-
First Impression An excellent resume is essential for creating a professional first impression and to portray how your qualifications fit the position. The purpose of the resume is to get you to the first interview.
-
Accurate Information Be truthful and accurate on your resume. Do not misrepresent your career experience, education or any other data on your resume. Integrity is very important.
-
Proofread Carefully Spell check your resume, and check for punctuation and correct word usage. Proofread it carefully and ask others to do the same. Don?t use the first person pronoun ?I?, in any part of the resume.
-
Presentation Order Designing and presenting your resume in reverse chronological order is preferable. Begin with your most recent position followed by each work experience in reverse order. Place your educational background after your work experience.
-
Customize for Each Position Customize your resume for each prospective employer by focusing on your specific skills and qualifications as they relate to the job opening. An objective on your resume is not necessary, but if included it should be customized for the specific position.
-
Quantify Performance Include in your resume significant contributions you have made at each job and how they impacted the company?s bottom line and growth. Include solid, tangible examples of your performance with real numbers to demonstrate the value you represent. Help the interviewer understand what your expertise and experience brings to the table.
-
Contact Information Don't include your work phone number or e-mail address unless your boss is aware of your intent to leave. Do include your home telephone number, cell number and home email address on your resume. Ensure your message is professional on all voice mail for your home and cell phones.
-
Recognition and Awards Include relevant recognition and awards that you have achieved that relate to job performance. Example: In 2009 achieved top sales award among 30 Account Managers in a five-state region by increasing sales revenues 22% during a six-month period.
-
Format and Style Keep resume formatting simple. Use a professional, easy to read font. Don't over use italics, bolding, and underlining. Use bullet points, not paragraphs, to describe your job duties. Keep sentences and paragraphs short. Avoid lofty language and long sentences. Keep abbreviations and professional jargon to a minimum.
-
Experience & Education Primarily focus your resume on your experience. Describe what you did 90% of the time, not 10% of the time. Describe significant accomplishments with each position held. Also highlight your college education. Don't list your high school diploma if you're a college graduate.
-
Skills and Activities Include special skills, such as a second language, and training programs, if they relate to the specific job. Include a brief summary about the software technologies and databases that you have used. Include activities with professional, civic, and volunteer organizations and trade associations.
-
File Attachment When sending your resume as a file attachment, save your resume as a MSWord or PDF file with your name on the file, for example: ?John Davis Resume.doc?. Pasting the resume in an email is not preferable.
-
References Do not list references on your resume, and don?t state: "References available on request." The hiring manager will know that you will provide these. contacts when asked.
-
Locations Worked When your employer's headquarters is in a different place than your on-site location, ensure that you indicate your current location and locations where you worked.
-
Use Months and Years Use months and years on your resume instead of exact dates. Explain gaps in jobs that are over six months in length.
-
Non-Compete Agreement In addition to resume tips, if you are under a non-compete agreement or any contractual agreement with your employer, get a copy of the document in preparation to provide to your potential new employer.
-
Personal Information Don't provide salary information in the resume. Don't include personal information such as your height, weight, marital status, children, your age, Social Security number, social activities, or religious philosophies. Don't give reasons for leaving a job on the resume.
