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Resume Writing Tips

With employers receiving hundreds of resumes, today's resume writing requires that you catch an employer's attention within a glance. Resume writing is critical in controlling the image you present to employers. Given below are some helpful tips in drafting a resume.

Resume Essentials
Before you write, take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricular activities. This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

The Content of Your Resume

Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site address
All your contact information should go at the top of your resume.

• Avoid nicknames
• Use a permanent address where you wish to be contacted
• Include a telephone number where you can be contacted and include the area code
• Add your e-mail address. Many employers will find it useful
• Include your web site address only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions
  

Objective or Summary

An objective tells potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do.

• Be specific about the job you want.
  For example: To obtain an entry-level position within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and organizational skills
• Tailor your objective to each employer you target/every job you seek
  

Education

New graduates without a lot of work experience should list their educational information first. Alumni can list it after the work experience section.

• Your most recent educational information is listed first
• Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institution attended, minor/concentration
• Add your grade point average (GPA)
• Mention academic honors
  

Work Experience

Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills. Include your work experience in reverse chronological order-that is, put your last job first and work backward to your first, relevant job.
Include:

• Title of position
• Name of organization
• Location of work (town, state)
• Dates of employment
• Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements.
  

Other information

As additional information in your resume you may want to add:

• Key or special skills or competencies
• Leadership experience in volunteer organizations
• Participation in sports
  

References

Ask people if they are willing to serve as references before you give their names to a potential employer.
Do not include your reference information on your resume. You may note at the bottom of your resume: "References furnished on request."

Resume Checkup

You've written your resume. It's time to review it. You should take the following steps to ensure quality:

Content

• Run a spell check on your computer before sending it across
• Do a grammar review before sending it across
• Ask another friend to proofread. The more people who see your resume, the more likely that misspelled words and awkward phrases will be seen (and corrected)

Design

These tips will make your resume easier to read and/or scan into an employer's database:

• Use white or off-white paper
• Print on one side of the paper
• Use a font size of 10 to 14 points
• Use nondecorative typefaces
• Choose one typeface and stick to it
• Avoid italics, script, and underlined words
• Do not use horizontal or vertical lines, graphics, or shading

Last updated : September 1, 2005