Resume Do's and Don'ts

Don't:

• Lie on your resume. Background checks will fail you.
• Sound overly pompous.
• Use pronouns.
• Send a photo of yourself.
• List personal information such as height and weight (unless you are applying for a modeling job) marital status or age and never, ever list race or religion.
• List hobbies, unless they directly relate to the position objective.
• Provide references unless specifically requested.
• Include salary information.
• Overuse mixed type styles such as bold, underline, italics and uppercase. Limit them to headings, names of awards, projects, programs and titles, and be consistent throughout your resume.

Do:

• Start with a clear objective.
• Have different resumes for different types of jobs.
• List as many relevant skills as you legitimately possess.
• Use jargon or buzzwords that are understood in the industry.
• Use superlatives like most, best, biggest, first.
• Begin sentences with action verbs like organized, initiated, created.
• List all relevant credentials, education and affiliations.
• Limit your resume to one or two pages, unless applying for certain professions, like academia.
• Use standard size white or off-white, 20 to 24 lb. bond paper with matching envelopes. (Note: gray and other colors do not copy or fax well. They look 'dirty' and are difficult to read.)
• Use a standard quality typeface and a letter quality laser or inkjet printer.
• Spell-check and proof-read several times and have others check your material.
• Update your resume whenever you have a new achievement and store it on a floppy disc for easy, continuous updating.
• Create a version of your resume strictly for scanning.