Resume Dos and Don'ts

Resume Dos

Keep the following "dos" in mind as you prepare your resume.

• Do customize your resume to each job
• Do be concise; use brief, powerful statements vs. paragraphs
• Do pay attention to verb tense (Use past tense for prior jobs and present tense for current jobs)
• Do be consistent with punctuation
• Do use valid phone number with a professional greeting
• Do include a valid professional email address
• Do make sure your resume looks good and is printed on resume paper

Resume Don'ts

By avoiding these "don'ts," you'll strengthen the quality of your resume.

• Don't lie, exaggerate or include something that you would not feel comfortable discussing in an interview
• Don't rely on spell check alone! Have someone read over your resume for typos
• Don't use the word "I" or other first or third person pronouns
• Don't include personal data (federal resumes excepted)
• Don't use speckled paper that can be difficult to read once photocopied
• Don't use exact dates on your employment. Month and year are sufficient
• Don't include employer phone, salary info, or reasons for leaving prior jobs
• Don't use curly fonts that my be difficult to read
• Don't use large fonts or extra spaces to increase the length of your resume