1. Formatting and layout are important. Recruiters spend a matter of seconds reviewing each resume, so make sure yours is well organized, concise, and easy to read. Bold each section header, job title, and degrees you have earned or are pursuing. If the reader can’t figure out what you have done or follow your timeline, chances are good you won’t be getting called for an interview.
2. Use standard fonts and font sizes. Choose a standard font (Arial, Garamond, Times New Roman) in a standard size (10, 11, 12 point) for the body of your resume. Getting too creative with fonts can be distracting and unprofessional.
3. Create a profile summary. In lieu of an objective statement at the top of your resume, craft a short paragraph (2-3 sentences) that provides an ‘executive summary’ of your background and qualifications. It is imperative that this be tailored to the position/industry you are targeting. For example, a physical / health education teacher may use the following profile summary:
Compassionate teaching professional highly trained in K-12 education, specializing in physical and health education. Dedicated individual who excels in classroom management, student growth and development, and incorporating creativity into the design and delivery of curriculum. Collaborative educator with exceptional interpersonal and relationship building skills.
4. Include a 'Core Competencies', 'Key Areas of Expertise', or 'Relevant Coursework' section. This section will immediately follow the profile summary and should include competencies, skill areas, or courses completed that are applicable to the position you are seeking.
5. Highlight major achievements. Job responsibilities are important, but employers really want to see how you’ve made an impact and contributed in each role you’ve held. List major accomplishments, honors, and awards. These could be projects managed, cost savings achieved, profits earned, sales quotas met, programs/ processes / products developed or implemented, etc. Be specific, and include numbers (monetary or data) whenever possible.
6. DO NOT include a photo on your resume. Unless you are pursuing a career as an actor or model (or similar industry), there is no need to include a photo.
7. Check for Errors. I recommend reviewing your finished resume at least three times. The first time, concentrate on the formatting – ensure spacing is consistent, font sizes and styles are the same throughout the entire document, bullets line up, etc. On the second pass, confirm all necessary content is included (ex: city and state are listed for each position under the 'Experience' section). On the third round, carefully read over all text to catch any grammatical or spelling errors.
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