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Tips for an Effective Resume

Keep in mind there are several good ways to write and format a resume. Below are some general tips to help you create an effective resume that will be attractive to read. Be sure to start out with a new document (avoid using templates from word processing programs).

Locate the most important information on the left side of the page and close to the top, as you want to draw the reader's attention to the most relevant information. For example, dates of employment are not as critical as where you worked, so list them on the right side.

Margins & Font

When starting with your first draft, start with 1” margins to provide room for details. Overall, your margins can be anywhere from 1/2" to 1" on all sides.  Adjust margins so your text is centered on the paper. Use one font size throughout your resume. The size can be between 10-12 point, and your name can be 14-18 point.  Choose easy to read fonts, such as Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond, or Helvetica.

Order

While the Objective and Education sections will generally appear first, the rest of your sections should follow in order of importance in relation to the Objective. Consider the readability of your resume: Do sections progress logically from one to the next? Do your degree(s), school(s), titles, companies/organizations, and skills stand out easily?

Highlighting

Utilize highlighting techniques (bold, underline, italics, capitalization) to call the reader’s attention to important areas on your resume. Make sure you use them sparingly and consistenly.  Before you add any highlighting techniques, read through the resume first and see what needs to stand out.

Proofread!

Proofread several times: errors and misspellings create a poor impression. Use the spell check, but don't rely on that as it cannot pick up grammatical errors, such as the use of "there" and "their."  Have others proofread it and get it critiqued at Career Services.  Ensure that all of your contact information is current and correct.

Length

For undergraduates, limit length to one page. Be concise.  Try to take up as much white space on the paper without overcrowding.

Graduate students can move into a two or more page format. If you have more than one page, ensure that each additional page has at least your last name and page number at the top or bottom corner, in case the pages are separated once they reach the employer.