Resume guide: Evaluate your resume
Hold your resume at arm’s length and see how it looks. Is the page too busy with different type styles, sizes, lines, or boxes? Is the information spaced well, not crowded on the page? Is there too much “white space”? Is important information quick and easy to find?
Content
- Name is at the top of the first page: highlighted by slightly larger type size, bolding, and/or underlining.
- Address and phone number(s) are complete and correct, with zip and area codes, and are wellplaced in relation to name.
- Email address is professional, current, and simple.
- All entries highlight a capability or accomplishment.
- Descriptions use active verbs, and verb tense is consistent; current job is in present tense; past jobs are in past tense.
- Repetition of words or phrases is kept to a minimum.
- Capitalization, punctuation, and date formats are consistent.
- There are NO typos or spelling errors.
- Best assets, whether education, experience, or skills, are listed first.
- The page can be easily reviewed: categories are clear, text is indented.
- The dates of employment are easy to find and are in consistent format.
- Your name is printed at the top of each page.
Format/Design
- No more than two type styles appear; type styles are conservative and easy to read.
- Bolding, italics, and capitalization are used minimally and consistently.
- Margins and line spacing keep the page from looking too crowded.
- Printing is one side of the sheet only, on high-quality bond-white or off-white paper (i.e. beige, light gray, or ivory) unless you are in a design field.
- The reproduction is good, with no blurring, stray marks, or faint letters.
- The right side of the page is in “ragged” format, not right-justified. Right justification creates awkward white spaces.
Now you’re done!
Just one more suggestion: If you are sending your resume to a prospective employer, you’ll probably also have to include a separate cover letter. This is usually one page long. The letter indicates your interest in a particular company or position, summarizes the most important aspects of your education and experience, and lets the employer know where and when you can be contacted for an interview. Choose paper to match your resume and review the cover letter section of this Guide for help.