Simple Rules for an Effective Resume

The goal of a resume is to solicit enough interest for an employer to want to talk with you further about a career opportunity. Below, you will find some simple, straight forward guidelines for putting together a good resume. There are some clear Do's & Don'ts to abide by!

Resume Do's

• Be truthful, clear and concise
• Sell yourself
  
• Use accomplishment-oriented language such as "Saved company 25K within Q1..."
  
• Avoid job description language such as "Responsible for..."
  
• Provide as much contact information as possible and best time to contact (especially during business hours)
• Keep your resume to 2 pages or less (it is not a book!)
• If printing, use standard 8.5" X 11" paper size and use high quality bright white color
• Use Spell Check
• Use good grammar
• Use Bullets when appropriate
• Explain gaps in employment
• List work history in reverse chronological order
  
• Include city & state for each job
  
• Focus on accomplishments
• "Accentuate the Positive" & "Eliminate the Negative"
• Always follow up with a phone call or email to ensure that the employers has received your resume.
  

Resume Don'ts

• List more than about 15 years of experience
• Provide skills of activities that you are not interested in doing even if you excel in these areas
  
• Include Upfront Reference information (simply mention that "References are available upon request")
• Include picture of yourself
• Forget to use spell check!!!
• Provide a laundry list of every tool, language, software that you've ever looked at. Keep it to a list of skills, etc. which are pertinent to the opportunity you are seeking.
  
• Include high school or irrelevant experience unless you don't have any industry experience
• Include salary history (this should be left for telephone or face to face)