Readers Respond: Resume Writing Tips
Responses: 12

By Alison Doyle, About.com

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Do you have a resume writing tip? Share your best tips for writing a resume that works. Share Your Tips

I've seen cluttered resumes--too much information in too little space--and resumes that have information so spread out it looks like a rendition of the South Pacific Island chain! If you have solid work experience, educational experience, etc., edit your descriptions and experience examples. Make good use of "white space" between the text. Reduce spacing by changing spacing between lines and use appropriate--but not miniscule--font sizes, so that reading the resume is not a "jumblethon". And if you have limited paid work experience, include volunteer work, community work, etc., to support your employability. Strangely, people often forget to include those experiences! Use a slightly larger (NO MORE than 12.5 size font for the text body; 13.5 for the section headings) to give the appearance of "more from less". Make certain to balance the spacing between paragraphs. You don't want the Work Experience to be spaced at 10 pt, and your Education information to be spaced at 15 pt.
—Guest pmlevy

Some technical tips applicants may not be aware of but should be! Titled 7 tips to get your resume the attention it deserves. worth looking at http://comprehension.prsa.org/?p=278#more-278
—caitrin732

I have suggested my students to eliminate "Objective" from their resumes. In today's tight job market, very few employers can afford to think about "your" objectives; they want to fill the positions with the most qualified candidates. Hint number 2: Do not use word like "I" "my" or "our" anywhere in a resume. Resume is a third person document. Use them in cover letter and hopefully at the interview when you can convince the employer about "your" qualifications with "your" compelling stories. As a Job Service Outreach Librarian, I have been training as a Career Coach at our Career Center in Fresno County Library since 2002. I will send you my one page "Ingrediends for an Effective Resume" if any reader like to see. contact me at bernice.kao@fresnolibrary.org Do check it out for more job search information at our Library's Job & Career Service web site at www.fresnolibrary.org/jcs Bernice Kao
—Guest Bernice Kao

The tips you give here are very useful for write a effective resume for job. Samuel Peterson from Job Listing
—Guest Samuel Peterson

Don't use "me-too" language. Certain keywords needed, but be pithy -- meaningful in expressing your value.
—Guest Jacqui Poindexter

Think about your email address. Is it cutesy and just for you? It should sound professional, not something silly like TinkerbellLovesPan@sillymail.com.
—klq727

There are so many ways to write a resume- Microsoft Word, Works, RTF... Make sure your resume is created with software that is widely available to your readers. If an employer can't open your resume attachment, they might not bother to follow up with you to get a better version. Microsoft Word seems to be the standard. If you don't have Word, you can easily turn your resume into a PDF by using free PDF conversion websites. I use www.freepdfconvert.com. A PDF version ensures that your readers see your resume exactly as you've created it. You only get one chance to send out your resume, make sure it's a document that employers can read!
—Guest Brie Weiler Reynolds

Companies look for people who can help them do things faster, better and with more quality. Use quantifiable examples in your resume of how you: Saved the company money, improved a process that completed a project faster or increased effeciencies by XX %. All these things make you stand out over the competition.
—Guest Sarah

I posted a lengthy article on resume writing best practices here (will not fit inside 1000 character limit): http://www.booleanblackbelt.com/2009/02/how-to-write-an-effective-resume/
—Guest Glen Cathey

Don't forget to keep your design simple when developing your resume. Use graphics, section headings and indents with care -- remember that this is an information product, not a party invitation. I've seen too many over-designed resumes that don't translate well into plain text!
—Guest Phylise Banner

Your goal is to show the reader that your skills match the job requirements. Make sure this information is in the top half of the first page of your resume. Don't make the reader look for the information. Put education and other less-important information at the end of your resume. If your skills are right, the hiring manager or HR person will keep reading and discover your other talents and qualifications, too.
—Senior_Travel