Print Quality
Print should be on one side only of good quality paper, and free of streaks and blemishes. Paper should be white, ivory or pale gray. Avoid paper with background flecks or marble patterns as it may not copy or fax clearly.
Resume Action Verbs
Your resume should include succinct phrases lead by action verbs. There is never a need for complete paragraphs or nouns such as “I” or “we.” Example action verbs include:
Accomplished achieved administered analyzed assembled budgeted calculated compiled computed conducted constructed contacted contracted controlled coordinated created designed |
determined developed directed |
investigated |
promoted |
The three primary styles of resumes are chronological, functional, and combination. Choose the one which best highlights you.
Chronological
Work experience is listed in reverse chronological order by date and company. You may arrange your headings in various ways, depending upon what aspects of your background you wish to stress. When describing your jobs, order work functions according to their importance and relevance, rather than the frequency with which they were performed. This principle may be applied to a chronological resume by placing your most pertinent work experience into categories such as "Related Work Experience" or "Technical Work Experience" and listing supportive but less important work into a second category entitled, "Other Work Experience."
Functional
Focus is on the individual's qualifications and skills with less emphasis on dates and company affiliation. Job titles, employers, and date of employment should be listed in a separate section. The skills/functional format can often be effectively utilized by people without work experience directly related to their current job objectives.
Combination (Chronological and Functional)
By far the most common format, this combination allows emphasis on skills and accomplishments within a traditional chronological context.