A resume simply put, is you on paper. It is the first impression most potential employers and staffing agencies will have of you. When working on your resume, think about the person reading it and what it is they will want to see/read about you. Resume Tip Do’s:

• One resume does not fit all job opportunities. Your resume may need to be tweaked or additional items highlighted based on the position you are applying for at that time.
• Keep your fonts simple and readable. Fonts should never be less than 11pt font.
• Your name and contact info should always be listed at the top of the resume. It is not necessary to have your name/contact info on each consecutive page. If you have a gender neutral name, always include a Mr./Ms. before your name.
• You should always have a professional email address. For example: sugarplum@gmail.com, demonchild@yahoo.com or tequilalvr@aol.com are not valid.
• Always include a goals/objectives/professional summary statement at the top of your resume.
• If the position you are applying for requires a certain education level (BS/BA/Master’s/Certifications, etc.), then you will want to list your educational background before your Skills/Core Qualifications. If only experience is required, educational background should be listed at the end of the resume. Do not list high school unless you are new in the job market or younger than 25.
• Next should be a bullet point list of appropriate Core Qualifications/Expertise/Experience Summary/Skills.
• Follow with a synopsis of your work experience starting with most current and going back no more than 15 years or to jobs that are not relevant. If you worked as a lifeguard 1992-94, there is no need to have that item on a current resume.
• If you have worked for the same company for 10+ years it is always best to list all of the positions you have held and your job description while there.
• Highlight the skills listed at the top of your resume in each job description. If you list Microsoft Office as a skill but you don’t mention it within any of your job descriptions, it will throw a red flag.
• Include numbers if possible, to make your achievements more solid. For example, “Sales in my department increased by 50% in my first year of management.”
• All resumes should be sent in a PDF format if sending to the hiring manager and a Word format is sending to a staffing/recruiting agency.
• Manage the white space on your resume.
• Spellcheck, Spellcheck, SPELLCHECK!
• Ask 2 or more business professionals to review your resume and offer feedback.
• Cover letters are not necessary. If you are delivering your resume directly to the hiring manager, you can include a cover letter directed at that specific manager, if you choose. If you are emailing your resume to an HR Dept., submitting it via a website or sending it to a staffing agency, you DO NOT need to include a cover letter.
• If there are any gaps in time on your resume, be prepared to explain. Practice this.
• List volunteer work or memberships last.
• Proofread!

Resume Don’ts:

• Do not refer to yourself in the third person. If your name is John Smith, nowhere on your resume should it read “John Smith is a very hard worker.”
• Do not list jobs that are irrelevant. Being a lifeguard or working at a fast food chain while in high school is not important if you are now 40 and interviewing for an accounting position.
• Do not use 4 fonts and 4 font sizes on a resume. Keep it clear and simple.
• Do not include a photo or a graphic design.
• Avoid being negative about past positions or employers.
• Do not list hobbies or references on your resume. The interview is the time to discuss hobbies and present a list of references for the interviewer if asked.
• Do not lie! This will come back to haunt you.
• No nicknames. If your name is John Smith and people call you “Buddy”, you can mention that in the interview but your name should be listed as John Smith on your resume.
• Try to keep your resume to no more than 2 pages.
• Do not use expensive paper for a resume that is delivered. It will be a waste of money for you in the long run.
• Do not use slang or jargon on your resume. For example, using slang terms such as Totes, Cray, Cool, Awesome, etc. are a no-no. Also remember that the person reading your resume may not know the technical lingo and will pass your over because they simply do not understand your references.
• Limit your use of the pronouns “I” and “me”.