Resume Writing
The Do’s and Don’ts of Resume Writing
DO:
DON’T:
In addition to these tools we also have many books to assist you in your resume writing. Some of the titles include:
DO:
- Create a rough draft, then edit several times.
- Emphasize headings using boldfacing, italicizing, etc.
- Include some white space so your resumé is easier to read.
- Leave a “resumé gap” if you were out of work due to unemployment, illness, etc. Explain this in a cover letter.
- Include relevant volunteer experience.
- Use active, descriptive language. Rather than “worked,” “ran,” and “managed,” use “successfully created,” “efficiently completed,” “responsible for,” etc.
- Have a careful reader review it, and use your word processor’s spelling and grammar checker.
- Keep the length under 2 pages.(1 page for every 10 years of work experience)
- Date the electronic filename of your resumé so that you can tell it apart from older and newer versions.
DON’T:
- Include any of the Deadly Dozen: Height, weight, health, sex, marital status, number of children, religion, ethnic origin, age, photograph, reasons for leaving previous jobs, or salary history.
- Use the words I, me, or my.
- Use the heading “resumé” (it will be obvious that the document is a resume).
- Overdo the boldfacing, italicizing, etc.
- Use abbreviations (exceptions: GPA, Inc., states, educational degrees). Always spell it out!
- Put the date in your resumé.
In addition to these tools we also have many books to assist you in your resume writing. Some of the titles include:
- Knock em’ Dead Resumes, 11th Edition by Martin Yate
- Best Resume Book: A Veteran Headhunter Gives Up His Resume-Writing Secrets by David Wood
- Perfect Phrases for Resumes by Michael Betrus