Don’t make any major resume blunders. Do read these pointers before you hand your resume to a potential employer!
Do
Don’t
Do create your own resume in Microsoft Word
Don’t use a premade template
Do keep your resume layout simple and clean
Don’t use an overly complicated format
Do research the job requirements and put information on your resume relevant to the position Do target your resume to a specific position or industry Do organize your content so that the most important information is at the top Do use concise phrase(s) in your objective statement and when describing your experiences Do use the full name of the university Do use bullets to help organize information Do use a font size that is easy to read (10-12 point) Do use a font that is easy to read (a san serif font such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri) Do set your margins between ½ and 1 inch
Don’t view the resume as an opportunity to write your autobiography Don’t depend on the employer to determine the job for which you qualify Don’t expect employers to spend more than 1015 seconds glancing at your resume Don’t use full sentences or long wordy descriptions in your objective statement or experience section Don’t abbreviate or make up a new name for the university Don’t arrange content in paragraph form Don’t use a font size too small (below 10 point) Don’t use any decorative fonts that appear unprofessional or are difficult to read Don’t set your margins extremely wide so that content is squeezed in the middle
Do use a separate page for your references
Don’t list references on your resume
Do have someone proofread your document
Don’t solely depend on spell checker
Do maintain consistency throughout the resume
Don’t change format from one section to the next
Do keep information on your resume current
Don’t let your resume become outdated
Do be truthful
Don’t Lie
Do seize your opportunity for a free service; don’t forget to have Career Services critique your resume!
Rusk Building, 3rd Floor 936.468.3305 careerservices@sfasu.edu www.sfasu.edu/ccs/careerservices