Résumé Do's and Don'ts

Résumé Do's...

• Use professional, easy-to-read fonts (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman, Garamond, etc.)
• Choose categories that emphasize your individual strengths
• Use underlining, bolding, and italics to emphasize categories and important topics
• Keep your format consistent (e.g., font size/type, order of information, layout, etc.)
• Tailor for each position
• Place the most important information first and group related experiences together
• Use power verbs to strengthen your statements
• Quantify and qualify your accomplishments
• Include relevant non-work experiences
• Emphasize transferable skills
• Keep information up-to-date
• Edit and proofread multiple times

Résumé Don'ts...

• Use a résumé template
• Use fancy and unusual fonts
• Set margins to be less than .5 on any side of the document
• Use a font size below 10 point
• Use personal pronouns, abbreviations, or acronyms
• Exaggerate your experiences or accomplishments
• Include confidential information
• Include everything and anything you have ever done
• Repeat information offered in another category
• List references on your resume (instead create a separate document)
• List inaccurate information