Resume Writing Do’s and Dont’s
One of the primary stumbling blocks most people have is they worry about how to make it concise, professional and properly formatted without leaving out something important. Below are some easy and simple points to consider when writing a resume. These strategies will help you avoid the most common mistakes and problems when writing a resume. Although these may seem like common sense be sure to double check your resume, because these are found more often than you would think.
Less is More in Resumes
Be concise. Quite often resumes are inundated with too much text and not enough white space. White space on the page will make the resume easier to scan, and since most human resources recruiters skim the resume for important highlights, this it will make their job easier. The easier for them to digest your resume the better chance they will actually read it. With too much text even the best resume will be difficult to read and the resume will usually wind up in the garbage. When you are writing your resume stop and ask yourself these questions:
Does the page look crowded?
Is it easy to scan?
Is there enough spacing?
If you were in human resources would you read this resume?
Keep your Resume Black and white
So you really want your resume to stand out? Should you make it pink so it won’t be overlooked? No, though it may be tempting to add some color or some other visual element when compiling your resume, keep your resume professional in appearance. Research indicates that the standard black text on a white background is still the most effective.
Consider using thicker weight paper to stand out. Also slightly off white paper is acceptable, but never use colored paper or any patterns. Likewise never put graphics, borders, watermarks or anything else on your resume. These rules apply to most professions but if you happen to be applying for a creative position such as a graphic designer feel free to break these rules.
Use Standard Fonts
Another way people often try to make their resume stand out is to use decorative fonts when writing a resume. This is again a mistake. Fonts should be a standard serif such as Times New Roman, Verdana or a sans-serif such as Arial or Helvetica. Keep the font to an average size of 12 points, with a range between 10 to 14 as acceptable. Smaller fonts clutter the page and can be difficult to read. However, the larger fonts give the impression that there is little information available and you are just trying to fill space. Only use one font throughout the resume and keep sizing consistent. It is acceptable to set apart headlines with larger font and bold, italicize certain elements when done in moderation. Lastly do not write any section of your resume in all caps. This is very unprofessional and extremely difficult to read. Keep your resume clean and consistent and you will have no problem landing your next job.
