Guide to Resumes

Content/Wording

The content of your resume is what prospective employers are evaluating to see if your experience is in line with what they’re looking for. Bring attention to what you’ve accomplished thus far by doing the following:

• Begin each bullet point/sentence with an action word, – ie. Developed, Designed, Executed, Created, Managed
• Be concise in describing the task/s you completed within each bullet point & section (4-6 bullets per sub-section)
• Ensure all current involvement is in present tense and all past experiences are in past tense

Format

• Margins: .5” to 1” – Allow for white space
• Font: Begin with 12 point font and if necessary, reduce to 10.5 (be mindful of readability)
• Length: 1-2 pgs, depending on experience
• Consistency is key. If you want to bold the name of an organization – bold all organization names. This also applies to underlining, italicizing, lining up of dates, bullet points, etc.
• Chronological Resume: Experience is listed with present employment first, then previous, and so on down the page
• Functional Resume: Accomplishments are organized by sections according to skill set, ie. Technology, Supervision, etc

Tips

Do

• Proofread your resume & have it edited
• Seek out experiences to expand your resume & ultimately, talking points in an interview
• Have a ‘Master’ (comprehensive) copy of your resume. Save a new copy for each job you apply to

Don’t

• Include any information that cannot be verified
• List DOB, nationality, place of birth, marital status
• Use a font that is not easy to read. Stick to Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, Sherman Sans

Sample Chronological Resume