Job Resume Guidelines
A professional, well-written resume can be one of the most effective tools to help you land a job. Many people hire experts to create a resume. Others do it themselves. Regardless of how you create your resume, knowing the most important elements can help you create a resume that can give you an edge in the job market.
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Resume Basics
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Use white, cream or light gray paper for your resume. Use a standard, readable font such as Times New Roman or Courier. Use 14-point font for headings and use 12-point font for text beneath each of the headings. Use 1-inch margins all the way around. For resumes of more than one page, include the same heading information at the top of each page. This will typically be your contact information.
Style Considerations
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Avoid using personal pronouns in a professional resume. Rather than writing "I managed employees and facilitated proper training procedures," simply write, "Managed employees and facilitated proper training procedures." Avoid using abbreviations in your resume as well.
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Objective Overview
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The objective overview is one of the most crucial elements of your resume. This is where you tell your prospective employer about your goals and showcase your ambitions. Your objective should be stated clearly, in approximately three to five sentences, written using active voice. The objective states what you hope to achieve if you're hired. If you're looking to move into management, your objective statement might be: "seeking a position that offers a challenging work environment and opportunity for growth." In addition to your objectives, list three or four of your major skills.
Educational Information
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List educational background in chronological order, beginning with high school and continuing with college courses. Include any special certificates and awards earned at the end of your college qualifications. Always include relevant dates for degrees. If you have additional skills that may be applicable to the job you're applying for, create a heading for "skills" and include a description of those skills in that section.
References
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Include business and personal references when called for. It is acceptable to leave personal information for your personal references out of the resume, with a note stating the information is available upon request. Many companies understand you may not want to give out personal information for non-business-related references. If you're unsure about this, ask before you leave the information out.
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