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There are a fair amount of "don'ts" as far as writing your resume is concerned, but there are
even more "do's." These are tips garnered from professionals and should be read as general
ideas for what looks good and works in terms of a resume. So persuse the list which covers
everything from text to content issues.
Presentation
- Ensure your name is at the top of the page: highlighted by slightly larger typesize,
bolding, and/or underlining
- Ensure that your address, phone and fax numbers and e-mail address are complete and correct,
with postal and area codes.
- Use no more than two typestyles.
- Use bold and italics to highlight specific items on your resume, and ensure that these
styles and capitalization, punctuation, and date formats are consistent.
- Some people advocate fully-justified text for a "cleaner" appearance, but this creates
awkward white spaces. Text set flush left is equally acceptable and far more readable.
- Use high quality paper and if you wish to use coloured paper, choose Ivory, light blue and
light gray, as these are distinctive and attractive, yet conservative. Print on one side of the
paper only.
- Use matching stationery and envelopes for your cover letters.
- Proofread and double proofread. Errors are unacceptable.
- Be particularly careful with the spelling of people's names. Misspelled names are
unforgivable and will immediately create a bias against your application.
- Leave lots of white space - your choice of margins and line spacing will keep the page from
looking too crowded. Readability is as important as content. If no one reads your resume,
it will not matter what you have said or how well you have said it.
- Check that the reproduction is good, with no blurring, stray marks, or faint letters.
- Stay away from long paragraphs of more than 6-7 sentences. Break paragraphs with blank
lines in between and/or use bullets to enhance reading ease.
- Keep repetition of words or phrases to a minimum.
- Include keywords and active verbs, such as managed, coordinated, planned and so on. Ensure
that your verb tense is consistent -- that your current job is in present tense; past jobs are
in past tense.
- Your resume is a professional reflection of you as the potential product. A sloppy resume
= sloppy product. Take the time to develop your resume as the very best reflection of you.
- Evaluate your resume. Hold your resume at arm's length and see how it looks. Is the page
too busy with different type styles, sizes, lines, or boxes? Is the information spaced well,
not crowded on the page? Is there too much "white space"? Is important information quick and
easy to find?
Strategy
- Aim for a specific job "target" and be selective about the information you present.
Customise your resume and cover letter to focus on skills that are relevant to each type of
job.
- Perhaps include a "Qualifications Brief" or "Value Offering" at the top of your resume.
This should summarise your key selling points in no more than two concise sentences so that
employers can quickly see what you have to offer.
- Make sure your resume actively sells your qualifications by focusing on accomplishments
and results rather than routine job duties.
- Demonstrate transferable skills throughout your resume. This could include adaptability
and problem solving.
- Strategically organize your categories so that the most relevant, most impressive
information is listed at the top of the page.
- Keep the resume to one page if you have less than ten years of relevant experience, and
two pages if you have over ten years. But if two pages are required, then use this space,
provded you maximise its potential to sell you. Remember your success is dependent upon how
well you've marketed your qualifications and achievements, not on number of pages.
Sources: JobSmart, What Color Is your Parachute? and Career Magazine.
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