1. Give them what they want. Show them that you are qualified by including the experiences most relevant to the position. Researching the industry and the position will help you decide what to emphasize. You can even make a list of your experiences and
accomplishments and then pick and choose from it when preparing a resume for a new type of position.
2. Keep it simple. Remember, in many cases your resume will be given only a 30 second chance. There is no time for complex sentences. Keep your points focused, concise and clear. The goal of the resume is not to give an exhaustive recap of your past. It is to grab the reader’s attention so that he/she will want to give you an interview.
3. Demonstrate results. Don’t be afraid to use numbers, percents, and dollar amounts. Also, highlight your strengths and accomplishments upfront. There is no reason to save the best for last. Impress them right away.
4. Organize and format. Make sure your resume is organized in a way that will make the information easy to absorb. Check for consistency and parallel structure. Look at it as a whole and see if looks nice. It should be pleasing to the eye. Fill up the page and think about white space. Make sure it is down to one page.
5. Use a variety of strong action verbs. Use the verbs to tell a story and to highlight your strengths. Start your bullet points with the verbs. This way, when employers skim through the bullet oints, the first word they see will already communicate your strengths and experiences. This link provides more resume writing tips as well as a great list of action verbs http://careers.wustl.edu/documents/ResumeCoverLetterWriting.pdf.
6. Get it reviewed. It’s difficult to notice your own mistakes. Ask a friend to read it, or better yet, come to Quick Questions where students trained in reviewing resumes can help. We won’t only look for mistakes, but also provide you with tips and suggestions on how to make your resume even better.
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