Resume Writing Do’s and Don’ts
Most do not understand the importance of writing a proper resume. Having a solid and effective resume can greatly increase your chances of landing that dream job! With employers receiving an abundance of resumes it is important your resume stands out and hooks an employer’s attention within a seconds glance. A resume communicates your professional qualifications to employers, to interest them in interviewing you, ultimately creating their first impression of you. Your resume should be a concise summary of the high points of your education, work experience, and other qualifications relevant to the needs of your employment interest. Think of your resume as a marketing tool and an introduction to you and your experiences that will set you apart from others.
Do:
- Use strong action verbs and adjectives and arrange in chronological order
- Sell your strengths and accomplishments- prove to the employer you are worth the interview
- List technical skills, certificates awarded, professional memberships, military experience, travel and community work if it relates to the job you are seeking.
- Always relate your activities to the job you are seeking. Be sure to include internships in a Relevant Experience section that showcases your skills. This will help describe your skills more fully, as well as enable these entry level resumes to be picked up in the recruiters’ search queries
- Be honest and accurate-Convey through the style and content of your resume an understanding of your audience’s needs, priorities, hiring criteria, and vocabulary. Understand the legal impact of certain information.
- Proofread-Check thoroughly for grammar and spelling mistakes. It’s a good idea to have someone look over your resume for unnoticed mistakes.
Don’t:
- Be vague.
- Bury the lead- get your message across right away and convince them your skills and experience are what they need
- Be too focused on job duties.
- Write about inappropriate and unnecessary personal experiences or reasons of why you left your previous job
- Use personal pronouns, such as “I” and “me.”
- Include copies of transcripts, letters of recommendation or awards.
