*** Ten Basic Resume Do's And Don'ts

1. Do use action and accomplishment words, such as “initiated”, “developed”, “wrote”, “doubled”, “redesigned.” The purpose of a resume is to brag on your experience and accomplishments.

Don’t ever falsify information on your resume.

2. Do use a clean, readable format. Be professional. Use clean margins, line up headings and use fonts consistently. If mailing, print on white or ivory professional bond paper. Keep it to one or two pages, maximum. (Exception: a highly qualified Executive may require up to three pages to list extensive experience.)

Don’t try to impress with fancy fonts, too many bolds, underlines and italics or unusual styles. If you want to impress the potential employer with your creative flair, do so in person when you get the interview.

3. Do keep your resume in chronological order unless you are a senior level executive. (Gwen’s personal preference.) Topical resumes have gained popularity as an opportunity to highlight outstanding leadership skills, but be sure they are accepted in your industry. One financial recruiter told me recently, “Topical resumes drive clients crazy.” If you are going to write a topical resume, incorporate chronology of your career so that prospective employers can easily decipher your history.

Don’t be deliberately vague. It will be obvious that you are hiding something. If you have a lapse in your work history, there are positive ways to explain either in the resume or in your cover letter.

4. Do get permission from anyone whose name you will provide as a reference before including him or her on your list. Have your list ready and current to provide prospective employers. Include the line, “References furnished upon request” at the bottom of your resume.

Don’t assume anyone is willing to provide a reference for you until you have spoken with him or her.

5. Do always include a cover letter, even when you are e-mailing your resume as an attachment. In it, briefly explain what position you are applying for, how you heard about it, why you are qualified and request an interview. This is your chance to point out what isn’t obvious in the resume.

Don’t mail, fax or e-mail resumes without a cover letter. How would you be likely to respond if you received a resume with no explanation?

6. Do research your industry’s keywords and incorporate them into your resume. For example, if you are an accounting or IT professional, be sure and list what software you are proficient in using. This will not only help you get past automated screening of your resume, it will clarify any questions the employer may have.

Don’t assume that the employer “should” already know what skills you possess or that he or she will be able to read between the lines.

7. Do include all pertinent points. As in #6, don’t assume the employer will read between the lines, or that they will know you have particular skills because “everyone in this industry has to know how to do that.” Spell it out.

Don’t use acronyms throughout. If you list professional memberships, for example, spell out the name of the organization(s) first, then follow by using acronyms. Example: Member of Widget Manufacturers Association, 1995-present. Vice-President of WFA, 1998-99.”

8. Do – proofread, proofread, proofread! A common statement about resumes in progress is “I’ve looked at it so much I can’t look at it any more!” That is when errors can easily creep in. Get others to look it over when you have finished. In particular, look for the obvious: grammar, punctuation and spelling. Another common error is mixing verb tenses. If you start out listing items in past tense, e.g., initiated, developed, marketed, stay with that tense. Don’t switch to present, e.g., “responsible for initiating, developing, marketing. This is a common oversight that appears in many resumes.

Don’t rely on your software to spell check your document. It isn’t fool proof and it may not recognize a word that is spelled correctly but used inappropriately. There is no substitute for eyes!

9. Do have a couple of different versions ready if you are looking at different types of positions with different requirements. If you’re seeking either a sales or administrative position in the same industry, for example, one version would emphasize your skills related to sales while the other would emphasize administrative skills and experience.

Don’t assume one-size-fits-all and that if you just have one good resume you don’t need anything else, particularly if you are looking at different types of employment.

10. Do answer the question “resulting in what?” at the end of each listed accomplishment, e.g., “redesigned order processing system resulting in annual cost reduction of $500,000.”

Don’t be modest! Show the reader what you have accomplished and are capable of accomplishing for their company. nn