WRITING A RESUME

Tips to write a good resume

Cover Letter
 A Resume cover letter is a one-page document that
is designed to introduce and explain submitted
material such as a job application. Drafting a cover
letter is challenging work, as it must cleanly and
elegantly sell the accompanying material along
with its author.
Pre-writing
 Gather and Check All Necessary Information
 Match Your Skills and Experience with an
Employer's Needs
 Organize the Resume Effectively
 Target your audience in the sample resume and
determine what position suits your credentials.
While writing
 Highlight Details That Demonstrate Your
Capabilities
 Consider Word Choice Carefully
 Minimize the use of I
 Telegraphic style
 Be concise
 Don’t focus on too many job duties/responsibilities
in your resume format:
 Too short or too long on your sample resume
While writing
 Don’t list irrelevant information on your resume
format
 Choose an appropriate resume format with a good
career history
 Include a summary section on this resume format
Content
 Name is at top of the page when you write a resume: this is highlighted
by larger type size and bolding and an option to underline.
 Make sure that the Address and phone number(s) are complete and
correct when you write a resume.
 All entries when you write a resume highlight a capability or
accomplishment.
 Descriptions use active verbs with consistent tense as you write a resume.
 Repetition of words or phrases are kept to a minimum when you write a
resume.
 Capitalization, punctuation, and date formats are consistent as you write a
resume.
 There are NO typos or spelling errors when you write a resume.
Format/Design:

 No more than two conservative typestyles should appear when you write
a resume.
 Consistent use of bolding, italics, and capitalization needs to support the
information structure when you write a resume.
 Margins and line spacing are used to minimize overcrowding when you
write a resume.
  When you write a resume print only on one side of the high-quality bond
paper - your choice of beige or ivory is preferable when you write a
resume.
 Good reproduction needed when you write a resume - no blurring, stray
marks, or faint letters.
 Right justification creates awkward white spaces when you write a
resume - right side of the page needs "ragged" format.
Don’t…
 include extra papers which aren’t requested
 over decorate your resume
 include a picture if you aren´t asked to do so
 include reasons you are no longer working at
previous jobs on this resume format
 write a personnel document or a diary.
 focus in your past, focus in your future and
accomplishments.
Final considerations
 use good paper for your sample resume
 proofread and check grammar and spelling
 one typo may land your sample resume in the
garbage
Adapted from:
www.houston-jobsearch.com/write_a_resume.htm