Résumé Preparation Guide - Résumé Basics
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Use an abbreviated style of writing. Be concise. Every phrase must provide worthwhile information to the potential employer.
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Avoid using personal pronouns such as "I" and "me" and unnecessary words such as "a,"
"an," and "the."
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Use past tense action verbs when describing your experience. (Sample
Verb List: html,
pdf)
Stress the skills you developed and the results you achieved
rather than simply listing your job responsibilities.
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Make your résumé visually attractive by using proper spacing and
adequate margins; content should be balanced and centered on
the page. Be consistent with use of headings and indentations.
Do not clutter.
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Avoid references to specific religious or political organizations
unless your affiliation with a particular group is relevant to
the position you are seeking.
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Your résumé should be flawless. It is often the first (and
sometimes only) representation of you, so spelling and grammar
should be perfect. Check to be certain that punctuation,
capitalization, and spacing are consistent throughout the résumé.
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When mailing or faxing your résumé, it should ALWAYS be
accompanied by a cover letter (see handout "JOB HUNT
CORRESPONDENCE" available in the Career Center).
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When including an objective, it is only appropriate to use the résumé
to apply for the type of position stated. If you are applying for a variety of positions, it is
better to create more than one résumé (each with a different
objective) or omit the objective and refer to your specific
interest in the cover letter.
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Do not include personal information such as height, weight,
health condition, and marital status. In most cases this
information has little to do with your ability to perform the
duties of a position and, by law, employers should not be
using such factors when determining your status as a
candidate.
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Be honest—don't be afraid to "toot your own horn."
But at the same time do not overestimate your experience and
abilities.
Your final product should be printed on bond paper using laser-quality
print. When choosing the paper color for your résumé, be as
conservative as the position for which you are applying. White,
tan, gray, beige, or off-white colors are appropriate for most
positions and pastel shades are sometimes acceptable when applying
for positions involving creativity. You should purchase extra
matching paper to individually produce your cover letters. The Career Center maintains a supply of résumé paper for
you to purchase at a minimal cost.
