- Keep it Short and Sweet. A resume is typically the first impression that a potential employer has on each applicant. It is important that resume’s are condensed, to the point, and only contain the most important information. Typically, resumes should only be one page in length, unless there is a long work history.
- Target Your Audience. It is important to make sure that the goals and objective of the resume are consistent. Make sure to mention the job title in the objective and the goals will help organize the information that will go in the resume.
- Keep it Professional. Format a resume to look clean cut and simple. Avoid including information about age, birth date, race, religion, etc. Use standard English and avoid using abbreviations and conjunctions. Make sure to include:
- Name, address, phone numbers, and e-mail address
- The objective of your resume (specific job title of field)
- Education Information (High School, CV-TEC, CAP/AP courses)
- Work/Volunteer/Internship experience
- References (typically three individuals that can speak to the individuals character, work ability, etc. Be sure to ask each person prior to putting his or her name on the resume)
- Professional Skills (language, computer skills, etc)
- Formats and Layouts. The format of a resume is typically what catches the eye of potential employers. A clean format will be more attractive than a busy, over-done format.
- Keep your formatting consistent to maintain flow. If you use bold font for each subheading- make sure you do it for everysubheading.
- Use bullets to discuss job/volunteer/internship responsibilities- this helps condense information and provides a cleaner look to your resume. This makes it seem easier to read.
- Use action words to describe job responsibilities (see attached list of action verbs).
- Use 8 ½ x 11 pages with a 1 inch margin.
- Avoid fonts that are bold or difficult to read, use Times New Roman or Arial fonts at 10 or 12 font. Do not mix and match fonts on your resume.
- Prioritize your information- you can do this by putting the most important information more towards the top of the page in each section.
- When formatting you can use bold face, small caps, and even different sized fonts to create sections to your resume or make it more interesting, but use these types of formatting options sparingly.
- Be sure to keep explanation and descriptions clean, concise, and consistent in verb tenses.
- Proofread, Proofread, Proofread! It is important to allow as many people proofread a resume as possible. A resume free of errors and one that has been picked apart by parents, English teachers, counselors, etc., will ensure that the best of each individual is on that sheet of paper.
- Additional Resources. There are many online resources that can help with resume format and provide sample resumes to reference. Some of these sites include:
References:
Student Resume Examples. Retrieved September 21, 2008, from Resume Resource Web site: http://www.resume-resource.com/examples-student.html
Resume Writing 101. Retrieved September 21, 2008, from Collegeboard Web site: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/36957.html
