The world of resume writing has truly evolved. While there’s a lot of analysis that goes into its presentation, word choice and from the reader’s perspective, sometimes people can offer conflicting advice.
Having said that, there are certain do’s and don’ts that apply to every resume, no matter what. In other words, there are certain rules that are as crystal clear as can be and should be followed to the letter.
Yet before we get into these ‘classic’ do’s, let’s first get the most common don’ts out of the way.
10 Common Don’ts
Even though some of these tips might seem simple, there are a number of resumes that actually make these silly mistakes.
Here are 10 common resume don’ts that you should keep in mind:
1: Copy any resume sample posted online as a part of your resume.
2: Write the words ‘Resume’ or ‘CV’ at the top.
3: Worry about sticking to the one-page resume rule. Do ensure that if the pages get separated that the first page should contain adequate information.
4: Lie on your resume
5: Provide irrelevant information such as marital status, height, weight or even date of birth.
6: Repeat the same action words over and over again. Try and phrase it differently instead.
7: Use plenty of jargon, acronyms or even abbreviations that don’t necessarily exist.
8: List an inappropriate email on your resume. Instead, create a business address.
9: List hobbies and skills that have nothing to do with the position.
10: Focus on creativity and sacrifice readability or clarity as a result. Avoid using colored paper or graphics on your resume.
Now that we’ve looked at the classic don’ts when it comes to resume, let’s cover 10 common do’s that you should give serious thought.
10 Common Do’s
Not very differently, this list of do’s might be just as simple but there are times when a couple of these necessary pointers are left unheeded.
Here are 10 common do’s that you should think about:
1: Look at a number of professionally written resumes so as to get a good idea as to how a strong resume looks like – pertaining to your field.
2: Stick to the basics – focus on using fonts and bullet points that makes the reader more comfortable.
3: Depending on the position you are applying for, customize your resume accordingly.
4: Write your career objective in such a manner that it focuses on what you can do for your employer.
5: List basic details related to past employment while ensuring that it is in reverse chronological order.
6: Start sentences with action words. Omit the word ‘work’.
7: Add licenses or professional certifications, honors, publications, presentations, patents and even volunteer experiences if it pertains to the position you are applying for.
8: Add relevant contact information such as telephone number, email address, website, city and state.
9: Add a section titled ‘Summary of qualifications’ or ‘profile’ at the top so that you can clear about what you have on offer as an employee.
10: Proofread your resume as much as possible. Also, test as how your resume looks when it is submitted online or in print form before you send it out.
In Closing
It’s important to understand that while you might not have yet created a resume that stands out, this might not be necessary if you follow these simple pointers.
Are there any other classic do’s and don’ts that you can think of? If so, feel free to add them in the comments section below.
