Resume Tips
There are certain guidelines that most resumes should follow. The following tips provide information on sections to include such as content, resume length, font and page margins.
Resume Guidelines
Resume Length - Your resume should be as concise as possible; two pages is the maximum length, but one page is preferable.
Font & Text Size – Use simple to read fonts like Times New Roman, Aptos, Arial, Calibri, Garamond, or similar. Your font size should be between 10 and 12 points, although your name and the section headings can be a little larger and/or bold.
Page Margins - 1" margins on the top, bottom and left and right sides of the page work for most resumes, but ½” is acceptable as well.
Accuracy - Be sure to edit your resume by checking spelling, grammar, tenses, names of companies and people, etc. Have a friend, recruiter or an accomplished career services counselor check over your resume.
Resume Sections & Information
Personal Identification
Include your name, address, telephone number, and email address at the top of your resume.
You may want to consider showcasing your LinkedIn profile by providing the relevant hyperlink.
Use a professional email address (i.e. johnsmith@gmail.com rather than funnyguy@gmail.com).
Objective Statement (Optional)
Keep it concise and specific; state your desired job or field, and what you hope to accomplish in that field.
Profile Summary (Optional)
A summary of your skills, experiences, and goals written specifically for a job posting.
Education
Include the degrees you have received in reverse chronological order (with the most recent degree listed first).
Be sure to include the name of each institution, its location, and your date of graduation (or expected date of graduation).
Include your major/minor fields, as well as your GPA and any honors, publications, and projects.
Do not include your high school information unless you’re currently in high school.
Employment Experience
Include your employment experience in reverse chronological order (with the most recent employer listed first).
This section can include jobs, internships, and volunteer work.
Include the name of the firm/company, location of the company (city/state), the position title, and dates, including month and year of employment.
List roughly three to five important tasks, accomplishments, or skills gained at each job (i.e. Partnered with VP or Sales to implement new sales strategy resulting in an increase of 25% in revenue YOY).
Focus on what you did in the job, not what your job was, there's a difference.
For each point ask yourself - What was the benefit of having done what I did?
Accomplishments should be unique to you, not just a list of what someone else did.
Avoid using the generic descriptions of the jobs you originally applied for or held.
Quantify your achievements (i.e. percentages, dollars, number of employees, etc.) to ensure greater confidence in the hiring manager and thereby generate interest.
Software Skills & Languages
Include any computer software/hardware systems with which you are proficient, particularly if they are related to the position for which you are applying.
Include foreign languages with which you are familiar; state both the language and your level of familiarity (beginning, intermediate, proficient, fluent).
List any other skills you have that relate to the job but are not included elsewhere in your resume.
Volunteer Work (Optional)
This section can be used to convey your leadership, communication skills, etc. List the name of the organization, the dates of your volunteer work, and your achievements.
Hobbies and Interests (Optional)
Try to list interests that are related to the position you’re applying for. For example, if you are applying to work at a law firm, you can include your passion for reading or historical research.
