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Resume Format

Do you want to know why resumes fail? Here are the reasons given in a survey of employers:

  1. No accomplishments (78%)
  2. Negative visual impact (55%)
  3. Poor or no cover letter (40%)
  4. Format problems (32%)
  5. Irrelevant data (29%)
  6. Inadequate job information (12%)
  7. Time gaps unexplained (10%)
  8. Resume too long (10%)

Your resume is your most important calling card in your job search. It should include the following information:

  • Contact Information. Include phone, mail and e-mail contact information. Your voicemail message should be professional. A message that is too casual can create a negative impression. Also be aware of My Space, You Tube and other places that you can be found on the web.
  • Career Objective. You can choose to list or not list your career objective. If your objective doesn’t match the recruiter’s needs, you may miss out on a golden opportunity.
  • Summary Statement. Your summary should be brief.
    • Include your years of experience
    • List pertinent skills
    • Discuss your relevant leadership traits and work styles
  • Professional experience. List each position held in reverse chronological order, dating back at least 10 years. If you held multiple positions within the same company, list them all to show advancement and growth. The body of each position description should describe your responsibilities and accomplishments.
  • Other components. Include education, professional training, affiliations/appointments, licenses, technical skills and languages.
  • Personal information. Do not include any personal information.

Top Accomplishments Employers Want to See

  1. Increased revenues
  2. Saved money
  3. Increased efficiencies
  4. Cut overhead
  5. Increased sales
  6. Improved workplace environment
  7. Purchasing accomplishments
  8. New products/new lines
  9. Improved record-keeping process
  10. Increased productivity
  11. Successful marketing campaign
  12. Effective budgeting

You only have one chance to create a favorable impression! Resume Do’s and Don’ts:

  • Don’t use “I,” “he,” “she,” “Mr.” or “Ms.” when referring to yourself in your resume. Instead, list your responsibilities and accomplishments in a bullet point format. Note: Managers may not take the time to read a lengthy paragraph.
  • Don’t skip a job to make your resume look better.
  • Do remember that total honesty is mandatory. Your resume must be clear, concise and reflect a professional employment history.
  • Don’t use a gimmick resume or colored paper.
  • Do remember to print you resume on 20 – 24 pound white (or neutral color) paper. Keep in mind that your original resume becomes the master copy from which multiple copies are made. Colored paper doesn’t reproduce well.
  • Don’t fax your resume directly from your PC without printing it first, thus insuring your resume reproduces and appears as you anticipated.
  • Do remember to use your spell/grammar check feature, and do remember to have someone other than yourself proofread your resume to insure it reads well.
  • Don’t use small type – less than 11 point font size – in order to get more information on a page. It would be better to edit/cut your copy than reduce the type size. Resumes that are difficult to read get passed over.
  • Do remember to print your name on the second and all subsequent pages.

Campus Human Resources, Employment Services
Phone: (310) 794-0890 | Fax: (310) 794-0895