| |
To assist you with your job search, we have provided
a list of common mistakes made on resumes, suggestions for improving
your resume, and a list of action words that enhance your resume.
We have also developed a resume
template to help you get started. Resume
writing can seem like a daunting task, but by presenting your education
and experience in an organized, concise format, you have an opportunity
to make a favorable, professional first impression on a potential
employer. Take
time to read the Resume Do's and Don'ts listed below and then get
started with our resume template.
Resume Template
Our resume template is provided for your convenience in Microsoft
Word format (.doc), as well as Rich
Text Format (.rtf) for compatibility with other
word processing software.
- Begin by inserting your name, email address and phone number
as indicated at the top of the resume.
- We have listed the "Education"
section first, followed by the "Skills" section. These
sections of the resume may be copied and pasted at the bottom of
your resume if that is your preference. Once you have done
so, be sure to remove our instructions in parentheses on the resume.
- Fill in your professional experience listing the company name
in capital letters, maintaining the format we've provided.
- Add
your employment dates being careful to complete the years we've
listed as 200X.
- Continue in this manner, listing your duties using action
verbs as described below.
- Carefully review
and spell-check your final resume before presenting
it to a potential employer.
Resume Do's and Don'ts
A DOZEN COMMON MISTAKES MADE ON RESUMES
- Spelling errors
- Words used incorrectly (e.g. “Comprised
correspondence”)
- Verb tenses that are either incorrect or
inconsistent
- Inconsistent visual presentation (bullets, margins,
italics, etc.)
- Unclear language as to the actually duties or listing
the duties of the group rather than individual duties
- Overstated
experiences
- Too much information; resumes that are too long, wordy,
and redundant rather than targeted with appropriate information
- Losing
the impact of tenure by breaking up a position into its parts—listing
each promotion as a job
- Failing to organize material such that each
bullet covers one area of responsibility
- Personal information or
irrelevant information, such as age, marital status, number of
children, health information, address
- Overly specific demands for “job
desired”
- Trying to hide low tenure or other issues in
a topical resume or by omitting dates
A DOZEN DOs FOR YOUR RESUME
- Turn on spell-check
- Provide a chronological job experience including dates of employment,
starting with most recent and go back roughly ten years
- Use a crisp format such as bulleting
- Make it as clear, concise and easy to read as possible
- Make certain you know the definition of any word you use
- Be consistent in format (e.g. periods at end of bullets)
- Start all bullets with action verbs: create, screen, draft, type,
coordinate, organize, enter data, perform research
- Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for and list only
relevant experiences
- Be specific and clear about the duties you personally performed
rather than the mission of your department
- Organize your experiences in a given job by function and avoid
redundancies
- Keep the resume to a page or two
- Proof read. Be certain that words such as "their", "there"
and "they're" are used correctly. Spell-check may
not catch these when they are used incorrectly.
A DOZEN ACTION VERBS FOR THE PROJECT OR ADMINISTRATIVE RESUME
- Coordinate
(or arrange)
- Track
- Perform research
- Draft (reports, correspondence, etc)
- Maintain (e.g. records, files, calendars)
- Organize
- Interact (liaise, talk with relate)
- Create (drafts, PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets, etc.)
- Manage calendar (or schedule)
- Manage projects
- Answer phones
- Screen (calls, e-mail, correspondence)
|
|
