Resume Guide

Resume Building Guide
Resumes normally get less than a 15-second review once in the hands of the person
doing the hiring. A personal resume website will help make sure it gets read and you
are going to want to make sure it is up to par -- be sure you can answer yes to the
following questions:

First Impression
Does the resume look original and unique?. This will get there attention but make
sure it is not generic content. Your information should be specific to the position
you are applying for.

Is the resume inviting to read, with clear sections and ample spacing?

Does the design look professional rather than like a simple typing job?

Is a qualifications summary included so the reader immediately knows the applicant's
abilities?

Is the length and overall appearance of the resume appropriate given the career level
and objective?

Appearance
Does the resume provide a visually pleasing, polished presentation?

Is there a good balance between text and word spacing?

Are margins even on all sides?

Are design elements like spacing and font size used consistently throughout the
document?

Resume Sections
Are all resume sections clearly labeled?

Are sections placed in the best order to highlight the applicant's strongest
credentials?

Is the work history listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first)?

Career Goal
Is the career objective included toward the top of the resume in a headline,
objective or qualifications summary?

Is the resume targeted to a specific career goal and not trying to be a
one-size-fits-all document?

If this is a resume for career change, is the current objective clearly stated, along
with supporting details showing how past experience is relevant to the new goal?

Accomplishments
Does the resume include a solid listing of career accomplishments?

Are accomplishments quantified by using numbers, percentages, dollar amounts or
other concrete measures of success?

Do accomplishment statements begin with strong, varied action verbs?

Are accomplishments separated from responsibilities?

Relevance
Is the information relevant to hiring managers' needs?

Does the resume's content support the career goal?

Is the resume keyword-rich, packed with appropriate buzzwords and industry
acronyms?

Is applicable additional information, such as awards and affiliations, included, while
personal information like marital status, age and nationality unrelated to the job
target omitted?

Writing Style
Is the resume written in an implied first-person voice with personal pronouns, such
as I, me and my, avoided?

Is the content flow logical and easy to understand?

Is the resume as perfect as possible, with no careless typos or spelling, grammar or
syntax errors?