The Resume

Formatting Suggestions

Sample Resumes

• Resume 1
• Resume 2
• Resume 3
• Click here to view more resume formats that you can use to get started.

Basic Formatting Rules of Resume Writing

• Use 8 ½" by 11" white or off-white paper, 20-pound bond or better
• Watch overuse of the pronoun "I"
• Make all headings uniform
• Vary the font size between 10 and 12 points, except for your name, which may be in 18 to 24 point type
• Don't make anything larger than your name
• If the resume has two or more pages, include the heading on each page
• Never use a staple or a paper clip
• Don't get too cute with novelty graphics, gothic fonts, shadowed letters, or fancy borders
• Prepare the resume using a word processor and print using a laser quality printer

Usual Headings

• Personal Data (Name, Address, Phone, and Email) (NEVER include information concerning marital/family status, religion, nationality, height, weight, etc.)
• Objective
• Education
• Experience
• Activities/Honors
• References

An Outstanding Resume

• Sells yourself (Detail skills, talents, and abilities that are transferable to the workforce)
• Brief and concise (A one-page resume works well for recent graduates)
• Easy to read (list information/headings in descending order of importance)
• No more than three to five headings (Education, Experience, Honors, Activities/Memberships, Skills, Languages, References, etc.)
• Tasteful use of font sizes, italics, boldface print, underlining, and capital letters
• Uniform margins, preferably no smaller than an .8 inch
• A crisp, clean, professional look
• Power words (see below)
• No typos and no misspelled words
• Tenses agree (mainly referring to job descriptors)

An Unacceptable Resume

• Handwritten
• Typos and misspelled words
• Long sentences that ramble on and on
• Lack of organization
• Use of the pronoun "I"
• A "crowded" look with little white space
• Poor print quality
• Handwritten corrections or information that has been crossed out
• A worn appearance (bent corners, creases, smudges or stains)

Power Words Words that bring a resume to life
Verbs Achieved Acquired Acted Addressed Administered Attained Advised Advocated Applied Assisted Attained Briefed Brought Budgeted Built Cared Checked Coached Collaborated Collected Comforted Communicated Compared Completed Conducted Coordinated Counseled Created Delegated Demonstrated Developed Directed Designed Displayed Documented Drafted Drove Edited Enabled Encouraged Ensured Established Evaluated Examined Expedited Facilitated Formulated	Gained Gathered Gave Generated Guided Handled Helped Identified Illustrated Implemented Improved Increased Influenced Initiated Installed Instituted Instructed Interacted Interviewed Introduced Judged Kept Learned Led Logged Made Maintained Managed Mastered Mentored Met Molded Monitored Negotiated Observed Obtained Offered Operated Ordered Organized Oversaw Participated Perfected Performed Planned	Prioritized Produces Programmed Promoted Provided Ran Recorded Recommended Reported Researched Resolved Revamped Reviewed Scheduled Selected Set goals Shaped Specialized Strengthened Studied Succeeded Supervised Supported Taught Tested Trained Troubleshot Updated Utilized Won Skill Words Active Adaptable Adept Broad-minded Committed Competent Conscientious Creative Dedicated Dependable Determined Diligent Disciplined	Effective Efficient Energetic Enthusiastic Exceptional Experienced Fair Familiar Firm Honest Independent Innovative Instrumental Keen Logical Loyal Mature Methodical Objective Open minded Outgoing Personable Pleasant Positive Practical Productive Receptive Reliable Resourceful Self-motivated Sensitive Sincere Strong Successful Tactful Well-organized