Create a power resume

The first impression you make is through your resume. It’s your introduction. It tells a prospective employer who you are and what you can do. And it’s the key to that all-important next step – the interview. Keep these points in mind as you create or edit your resume.

Keep it Simple

• Summarize the past five years of your career in one or two pages.
• Be direct, brief and stay focused on employment related details.
• Do not list your references in your resume. Note that they are available upon request.

Keep Your Design Professional

• Use a clear and commonly used font. Arial and Times New Roman work well.
• Emphasize your accomplishments and qualities using bullet points.
• Organize your information in a consistent, chronological manner.

Be Organized

• Ensure your name and contact information are prominently displayed at the top of each page.
• Outline your work experience in reverse chronological order. Include dates of employment, positions held, and all names of companies for which you have worked.
• Under education, list only the most recent degree you have earned.
• Create a section that lists your experience and level of proficiency with technologies.

Proofread!

• Mistakes in your resume may lead an employer to assume you will be careless on the job.

Be Sure to Market Yourself

• Present yourself as a solution. Address the employer’s needs in your resume.
• Use short, simple sentences. They convey information most clearly.
• Focus on achievements that set you apart from others with comparable experience.
• Explain what you did, how you did it, who you did it with and why the company was better off with you there.