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Do and Dont's of Resume writing

Here are the keys to successfully preparing and writing a resume. Follow
these simple rules and you should achieve success in this important phase of
job-hunting.

• Do consider a bulleted style to make your resume as reader-friendly
  as possible.
  
   


• Don't get overwrought about the old “one-page resume rule.” It’s
  good to keep your resume to one page, if possible, but if you have a lot of
  experience, two pages may be more appropriate. If your resume spills beyond
  one page, but you have less than a half a page of material for the second
  page, it may be best to condense to one page.
  
   


• But don't go beyond two pages with your resume.
  
   


• Do consider a resume design that doesn’t look like everyone else’s.
  Many jobseekers use Microsoft Word resume templates and wizards. There’s
  nothing wrong with them, per se, but your resume won’t look distinctive if you
  use one; it will look like the resume of everyone else who used a Word
  template. These templates and wizards can also be a bit inflexible to work
  with.
  
   


• Don't use justified text blocks; they put odd little spaces between
  words. Instead, make your type flush left.
  
   


• Don't ever lie on your resume.
  
   


• Do include as much contact information as possible -- any
  information that would enable an employer to reach you during business hours.
  
  
   


• Do give your resume as sharp a focus as possible. Given that
  employers screen resumes for between 2.5 and 20 seconds, you need a way to
  show the employer at a glance what you want to do and what you're good at. One
  way to sharpen your focus is through an objective statement. The objective
  statement can be very simple and straightforward; it can be simply the title
  of the position you're applying for, which can be adjusted for every job you
  apply for. Or you can embellish the Objective statement a bit with language
  telling how you'll benefit the employer. Something like: "Objective: To
  contribute strong ________ skills and experience to your firm in a _________
  capacity."
  
  
  
  In this day of being able to manage our own computer files, you could have
  several versions of your resume that are exactly the same except for
  the objective. A specific objective is always better than a vague or general
  one.
  
   


• Do consider a section such as "Summary of Qualifications," or
  "Profile," which can also help sharpen your focus.
  
   


• Don't discount the possibility of a functional format for your
  resume. This format can be strategic for career changers, students and others
  who lack experience, those with gaps in their employment, as well as those
  re-entering the workforce. A functional resume is organized around functional
  skills clusters. After listing three to four skills clusters and showing how
  you've demonstrated those skills, you provide a bare-bones work history at the
  bottom.
  
   


• Don't use personal pronouns (I, my, me) in a resume.
  
   


• Do list your job information in order of importance to the reader.
  In listing your jobs, what's generally most important is your title/position.
  So list in this preferred order: Title/position, name of employer, city/state
  of employer, dates of employment.
  
   


• Don't leave out the locations of your past jobs (city and state).
  This information is expected, but many jobseekers unwittingly omit it.
  
   


• Do list your jobs in reverse chronological order.
  
   


• Don't mix noun and verb phrases when describing your jobs.
  Preferably, use concrete action verbs consistently.
  
   


• Do avoid the verb, "Work" because it's a weak verb. Everyone works.
  Be more specific. "Collaborate(d)" is often a good substitute.
  
   


• Do think in terms of accomplishments when preparing your resume.
  Accomplishments are so much more meaningful to prospective employers than
  run-of-the-mill litanies of job responsibilities.
  
   


• Don't use expressions like "Duties included," "Responsibilities
  included," or "Responsible for." That's job-description language, not
  accomplishments-oriented resume language that sells.
  
   


• Do emphasize transferable skills, especially if you don’t have much
  experience or seek to change careers.
  
   


• Do quantify whenever possible. Use numbers to tell employers how
  many people you supervised, by what percentage you increased sales, how many
  products you represented, etc.
  
   


• Don't list too much experience on your resume. The rule of thumb
  for someone with many years of experience is to list about 15 years worth of
  jobs. Age discrimination, unfortunately, is a reality, and even more likely,
  employers may think you're too expensive if you list too much experience on
  your resume.
  
   


• Don't emphasize skills and job activities you don’t want to do in
  the future, even if they represent great strengths for you. In fact, you may
  not even want to mention these activities. Why describe how great your
  clerical skills are if you don't want to do clerical work in the future?
  
   


• Do remember that education also follows the principle about
  presenting information in the order of importance to the reader; thus the
  preferred order for listing your education is: Name of degree (spelled out:
  Bachelor of _____ ) in name of major, name of university, city/state of
  university, graduation year (unless you graduated more than about 15 years
  ago), followed by peripheral information, such as minor and GPA. If you
  haven’t graduated yet, list your grad year anyway. Simply by virtue of the
  fact that the date's in the future, the employer will know you don't have the
  degree yet.
  
   


• Don't list high school!
  
   


• Don't include on your resume your height, weight, age, date of
  birth, place of birth, marital status, sex, ethnicity/race, health, social
  security number (except on an international resume), reasons for leaving
  previous job(s), names of former supervisors, specific street addresses or
  phone numbers of former employers, picture of yourself, salary information,
  the title "Resume," or any information that could be perceived as
  controversial, such as religion, church affiliations, or political
  affiliations.
  
   


• Don't include hobbies or other irrelevant information on a resume.
  In most cases, they are seen as superfluous and trivial. An argument can be
  made that hobbies are interview conversation starters or that they make you
  seem well-rounded, but they are generally seen as fluff or filler.
  
   


• Do, however, list sports if you’re a college student or new grad.
  Many employers specifically seek out athletes because of their drive and
  competitiveness, as well as teamwork and leadership skills. Collegiate
  athletes should even consider listing their sports background in the
  Experience section.
  
   


• Don't list references right on your resume. References belong in a
  later stage of the job search. Keep references on a separate sheet and provide
  them only when they are specifically requested.
  
   


• Do realize that the phrase "References available upon request" is
  highly optional because it is a given that you will provide references upon
  request. If you couldn't, you would have no business looking for a job. The
  line can serve the purpose of signaling: "This is the end of my resume," but
  if you are trying to conserve space, leave it off.
  
   


• Do proofread carefully. Misspellings and typos are deadly on a
  resume.

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