Resume Tips
These resume-writing guidelines apply to every individual, regardless of the
industry, professional level or job of interest.
You should …
Customize your resume
o Tailor resume for each position.
o Focus on employer's needs, identifying how individual skills &
accomplishments meet/exceed their requirement.
Practice brevity - keep it short
o Make resumes one to two pages long.
o Write qualifications & accomplishments in concise bullet points that can
be read quickly.
o Select words with care and avoid run-on sentences. Read every sentence
out loud. If you find yourself gasping for breath, break the sentence in
two.
Showcase your achievements
o Mention at least two or three of your top achievements within the top third
of page one–this is the most valuable real estate on your resume.
Use action words
o To add life to your resume, use bulleted sentences that begin with action
words like prepared, developed, monitored, presented, etc.
Match your resume with the position
o Review want ads for positions that interest you. Use the key words listed
in these ads to match them to bullets in your resume.
Make it readable
o Select an easy-to-read font & type size–no less than 11 points.
o Leave some white space, rather than a full page of text, with no breaks.
o Use a standard font if sending resume via e-mail. And, to preserve
formatting, send the resume as an attachment, rather than cutting and
pasting into the e-mail text box.
Edit & proof your resume
o Read resumes carefully–check spelling, grammar and punctuation.
o Send to friends, a mentor or a career counselor to review.
Think quality
o Use good quality paper stock.
o Select white or cream-colored paper.