Resume Guidelines

Creating a compelling resume is like painting a portrait of your professional identity—a snapshot that conveys your skills, experience, and potential to prospective employers. Your resume should establish a connection between you and the hiring manager, using language that resonates with both. Put yourself in the shoes of the person reviewing your resume: what would capture their attention and inspire confidence?

Employers often spend just a minute scanning each resume, with up to 95-99% of them ending up discarded. Instead of feeling discouraged, use this as motivation to craft a resume that stands out and holds the employer’s attention. Balancing the display of your unique qualities with adherence to established resume principles is crucial. Resumes can be “general,” suited for multiple career paths, or “job-specific,” with a clearly defined objective at the beginning. The latter often achieves better results. Many professionals maintain several versions of their resume, each tailored to emphasize relevant skills and experiences.

Think of your resume as a dynamic tool, a tailored narrative that opens doors to new opportunities. It’s more than a document—it’s a thoughtfully crafted reflection of your professional journey. Approach the resume-writing process as an art form, where clarity, conciseness, and relevance combine to create a piece that speaks powerfully to potential employers.

     Do’s

• Use Action Verbs: Start sentences with dynamic action verbs (e.g., “led,” “managed,” “developed”) to convey initiative and engagement.
• Create Vivid Descriptions: Use language that enables employers to visualize your contributions and impact.
• Be Clear and Concise: Maintain clarity while keeping explanations brief to effectively capture attention.
• Quantify Achievements: Highlight your accomplishments with specific quantities, amounts, and dollar values to demonstrate tangible impact.

     Don’ts

• Avoid First-Person Pronouns: Do not use “I” in your resume; instead, focus on describing your contributions objectively.
• Skip Generic Phrases: Avoid phrases like “Responsible for” or “Was in charge of,” which can make descriptions feel passive; instead, use active verbs to detail specific actions and achievements.
• Exclude Personal Information: Do not include personal data like height, weight, age, health status, or marital status, as it is not relevant to your qualifications.
• No Photos Unless Requested: Refrain from adding photographs unless specifically requested by the employer; it is not standard in most industries.
• Omit Salary Details: Do not include salary information or addresses of past employers; focus on the company name, location (city and state), and your role.
• Proofread Meticulously: Ensure your resume is error-free to present a polished, professional image.

By following these guidelines, you can craft a resume that effectively showcases your strengths, engages potential employers, and increases your chances of securing an interview.