Resume Tips : 20 Resume Tips

Resume Tips

So, how do you make a good first impression with your resume? Try these 20 resume tips:

(Please note: these tips are not for improving the content of your resume, but only to increase the readability (the format) of your resume)

  1. Limit your resume to one or two pages. Previously, everyone believed resumes should be only one page. Today, two page resumes are quite acceptable. It’s understood that if you have been working for several years, you may need two pages to fully document your experience and accomplishments. Don’t cut your vital information just to get your resume down to one page. And never go more than two pages.
  2. Don’t cram three pages of information onto two. If pages of your resume are too full, you need to do a little editing and focus on information that’s most relevant to your chosen field. Reducing type-size, shrinking margins and closing up spaces isn’t the way to do it. A crowded look can be overwhelming and uninviting.
  3. If you have two page resume, add continued… at the bottom of the first page, and put your name and page 2 at the top of second page.
  4. Use a serif typeface. The kind with the little doodads on all the letters. Tests has proven that serif type is easier on the eye and therefore, easier to read. Other serif typefaces include Palatino, Bookman, Times, Courier and Souvenir. Don’t use Helvetica.
  5. Stick to traditional typefaces. Stay away from the fancy or cutesy types, and stick with Times, Bookman, Palatino or Souvenir.
  6. Select a readable size. Never use anything smaller than 10 point type for the body of your resume. You may go up to 12 points. Your header can be ever larger – typically one or two points higher than your body type.
  7. Don’t mix type faces. Resist the urge to play with typefaces. Pick one and stick with it.
  8. Highlight with boldface type. Boldface is the darker heavier type that leads off each of the entries on this page. Using boldface type can help you emphasize certain elements of your resume and draw attention to them. Don’t overdo it and don’t get carried away or you will loose the effect.
  9. Use all-caps and underlining for section heads only, and even then, sparingly. Don’t underline words and phrases in your resume body. Research shows that underlining and capitalizing whole words slows and even stops the eye while reading.
  10. Avoid italic type. Italic type often is used in publications to emphasize a word or phrase, but don’t do it in your resume body copy.
  11. Use generous margins. Leave at least one inch margin at the top of the page. If possible, leave one-inch borders on the other 3 sides. Never use any less than half-inch border. Wide margins create a pleasant, uncluttered look.
  12. Use "ragged right" layout. Don’t worry about "justifying" or "evening" your right margin. Instead, just let the lines end where they may.
  13. Avoid hyphens. Hyphens break up words and, consequently, the flow of a hiring manager’s eyes as he or she reads about your qualifications. By avoiding hyphens in your resume, reading is uninterrupted.
  14. Single-space between the lines of each listing, and double space between sections and paragraphs.
  15. Use bullets to highlight accomplishments. Key points can get lost in a paragraph format. Using bullets helps organize information in digestible pieces and works to emphasize those key points.
  16. Keep bulleted items to two or three lines of copy. The whole idea of using bullets is to provide information in short bursts. When you start getting windy, bullets loose their effect.
  17. Keep paragraph length to no more than four or five lines.
  18. Use a short line length. Studies has shown the easiest copy to read is that which asks your eyes to travel just a short distance back and forth across the page. To keep your line length short, indent all body copy about two inches from the left margin and put only section heads and accompanying dates to the left. You can find several example resumes on our site, which effectively uses this format.
  19. Keep it simple. Don’t try to combine three or four different design styles into one resume. Just pick one style and use it.
  20. Find the look that fits you. On our site provided are the example resumes in a variety of styles. Find one you like, modify it if necessary and create the resume that reflects you.

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Example Resumes
Resume Examples