The Do's and Don'ts of Resume Writing
DO:
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Create a rough draft, then edit several times.
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Emphasize headings using boldfacing, italicizing, etc.
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Include some white space so your resumé is easier to read.
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Leave a "resumé gap" if you were out of work due to unemployment, illness, etc. Explain this in a cover letter.
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Include relevant volunteer experience.
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Use active, descriptive language. Rather than "worked," "ran," and "managed," use "successfully created," "efficiently completed," "responsible for," etc.
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Have a careful reader review it, and use your word processor's spelling and grammar checker.
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Keep the length under 2 pages.(1 page for every 10 years of work experience)
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Date the electronic filename of your resumé so that you can tell it apart from older and newer versions.
DON'T:
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Include any of the Deadly Dozen: Height, weight, health, sex, marital status, number of children, religion, ethnic origin, age, photograph, reasons for leaving previous jobs, or salary history.
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Use the words I, me, or my.
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Use the heading "resumé" (it will be obvious that the document is a resume).
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Overdo the boldfacing, italicizing, etc.
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Use abbreviations (exceptions: GPA, Inc., states, educational degrees). Always spell it out!
- Put the date in your resumé.