1. Choose the Right Format:
- Use a clean and professional format.
- Chronological, functional, or combination (hybrid) formats are common.
2. Contact Information:
- Include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile.
- Ensure that your voicemail message is professional. Do not include your street address, however your city, state and zip code is necessary.
3. Objective or Summary (Optional):
- Briefly state your career goals or provide a summary of your qualifications.
- Tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for.
4. Highlight Your Achievements:
- Use bullet points to emphasize accomplishments rather than listing duties.
5. Tailor for Each Job:
- Customize your resume for each application by aligning it with the job requirements.
- Use keywords from the job description as it pertains to your experience.
6. Professional Experience:
- List experiences in reverse chronological order.
- Include company names, your title, dates of employment, and use bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements. Do not use a paragraph formation to express your experience.
7. Education:
- Include your educational background with the most recent degree first.
- Mention honors, awards, and relevant coursework if applicable.
8. Skills:
- Include both hard and soft skills relevant to the job.
- Group technical skills, languages, and certifications separately.
9. Use Action Verbs:
- Start bullet points with strong action verbs to convey your achievements.
- For example, “Implemented,” “Managed,” “Coordinated.”
10. Keep it Concise:
- Aim for a two-page resume, but don’t sacrifice important information for brevity.
- Be clear and concise in your wording.
11. Formatting and Design:
- Choose a professional font and maintain consistent formatting.
- Use bold, italics, and underlining sparingly for emphasis.
12. Include Relevant Extras:
- Add sections like volunteer work, projects, publications, or memberships if they strengthen your candidacy.
13. Avoid Unnecessary Details:
- Exclude personal information such as age, marital status, social security number or hobbies unless directly relevant to the job. If you volunteer with an organization or you’re a part of a group that is relevant to your career you may want to include that information.
14. Proofread:
- Eliminate grammatical errors and typos.
- Ask someone else to review your resume for a fresh perspective.
15. Include a Cover Letter (if applicable):
- Write a tailored cover letter expressing your interest and explaining why you’re a good fit for the position.
16. Update Regularly:
- Keep your resume current with new skills, experiences, or achievements.
- Remember, your resume is often the first impression a potential employer has of you, so make it impactful and tailored to the specific job you’re applying for.