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Welcome to Part 3 of the resume tutorial, Important Reminders. In this section you learn
tips on formatting your resume to fine tune its contents. We will begin by discussing
resume language. Employers favor bulleted phrases as apposed to paragraphs of information
and sentence format. When writing the bullet points begin each phrase with a different
action verb. Choose verbs of substances and power to highlight your accomplishments. For
example, instead of using “made” try using “created” or “designed” or “design.”
A good idea is to look at the job description to identify key words or industry buzz words.
When applicable these should be placed throughout your resume. Make sure that each bulleted
phrase is clear and concise. There are some things you want to be sure NOT to include
on your resume. They are your age or date of birth, marital status, addresses or phone
numbers of former employers, and previous salaries . Some recommend against listing
religious or political affiliations unless related to the job objective. Do not include
the words “I” or “my” on your resume. Remember to use phrases rather than complete
sentences. Also, it is best not to abbreviate, as many abbreviation are not commonly known.
Specific dates are not necessary only list the month and year. When formatting your resume
there as several consideration to make. Many employers are now saying a 1-2 page resume
is acceptable as long as everything on the resume relates to the job objectives. If you
have information that is not applicable it is advised to delete this information. It
is recommended to use black ink and a white or off white resume paper. The font you choose
to use should be easy to read and 11 point font size minimum. Common fonts styles are
Times New Roman and Arial. Your margins should be no bigger than one inch. If you are having
a space issue you may reduce your margins to an half inch on all sides. Be consistent
in your formatting. This includes when you in put dates and if you choose to abbreviate
the state in which you live. If the state is abbreviated in your header it should be
abbreviated in your education and experience sections as well. Be sure to check your verb
tense in the bullet points. If you are writing about a current job the action verb should
be in the present tense. For example, “create.” However, when writing about previous jobs,
the action verb should be in the past tense. For example, “created.” When submitting
your resume to an employer, do not bend, staple, or fold your resume. If your resume is two
pages type your last name and the page number on the upper right corner of any pages after
the first page. You may choose to format your resume with Eye Relief Techniques. These formatting
suggestions will also help draw the employer’s attention to certain aspects of your resume.
Techniques include, bold, underline, italics, indents, bullets, capitalization, and center
justification. For example, you can capitalize categories and headings. Bold your job title
and center your name and contact information. White spaces between sections are also favored.
If you have no white space in your resume, you have too much content. A references section
is no longer standard, even when it states references available upon request. Instead
include your references on a separate page. Use your header name and contact information
then type the headings references and list the name and contact information for each
of your references. Be sure to check with each reference before listing their name on
the a resume or job application and provide each
reference a copy of your resume. Don’t forget before you are finished check the following:
Make sure the voice mail greeting for the phone number you listed is professional. Also
use an email address that conveys professionalism. An employer will look at your resume for less
than a minute. So focus your content on the employers needs. You can get a better understanding
of the employers needs by reading the job description and researching the position and
company. Spell check and review your resume very carefully. Employers are now throwing
out resumes that even the one spelling mistake. Get feedback.
Have a career counselor proofread and critique your resume. It is always helpful to have
a second opinion. That concludes the resume writing tutorial. Please remember that the
Career Center is here to assist you. You'll find additional job search resources as well
our contact information by visiting our website or office. We look forward to seeing you.