Tips for Resume Writing:

• Words and Phrases You Should Eliminate: Results-oriented, High technical aptitude, Ninja, rock star and other quirky titles, Assisted, Strong work ethic, Disruptive, cutting-edge and other trendy adjectives, Self-starter, Detail-oriented

• Never include your political allegiances in your resume

• Avoid typos and grammatical errors

• Font Size: When you are selecting a font for your resume, the font size should be between 10 and 12 to allow for readability. Your name (which should be placed at the top of your resume) can be slightly larger.

• Font Type: typically, you should use a readable, book print font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. If you are applying to a position in graphic design or advertising (where resume layout and design might be part of your assessment), employers might be open to alternative fonts.

• Use effective titles: Employers will usually make a judgment about your resume in less than 10 seconds. In this time frame the most important aspect will be the titles that you listed on the resume, so make sure they grab the attention.

• No pictures: Unless you are applying for a job where the physical traits are very important (e.g., modeling, acting etc.), and unless the employer specifically requests it, you should avoid attaching your picture to the resume.

• Chronological resume vs functional resume: The Chronological format is widely preferred by employers and works well if you’re staying in the same field (especially if you’ve been successful).

• Use a reverse chronological order: List your present or most recent job, first, and then work backwards. State the complete name of the company you work for, or have worked for, and what they do, how long you were there–month and year. Then list the position you held and your accomplishments.

• Replace your “Objective” with a “Career Summary”: A Career Summary is designed to give a brief overview of who you are and what you do. Most Objectives sound similar: Seeking a challenging, interesting position in X where I can use my skills of X, Y, and Z to contribute to the bottom line.

• Avoid the first person pronouns: The pronoun “I” has no place in a resume for a logical reason: Who else would you be talking about if not yourself?

• Use Bulleted Sentences: Bullets with short sentences should structure the body of your resume. The main selling points of your resume should be clear and quick to scan.

• Print and review: Make changes, print and review again. Writing a resume is tedious and requires a tremendous amount of detail.

• Education: Avoid putting anything on your resume that misrepresents your level of education. About 50% of employers will verify your educational background as a part of the pre-employment process.

• Don’t include things that don’t relate to your professional goals, such as your hobbies.

• Don’t include salary requirements.