Best practices for resume writing

1. Although there is no single winning
blueprint to writing the perfect resume, there
are a number of things you should do and
stay away from.
Remember, that studies show that most
employers will spend less than 20 seconds
reviewing an emailed resume and 5 - 10
seconds for a faxed one.
It has to be clear, concise and easy to read.
The Resume Don’ts
• Don’t title your resume as “Resume” start
with your full name.
• Don’t use cliché words like (People person,
Multitasker, Go-Getter…)
• Don’t mail or fax if email is an option (use
the option that the job posting asks for fax,
email…)
• Don’t go over one page.
• Don’t use fancy fonts.

2. • Don’t use personal pronouns “I”, “my” or
“me”
• Don’t use passive words. (instead use words
like “ achieved, attained, generated - passive
words convey little)
• Don’t use colorful paper – white, buff or
beige is standard.
• Don’t include a picture or other artwork.
• Don’t lie. Brag but never lie.
• Don’t include your whole life’s history.
• Don’t include personal information.
• Don’t include salary information.
• Don’t include more that 10 years of
employment history.
• Don’t say you were laid off or fired from
your last position. Save it for the interview.
• Don’t include personal references.
• Don’t include “references available upon
requests.” If they want them they will ask.
• Don't include your age, height, weight, date
of birth, marital status, sex, ethnicity, health,
religion, or political affiliations.

3. The Resume Do’s
Do send your resume with a cover letter.
Do strive to make a good impression.
Do make your resume clear, concise and easy to
read.
Do use BOLD or Underline for section
headings.
Do emphasize your strongest qualifications.
Do focus on accomplishments, skills, and
results.
Do print your resume on high quality 8 ½ by 11
paper.
Do make contacting you easy. i.e. consider
including home & office telephone numbers
email.
Do include descriptive terms that include
supportive facts and figures.
Do use short phrases, not long and complex
sentences.
Do utilize action words.
Do list your most recent job/educational
experience first.
Do list job titles, dates, cities and states.
Do use word processing and spell checkers.

4. Do ask 2 friends or colleague to proof read your
resume.
Do create a resume tailored to the job you are
after.
Do keep your resume up-to-date. You never
know when opportunity may come knocking.
Social Networking
Employers are using social networking sites
to check for potential new employees
Don’ts
Don’t be sharing pictures or videos of your wild
parties or be blogging on how you where so
drunk… (Goes for current employees also)
Do’s
Set up a Linked-in account and keep
it up to date.
Put the URL to your linked in account in your
resume.

5. Setup an Twitter account and
follow recruiter and job tweets -upload an avatar
of yourself not a space alien – use your bio for
your career search link to you resume - send
messages using the @ symbol.
Tweet about your job search.
Use a professional looking page background.
Maybe
If you are an outgoing person and have a lively
personality you MIGHT try using a YouTube
video resume to sell yourself if not DON’T try
this.
If you do decide to do one keep it short to the
point – Tell why you can give worth or value to
you’re your new employer while giving a brief
background of yourself and accomplishments. It
may take a hundred takes to get it right. Setup a
separate youtube account for this and don’t link

6. it with your other youtube videos where you are
playing air guitar with a mop on your head.
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