How to Use State Abbreviations in a Resume
When writing your resume, it is important to adhere to strict guidelines on abbreviations. The general rule of thumb when writing a resume is to avoid using abbreviations. Abbreviations look unprofessional and lazy, which is not how you want your resume to appear. However, some exceptions apply. You can abbreviate your degree, BA, MFA, and the acronym GPA, grade point average. State names are also appropriate to abbreviate in a resume, as long as it is done correctly.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Work Experience
-
1
List all work experience, business names of where you worked and positions you held while employed.
-
2
Place the name of the city and state where you worked next to the job position and use a comma after the city name.
-
-
3
Use a two-letter abbreviation for the state. Do not write out the state's name because it takes up valuable space on your resume.
-
4
Capitalize both letters of the abbreviated state. For example, New York, NY.
Education
-
5
List the name of the college you graduated from and the degree you graduated with.
-
6
Place the name of the city and state where the college is located next to your degree and use a comma after the city name.
-
7
Use a two-letter abbreviation for the state and capitalize both letters of the abbreviated state.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Check a state's abbreviation if you are not sure. Do not guess.
All states are not abbreviated due to their length. Check before you abbreviate a state such as Ohio or Maine, two states that must always be spelled out.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
