Resume Tips

Resumes tend to follow one of two formats chronological or functional, both are acceptable. Read the descriptions below to decide which will best fit your work experience. Your resume should change to fit the position you are applying for. Your resume is a "living document." It is never completely done because you are never completely done with your experiences. Update your resume every six months. Each time you apply for a job, tailor your resume and cover letter for the new position.

• Refer to the last 10 years in your work history, but go back no more than 15 years total.
  
  
• Strive for one page, but make it absolutely no longer than two pages. If your resume is two pages, make sure your name, phone number and "page 2" is at the top of the second page.
  
  
• Do not include: salary, age, race, hobbies, or marital status
  
  
• Only use your e-mail address in the header if you check your e-mail regularly (at least once a day).
  
  
• Use a specific objective statement using the desired job title or occupational area of the position.
  Example: To obtain a position as a Senior Accounting Clerk
                 A position within the Accounting Department 
  
  
• Do not use the personal pronoun "I."
  Example: Instead of writing "I developed policies and procedures,"
                write "Developed policies and procedures"
  
  
• Everything on your resume should support your objective statement.
  
  
• Use action verbs to describe job duties and be sure to keep the verb tense consistent throughout your resume.
  Example: Avoid terms such as "responsible for" 
                 Saved, Developed, Created, Initiated, Compiled
  
  
• Quantify your accomplishments when possible.
  Example: "Increased manufacturing efficiency by 24% through improved labor utilization"
  "Developed and monitored $200K expense budget, achieving year-end results of 15% below plan"
  
  
• List educational credentials (beyond high school) without graduation dates unless you are a recent graduate or it would explain a gap in employment.
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• You may want to create a separate section for credentials/licenses (i.e. RN, MFCC Lic. ##, CPA, etc.).
  
  
• Do not staple your resume to your cover letter.
  
  
• Don't rely on your cover letter to convey all relevant and important information because not all hiring managers and recruiters read cover letters.

Resume Format

The following are a few tips that apply not matter which format you use for your employment section.

• Leave plenty of "white space" by using one-inch margins.
• Your resume should be easy to read. Use bullets instead of large blocks or paragraphs of text.
• Use smooth white or off-white resume paper. Textured paper doesn't photocopy well.
• Use the same font size (10 or 12 point) and style throughout your resume.
• Use special formatting, (bold, italics, underlined type, and indented text) to separate categories and improve the clarity of your information.
• Avoid graphics and shading, unless you are pursuing a highly creative position (i.e. graphic designer).
• Proofread your resume and have a friend or co-worker proofread it as well.
• Use the spell check feature in your software program.

Name and Address Block
Include name, full address, and phone number, and e-mail address.

Objective
Your objective tells the employer what type of position, occupation or career field you are pursuing. Keep it short and simple. Tailor the objective to the position and be specific.

Sample: A position as a ________. (Insert position/title of job you are applying for.)

Qualifications or Summary
Here you present a snapshot of the skills you want to highlight and advertise to the employer. Getting the resume reader's attention in the top third of the page will encourage them to read the rest of the resume.

A qualifications section lists skills or buzzwords for the employer to scan over.

A summary is a brief paragraph that describes your most marketable skills.

Computer/Technical Skills
This section is optional. However, for jobs requiring software, hardware or programming skills, draw special attention to those skills and list them towards the beginning of your resume.

Employment/Experience History

There are two basic formats for work history chronological order and functional.

Chronological Order

List your employment experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent job.

List the company name, city and state, job title, and dates of employment (i.e. 1998 - 2000).

For each company, write three to six statements describing your duties in that position. Start each statement with an action verb; avoid the phrase "responsible for." List these job duties in order of importance relative to your current job objective.

Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example, if you saved the company money, or you increased the customer base by a significant percentage, include it.

Functional Format

List your employment experience by a few major "skill categories." Here are some examples of skill categories:
A project manager might use: management, administration, written and oral communication.
An accountant might use: accounting, financial analysis, business management.
A PC support specialist might use: systems design and implementation, maintenance contracts, training.

Following each "skill category," write about six statements describing the various activities you have done. These activities could have occurred anytime throughout your career and should be listed in order of importance, rather than chronologically. Start each of these statements with an action verb; avoid the phrase "responsible for." Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example, if you saved the company money, or you increased the customer base by a significant percentage, include it.

Next, add a "Work History" section. List your work history in chronological order, starting with the most recent job. Include position title, company name, city and state and dates of employment (i.e. 1998 - 2001).

Education/Training
List: Educational achievements, starting with your highest academic achievement.

Professional development certificates, continuing education classes and college coursework (even if you did not receive a certificate or degree).

Note: Include the degree or certificate name, the name of educational institutions attended and its city and state. List education without graduation dates, which can indicate your age. However, if you have recently obtained technical education or credentials, listing graduation dates can work in your favor by showing the employer that you have the most recent technical knowledge.

Licenses/Professional Affiliations
This section is optional. Include any current licenses and memberships to professional affiliations that are relevant to your current resume and job search objective.

Example: California RN License 
               Certified in CPR and Red Cross First Aid
               American Association of Accounting Executives, member

Action Verbs for Resumes