Résumé Tips
General Views on Résumés
Employers are increasingly requiring résumés to be submitted for part-time employment and stress the importance of content. The need for a clear, to the point résumé is vital. The résumé should be used to get the interview and therefore, needs to be tailored to each position. Employers are looking for people who give a little extra effort. Résumés should be to the point, well-structured and easy to read in 30 seconds or less.
Certain Components which should be Part of any Résumé Style
- Name, address, postal code, phone number and email, if checked regularly
- Personal profile
- Education
- Skills and abilities
- Work experience, practicum/co-op work experience, internships
- Volunteer experience/extra-curricular
- Mention of references
General Résumé Tips
- Keep your résumé to 1-2 pages
- Use 8.5 x 11 white or neutral-toned quality paper
- Use a good quality printer
- Must be well organized and laid out in a logical manner
- Proofread – résumé should have absolutely no grammar or spelling errors. Computer spellcheckers do not catch all errors.
- Have equal margins on all sides
- Remember the layout of the résumé can be different than the "norm"
- Be consistent in résumé setup (verb tenses, spacing, dates, bolding, underlining, italicizing)
- Keep font size between 10-12 ( your name can be a larger size)
- Eliminate personal pronouns such as 'I'
- Use point form and keep sentences short and to the point
- Use action verbs to describe duties
- Your résumé should focus on your skills and abilities
- Your name and page number should be on consecutive pages
- Should reflect transferable skills
- If sending a résumé by fax, follow it up with an original by mail