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General Guidelines

Resume and Cover Letter Packet

How Do I Say?

Length:

  • A one-page resume works well for current students or recent graduates.
  • Two pages are reasonable if you have extensive work experience; however, limit information to what is pertinent to your current job objective.
  • The most important information should be stated on the first page.

Appearance:

  • Must be well-organized, neat, and concise.
  • Proofread to make sure grammar, punctuation, and spelling are flawless.
  • Recommend using high-quality white, ivory, or beige paper. References and cover letter should also be on the same paper.
  • Layout should generally have a one-inch margin on top and all sides.

Content:

  • Design your resume with a particular objective in mind.
  • Accent your strong points by listing them first. (If you are a new graduate with little or no practical experience, list your degree first. If your work experiences are relevant to the position and your degree is an added benefit, you may list the work history first.)
  • Be honest. Never falsify or exaggerate information.
  • Concentrate on the positive and highlight your strengths; Downplay your weaknesses.
  • Use power statements beginning with action verbs (supervised, organized, planned, developed, created, etc.)
  • Use key words and phrases instead of complete sentences. Eliminate the pronoun "I".
  • Don't include unnecessary personal information—race, religion, political affiliation, height, weight, age, marital status, etc.

More Tips for Successful Resume

  • Make sure that your name is the first readable item on each page.
  • Focus on nouns, not verbs.
  • Use popular, non-decorative typefaces.
  • Use a font size of 10-14.
  • Avoid italics, script and underlining.
  • Avoid graphics and shading.
  • Avoid horizontal and vertical lines.
  • Avoid staples and folds.