Resume Guidelines

Resume Guidelines:

Crafting a compelling resume is akin to creating a portrait of your professional self—a snapshot that not only provides essential information to prospective employers but also strives to leave a lasting, positive impression. In this narrative, the goal is to establish a connection between you, the job seeker, and the hiring manager, employing a language that resonates with both parties. Imagine stepping into the shoes of the individual reviewing your resume; what would captivate their attention and inspire confidence?

In a landscape where employers dedicate a mere minute to screening resumes and subsequently discard a staggering 95-99% of them, it’s easy to feel disheartened. However, rather than succumbing to discouragement, recognize the paramount importance of crafting a resume that not only captures but sustains the employer’s interest. Striking the right balance between showcasing your unique personality and adhering to general principles is key. Keep in mind that resumes can either be “general,” suitable for diverse career fields, or “job-specific,” featuring a defined objective at the outset. The latter often yields optimal results. Many individuals maintain multiple resumes, each strategically emphasizing specific skills and experiences.

In essence, your resume is a dynamic tool, a personalized narrative designed to open doors to new opportunities. It is not just a document but a carefully curated reflection of your professional journey. As you embark on the resume-writing process, consider it an art form—where clarity, conciseness, and relevance converge to create a masterpiece that speaks volumes to potential employers.

Do's

Begin your sentences with dynamic action verbs to convey a sense of initiative and engagement.
Employ language that paints vivid images, enabling potential employers to visualize your contributions and impact.
Maintain descriptive clarity while ensuring brevity in explanations to capture attention effectively.
Enhance the portrayal of your achievements by incorporating specific quantities, amounts, and dollar values where applicable.
Emphasize the significance of your accomplishments by incorporating concrete quantities, amounts, and dollar values into your descriptions.

Don't s

Use the personal pronoun “I” to clearly convey my individual contributions and responsibilities.
Utilize phrases like “Responsible for” and “Was in charge of” to highlight specific actions and achievements rather than simply stating job duties.
Avoid including personal data such as height, weight, health, age, or marital status, as it is irrelevant to my professional qualifications.
Incorporate quantities, amounts, and dollar values when they enhance the description of my accomplishments, providing a tangible measure of my impact.
Refrain from including a photograph unless specifically requested by the employer, as it is not standard practice.
Exclude salary information and the address of prior employers; instead, focus on the name of the company and its location (city and state).
Ensure that my resume is free from typos and grammatical errors to present a polished and professional image.

General Appearance

Font:

Always choose a plain, easy-to-read font like Geneva, Palatino, or Times. Generally speaking, your resume should never use a font size smaller than 10 points. On your resume, your name ought to be the largest font size. Depending on the typeface you choose, a good range is between 16 and 22 points.

Margin:

The amount of information you attempt to include on your resume will determine your margins. The margins on the left and right should always be the same width. Margin should generally be no less than.5 inches and no more than 1 inch.

Heading:

At the top of your resume page, include your name, your permanent address, and your phone number. If you want prospective employers to remember who you are, you can use a font size of 16 to 22 points for your name. All you need is your permanent address after graduation. Include this email address as well if you frequently check your inbox.

Format:

Employment titles and locations may be bolded, italicized, underlined, or written in capital letters. Remember that maintaining a positive appearance requires consistency. In case you intend to emphasize your “Education” heading using bold font and capitalization, make sure that the corresponding titles (such as “Objective,” “Employment,” and “Activities”) are emphasized similarly. Don’t overdo the emphasis, though. Nothing stands out among all the capital letters, bold type, and underlined words.

Printing:

Due to its flexibility, word processing is preferred. For copies, always use a laser printer. On high-quality resume paper, make sure to use simple, clean typefaces like Helvetica, Palatino, or Times New Roman. Once more, consistency is key. Avoid combining different typeface styles (Helvetica and Times New Roman, for example); Times New Roman bold and Times Roman italic work well together, though.)
There should be no mistakes on your resume! Carefully proofread. Also ask someone else to do it.
Use resume paper exclusively, which is available at any office supply store. Conservative color schemes include off-white, beige, gray, and white. When making a photocopy, make sure to use white paper for the original copy.