Resume Writing Tips

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Here they are...our top 10 Resume Writing Tips. Follow these quick tips to stay out of trouble as you put your resume together.

Be sure to check out all of the great advice we provide on resume development. A good place to start is with How to Write a Resume. From here, you can take an in depth look at each section that should appear on your resume. This is not the time to take shortcuts! Make sure that you take the time to understand the information presented. It might mean the difference between getting the interview and wondering why the phone doesn't ring.

In the meantime, here are 10 resume writing tips that you need to follow:

Tip #1

Use a chronological resume format. Recruiters and hiring managers will thank you. This is the easiest way for a hiring manager to see where you've worked and what you've done.

Tip #2

Create your resume in Microsoft Word. Almost everyone will be able to open your document. Do not use a PDF file. These are more cumbersome to open, and sometimes just fail to open - or worse, freeze up. You run the risk of being deleted!

Tip #3

Proofread your resume. Do not rely on spell check. It will not catch words that are misused. Think "their" and "there". Don't be fooled by basic resume writing tips. These inadvertent mistakes will knock you out of the running quickly.

Tip #4

Do not misrepresent your experience or your academic background. You can certainly package your experience in a way that is favorable to you, but don't lie. Academic credentials are easy to check. There's nothing more distressing than getting to the employment alter - where the employer wants to make you an offer and you want to accept - only to find out that the MBA on your resume is a figment of your imagination.

Tip #5

Have a healthy respect for white space in your document. Make sure it's readable. It should look professional. Use a clean font (arial/verdana); mix it up with a little bold and italics. Use bullet points. Use 1 inch margins (although your Top of Page margin can be set at one half inch). Insert a few horizontal rules. If you take a look at our Resume Samples, you'll see that you don't have to go overboard with these ideas to produce an effective document.

Tip #6

Focus on accomplishments rather than duties. Your resume should not read like a job description. It should showcase your achievements. See Create a Resume for more detail on this point. We all know what a Sales Manager does. We'll be more interested in what you did to distinguish yourself in that role.

Tip #7

Use a Summary Statement rather than an objective. An objective can severely limit your options. A short, narrative summary of your key skills will be more effective at getting you past a screener. Our Resume Objectives section will explain why.

Tip #8

Incorporate metrics into your presentation where possible. Think about the scope of your responsibility in terms of number of people managed, the size of the budget you manage, your sales targets, your track record in achieving sales targets, etc.

Tip #9

Personal information does not belong on a resume. Please don't share your age, height, weight, marital status and similar information. And, don't show me a picture! Employers are not supposed to make judgments based on this kind of information - and it's illegal for them to ask about these things. Don't create a potential problem for them.

Tip #10

Do not include your references on your resume. Prepare a separate reference sheet that you can provide to employers if asked. Our Reference section goes into detail on what information to share.