Everyone needs a résumé—it’s an essential quick-summary of your work experience.  Here are some tips on making a top-notch résumé.

Use bullets

Résumés are skimmed. Using bullets with short descriptions of your skills will work better than a large body of text that may not get read.

Action language

Use action verbs as the first word in a bullet point; i.e., “examined” instead of “I looked at.” This helps describe your work experience at a quick glance.

Use key words from job ads

Job ads aren’t thrown together randomly; they have been written looking for an employee with specific skills and qualifications. If applicable to your skills, mirror the job ad by using similar words.

Use contrast

Contrast between headings and description texts will help your résumé be navigable. Consider making headings in bold and a slightly-larger font from the description text.

Avoid templates and word art

Templates will make you look generic. Customize your design to stick out from the crowd, but do not use wacky fonts or colors; these can be distracting.

Only include relevant experience

Every résumé should be geared with the job you are applying for in mind. Irrelevant experience on a résumé takes up space.

Keep them updated

Always update your résumé. You never know when a new position could be available and you want to make sure you’re ready to apply.

Kick that overview away

An employer knows what your goal is: to get that job. The “overview” on a résumé wastes precious space and can be redundant.

Submit as a PDF

If possible, submit your résumé as a PDF when applying online. This ensures your résumé will keep its format.

For more information on résumés, download the MySpartan Career Career Passport.