Always include your current address, phone number and email address.
Do not use a resume template.
Remember to always give specific examples of accomplishments, skills and results.
Start sentences and phrases with action verbs followed by descriptive words.
Communicate your abilities and personal qualities that pertain to the job.
Focus on the employers needs, not your own.
Be concise, simple and to the point.
Eliminate the use of "I".
Proofread carefully for typos, spelling and grammatical errors.
Make sure verb tense is correct.
Do not use decorative fonts or bullets.
Use traditional fonts sized 10-12.
Use 1" margins on all sides.
Give it a professional appearance - use resume quality paper, light colors are best.
Always send your resume with a cover letter.
Header
Use a traditional, centered heading.
Don't forget your email address.
Add your cell phone number, if desired.
Bold and use a slightly bigger font for your name.
Objective
Make your objective specific and focused on the employer and the job you are applying for
Communicate your career goals and objectives in just 1-2 sentences.
Use this area to state that you are "Willing to Relocate".
Make sure the content in your resume relates to the objective.
Objective Examples
Seeking a (job title) position which offers advancement opportunities in the field of .
To firmly establish myself in a challenging position with a growth-oriented company that will ultimately lead to a position in the field. Willing to Relocate.
A challenging opportunity in the areas of Fundraising, Customer Service, or Sales.
Professional sales. Willing to Travel.
A challenging position and active involvement in a progressive organization offering the opportunity to fully utilize proven and developing people oriented skills in the area of .
Entry-level position in publishing in any of the following areas: promotions, advertising, design, and editing.
A position in data analysis where skills in mathematics, computer programming and deductive reasoning will contribute to new systems development.
A position as a General Sales Representative with a pharmaceutical house which will use chemistry background and ability to work on a self-directed basis in managing a market territory. Willing to travel and relocate.
Education
Start with your most recent degree and go back in time.
Bold your degree, not the school attended.
Add your graduation date (month & year) even if you have not graduated yet.
Add your degree (BS in Business) and Major (Accounting).
Add your minor or concentration if desired.
GPA is optional. Most employers like to see it and will probably ask at some point. Do not add a GPA if it is lower than 2.8.
Do not list your high school.
Work Experience
Use reverse-chronological order (most recent jobs first).
Include full time, part time, volunteer, military experience, student teaching, graduate assistant positions.
Generally, you need only go back approximately 10-15 years of work experience.
Identify job title, name of employer, location (city & state) and dates of employment.
Include job responsibilities. Use phrases with action verbs.
Ask yourself "What did I accomplish in this position?" and "How does that relate to my objective?".
Give specific examples of things you accomplished.
Research buzz words the company uses to describe their ideal candidate. Think about how your work experience has taught you these skills. Then, use those words in your resume.
Skills
Add technical skills as well as foreign language and communication skills.
Mention only skills with which you are strongly familiar.
Activities
List professional organizations or clubs closely related to your major or career field.
List all organizations in which you had an active duty to show leadership skills.
Explain what your duties were in any office you held.
Consider adding any volunteer work that may add transferable skills to your resume.
e-Friendly Tips
Use 10-14 point font size.
Create one-inch margins.
Keep resume free of vertical and horizontal lines, graphics, italics and columns.
For some downloadable resumes or to copy and paste into applications, you may need to left justify your entire resume. So keep a version of that as well.
