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Helpful Hints, Do’s and Don’ts for Resume Construction:
- Top half of page is more important than the bottom half
- Most resumes should be ONE page in length. If the top half is more important, than the bottom half…then a second page will be seen as less important than the first page
- Have at least 1” margins. You need “white space” on the page to make it look attractive and inviting to the reader. Too much info, too little print, copy looking too much like a typed paragraph will keep your resume from getting read.
- Try to keep descriptive info to 4 - 5 lines of print (or less). Anything beyond 4-5 lines will either not get read or will be skipped. This even applies if you are presenting your info in bullet fashion.
- Do not use pronouns. Avoid “I” and “my”. It is more of a challenge to write your resume without pronouns, but it reads so much better without them.
- Use good “action” phrases and introduce each thought with an action verb. See the list of action verbs in the resume section of the handbook. Action phrases give your resume life and make it more readable. (e.g.: “I was responsible for scheduling and training new employees” is much better if you write it: “Scheduled and trained new employees.”
- Put dates at the end of each item. For Rhodes State students we find putting the dates of employment at the end of the item is more effective. All you need to include is month and year to month and year. If the job you describe was a summer job or seasonal job, then be sure to say that. (e.g.: Summers 2001 & 2002 or Seasonal hire/1999-2003). At the end of each job description, it looks nice to put your dates in parenthesis.
- Watch using templates. Templates that are part of pc software often do not give you the flexibility you need in creating your resume (they will often force you to a second page).
- Avoid references to spouse and children
- “References upon request” is a very optional heading. You’re probably better off using that space on yourself. HOWEVER, if you complete a reference file in the Rhodes State Services Office, then you need to be sure to show employers that the file is available through the Career Services Office.
- Choose one type of font and stick with it. More than one font style can make the page hard to read. Use boldface for emphasis, rather than underlining.
- Use resume-quality paper. Buy matching paper and envelopes for all your job search correspondence.
