skills
- State what you did, where you did it and when you did it
- Eliminate pronouns, using verbs to initiate the accomplishment
- Use jargon, buzzwords or acronyms specific to your industry
- Be proud, but not arrogant
- Tell the truth, otherwise you will fail a background check
- See Separate File-Resume Layout hints
- Keep your resume updated
Formatting
- Organize in outline format
- Tailor the style to the position, and your qualifications for that position
- Make your qualifications stand out, in an easy to read format
- Use a standard quality typeface
- Use a minimum of mixed type styles: bold, underline, italics or all caps
- Eliminate height, weight, marital status, age, race, color, religion or creed
- Eliminate salary information
- Provide references only when specifically requested
- Use someone as a reference only with their permission or knowledge
- Spell-check and proof-read your draft resume for content, clarity, grammar and punctuation
- Have someone else proof your resume
Production
- Use high quality paper, either white or off-white, with matching envelopes
- Use a letter quality laser or inkjet printer
- Use black ink only
- Send a photo of yourself only when it is requested
- Create a version of your resume strictly for scanning (See separate instructions for Scannable Resumes)