General Résumé Information and Tips
What is a résumé?
v A résumé is a summary of your work experience and background that is given to the
employer, along with your application.
Why is an effective résumé important?
v It introduces you to an employer even when you are not there in person.
v It can be passed on to a possible employer by a contact, a friend, or an employment
agency.
v It helps you organize your thinking and shows how your education and experiences
fit with your job/career goals.
v It is an excellent “leave-behind” document after you have talked with the person
about hiring you. It strengthens the impression you made.
v It is a good way to advertise yourself and your skills.
v It states your job or career goals.
v It provides interesting background information that can help verify that you are a
capable person.
What are some tips for writing an effective résumé?
v Use a direct, active writing style. Begin sentences with action verbs.
v Keep your target audience in mind. Ask yourself, “Does my résumé sound like
someone I would be interested in meeting?” Check over your résumé by asking “So
what? - Who cares?” If the answers are “It doesn’t matter” and “No one would care
about knowing this for a job,” then leave it off of your résumé.
v Try to limit your résumé to one page.
v Make sure your résumé is easy to read. Use bullets (•), bold type, italics, and
underline to break up the page or to highlight information. Paragraphs should be
short.
v List references.
v Do not include personal data: age, weight, height, race, gender, etc.
v Do not use abbreviations.
v Proofread your final product for correct spelling, punctuation, and grammatical and
typographical errors.
PROTEAM DREAMQUEST CURRICULUM
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