How to Make a Resume

Having a good resume is important because it explains who you are to prospective employers. A well-written resume is the key to getting an interview, so it is ideal to have the right information phrased in the right way.

Information to Include

Basic information such as name, address, and telephone number is essential for a resume. The name presented on the resume should be your formal name, not a nickname. If you preferred to be addressed by your nickname, that can be established at the interview stage.

If your e-mail is "spunkygal@abc.com" or "thedrinkinator@xyz.org", consider leaving it off the resume.

Other information that is critical to getting that first interview includes work experience, education, and any extracurricular courses or activities that relate to the position you want. Detailed work experience should go back approximately ten years, and education should only include college or trade school. Courses such as basic computer program courses are a plus to employers, because that is less training they must provide to you.

Information to Avoid

If you've only ever balanced the checkbook, claiming that you have accounting skills is considered lying. Interviewers will be asking you questions about the various items on your resume, and if you cannot back the information up with solid facts, the interviewer will wonder what else was exaggerated on your resume.

The corporate environment is constantly evolving, so what was corporate savvy yesterday may be passé today. Using phrases such as "think outside the box" or "take the ball and run with it" can be considered kitschy by some interviewers. Don't take the chance that the interviewer will think you are "yesterday's news."

Presentation

How your resume looks when it is delivered to the prospective employer matters. Printing your resume on standard white copy paper is like wearing your pajamas to work. It looks as if you put little effort into presenting yourself.

There are different types of resume paper: cotton, linen, and parchment. A nice, modest cotton blend paper is a good choice.

The color of the paper should be subtle. Standard resume paper comes in white, off-white, beige and grey. There are other colors available in heavier-weight paper, but brighter colors can be obtrusive and unwelcome. Plus,

Choose a font that looks professional and can be read. There are numerous font selections today, but it is safe to stay with a traditional font for your resume. Times New Roman and Arial are the standard fonts used by businesses today. The size of the font should be no less than 10 points and no more than 12 points, except for headings, which can be 14-16 points.

It is essential that you spell-check your resume. You may think that you have everything correct, but a transposed telephone number could lose you the job.

Your resume is prospective employer's first glance at you. It should present you in the best way possible.

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