The Do List

1. Focus on the employer's needs, not on your own. You have to clearly address your accomplishments and skills in a way that an employer will want to find out more about you. 

2. Keep your resume as short and sweet as possible. Remember that an employer is only likely to scan it for a few short seconds.  Use “action keywords” to bring your resume to life.

3. Proofread what you have typed. Proofread it again. Have someone look it over. The more people who proofread it, the more likely you are to ensure it's free of typos and grammatical errors.

The Don't List

1. Lie. Just tell the truth. By all means, present your achievements in the best possible light, but be careful about stretching the truth. If you don't tell the truth, it will likely come back to haunt you. You may not be able to perform the functions of the job very well and get fired as a result. 
 
2. Be repetitious. If you performed a specific task at more than one job, list it in one place only. The employer only needs to know that you are capable of handling something, not that you have done it more than once. Find something else that the employer can benefit from knowing about you and include that instead.

3. Rule out volunteer work. Consider non-paid positions where you made a contribution. You probably learned a lot from volunteering at a local charity or from an office you held in a social or professional association. These are valuable insights into your character and the employer will be glad to read about them in your resume.

4. Create your own resume format. The formats that are in use exist for a reason...they work.

5. Rush through this whole process. You will have a much more effective resume if you take the time to do it right.


A resume is so vital to the job search process. It helps you offer the prospective employer a "sneak peek" at you and your qualifications. A good resume is easy to spot and hiring managers are always on the lookout for qualified people. You’ll make a hiring manager's job easy by providing the right information in a clear, concise format.