Resumé Do's and Dont's

APPEARANCE:


• DO make your resumé attractive to the eye. Use white space to balance your text.
  
• DON'T use graphics or colored paper.
  
  
• DO use a standard type face and size such as Arial 12 point.
  
• DON'T use italics, boldface, highlighted or underlined text. Avoid white-out or hand-written corrections.
  
  
• DO ask someone to proof your resumé before sending it out.
• DON't make your resumé too lengthy; limit it to two pages.
  
  CONTENT:
  
  
• DO emphasize relevant skills, experience and abilities, especially those relating to your career goal.
  
• DON'T include misleading information, such as implying that you have a degree.
  
  
• DO list your employment history, starting with your present job. Include less detail as you work backward.
  
• DON'T mention salary requirements.
  
  
• DO include your education including college or techical school attended. If you don't have a degree, list credits earned in relevant courses.
  
• DON'T include endless lists of classes, seminars or workshops you have attended.
  
  
• DO briefly list awards, honors and other accomplishments.
  
• DON'T list personal information such as Social Security Number, marital status, age, hobbies, political and/or religious affiliation. Do not include a photograph of yourself.
  
  GENERAL:
  
  
• DO target your resumé effectively by researching job descriptions. Read between the lines: what does the employer want?
  
• DON'T use a template or resumé-writing service except as a guideline. Your resumé should be your own work.
  
  
• DO use action phrases instead of complete sentences or paragraphs.
  
• DON'T use personal pronouns such as "I" or "my."
  
  
• DO send a cover letter with your resumé.
  
• DON'T list references. These should be available on a separate sheet of paper.