• Statistics show that employers spend less than 10 seconds scanning a resume, so the design and format should allow the reader to take in your most important credentials at a glance.  Avoid complete sentences.

 
• Use only one page for your resume.  Use two pages only if you have extensive experience, particularly as a professor (if you need to list courses taught or publications written).  Remember, less is more!

• The top of the page should include your name, postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address.

Create a "letterhead" so that this stands out and will be remembered by the reader.
 
• It is typical to have several versions of a resume.

Each one should be fashioned for the particular job for which you are applying.

• Divide your information into categories and use bold to set them off.

Summary of Qualifications
Honors/Awards
Skills/Computer Skills

Education
Related Experience
Related Course Work

• Include only information relative to the job you are seeking.  Occasionally, however, a prospective employer may be intrigued by your mention of a special skill or work experience.

• Dates are typically used when listing positions and often, though not always, for listing educational degrees; i.e., the year that you received your Bachelor's or Master's degree, or years you attended an educational institution.

 
• If you decide to list dates for other categories, begin with the most recent and work back chronologically.  The advantage of not including dates is that you can list your experiences in order of their importance.

• Include "References available upon request" at the end of your resume.  Actual references should never be listed on the resume - instead, use a separate page, printed with your letterhead and the title "References" at the top.  List three or four contacts with name, title, institution, address, phone, and e-mail address.  Reference sheets should not be mailed with your resume unless specifically requested.

• The order of your resume categories should reflect the interests of your reader.  For example, if you are applying for a teaching job and have teaching experience, list it first.  If you are a recent graduate with limited experience, list education first.  As you gain experience, rearrange your categories, add new listings, and delete the less impressive.

• Be consistent in how you list information in each category.  If you list the city and state after each entry, continue to do so in subsequent categories.

• Format the resume so that it looks professional, is reader-friendly, and is graphically attractive.  Use a typeface that is easy to read; if it is too fancy, it may distract from the content.  Too much punctuation i.e., underlines, parenthesis, and too many type styles are also distracting.

• Always have someone else proofread the finished resume for typos before you have it printed.  You may miss the most obvious mistake and then have to reprint it.  Most computers also have a "spell check" - use it!  Finally, make sure to double check the spelling of all names, organizations, and dates.

• Laser print your resume; then have it photocopied onto stationary quality paper.  You may also purchase matching envelopes that are usually available at the same shop at which you have your resume printed.