Resume Writing for Success

Resumes give employers a critical first impression of you. A well written resume cannot guarantee you a job; but a poorly written one can take you out of the running. Proofreading your resume and keeping your resume up to date are important toward gaining the career opportunity you are seeking.

Tips

• Express your interest and explain clearly why your skills and experience are a good fit for the position.

• Keep sentences and paragraphs short.

• Take advantage of your computer's spell check function, then proofread carefully. Ask a friend to proofread your resume as well.

• Prepare a reverse chronological resume, if possible, by beginning with your most recent job.

• Always use bulleted statements, not paragraphs, to describe your job duties.

• Be accurate and truthful.

• Summarize the technologies, including hardware, software and databases that you have used in your career.

• Always focus your resume on your experience and education including activities with professional, trade and civic associations, and special skills you have developed if they relate to the job opportunity.

Don'ts

• Don't use "I" in any part of the resume.

• Always avoid long sentences.

• Don't include an objective on your resume unless it’s written specifically with the job opening in mind.

• Keep your resume to one page if at all possible.

• Don't give reasons for leaving a job.

• Don't include personal information unrelated to your work experience and/or education.

• Don't list references or state: "References available on request." The interviewer will assume that you will provide these contacts when asked.

• Don't list your high school education if you're a college graduate.

• Don't provide salary information in the resume. Either include this information in the cover letter, if requested by the potential employer, or wait to discuss it in the interview.

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