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What is a Resume?
:: Your resume is a sales tool; advertising your skills, qualifications and goals. It is often a prospective employer’s first look at you, so you must make this an effective introduction – a concise statement of your skills and strengths.

:: The primary purpose of your resume is to get an interview. It should emphasize why an employer should meet and hire you. Stress your skills and abilities and give examples of your accomplishments.

Basic Principles to Follow When Creating Your Resume
:: Don't expect to write a good resume with one try!
:: Check and double check for spelling, grammatical, and typing errors.
:: Use a good quality 8.5" x 11" resume paper - white, ivory or light gray.
:: Make it easy to read - highlight by using bold, capital letters or underlining, but don't overdo it!
:: Use a consistent style!
:: Limit your resume to one (preferred) or two pages.
:: Use a computer with a good laser printer.
:: It should look well-balanced, with 11" margins at top, bottom and sides.
:: Never include personal data (e.g. age, height, marital status, health).
:: Never state reasons for leaving past jobs.
:: Never mention Salary requirements.
:: Never use personal pronouns in job descriptions ('I' or "my").

What Resume Is Right For You?
Choose a resume format that fits your job history and target position.

Chronological
You’re a recent college graduate. You easily meet all skill, experience and education requirements.
Functional
You're a new graduate, changing fields or industries, or have special problems.
Curriculum Vitae
You're a scientist or educator.
Electronic Resume
For responding to Internet job postings or to large employers with automated applicant tracking systems.

Click on the following website for samples of the above resumes: http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/index.php (Resources Provided by JobStar Central)

Common Employer Criticisms of Resumes
Too long, short or condensed
Poor layout and physical appearance
Hard to understand or requires too much interpretation
Misspellings, bad grammar and wordiness
Poor punctuation
Unexplained time gaps
Lengthy phrases, sentences and paragraphs
Critical categories missing
Does not convey accomplishments
Too slick, amateurish and “gimmicky”
Text does not support objective
Too boastful or dishonest
Unclear objective
Poorly typed or reproduced
Lacks credibility and content
Irrelevant information
Too much jargon

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