Resumes, oh resumes. It's difficult to really pinpoint the perfect design for a professional resume. That is because there isn't one. Resume style is all about personal preference. However, there are some general guidelines that you can follow and some common mistakes you can avoid to make sure that your resume stands out - no matter what style you go for. Here are 10 don'ts when it comes to resume writing.
Word on the street is that people take a whole six seconds to review a resume. Don't even think about writing long paragraphs or including full blocks of text. It will not be read. Guaranteed.
Don't be Embarrassed
Most employers don't need a full life's history. Although you don't want to omit past experiences (leaving holes in your resume), you don't need to go into detail about irrelevant lines of work. Highlight only the jobs and skills that you have developed that are applicable to the job you are applying for.
Don't use colors. Stick to black and white. Unless it is essential for a specific industry (like modeling or acting) don't include photos. It distracts employers from the content of your resume. They will waste several of those precious six seconds on your picture and never get to the good stuff.
Be careful about what contact information you give. If you are still using your juvenile, middle school e-mail, you might want to consider getting a new, more professional one. Being known as pinkunicornlover4evr will not lend much credibility to you professionally.
Avoid putting information (especially contact information) in headers or footers. It could fly for hard copies, but if you send in electronic copies, headers are easy to overlook. Make sure all of your essential information is clear and unmistakable.
These days, it is becoming imperative to include a URL for your online profiles. Especially if you have a common name, employers might end up looking at the wrong LinkedIn profile if you don't provide the proper URL for them.
Study groups are only as effective as the people that make them up. If your classmates are a bunch of goof-offs, you might not get anything done. Instead, invite people that inspire you and motivate you to do better. If you don't know anyone in the class, choose the people that you can tell are paying attention, even if it means they are constantly asking questions.
Don't underestimate the value of your free time. If you have hobbies, experiences, volunteer opportunities, etc., that have built character, skills, or perspectives that may be useful to the company/job you are applying for, include them on your resume! Employers are interested in you as a whole person, not just a pencil pusher.
Visit your Nampa College Campus for even more help on designing your professional resume!
Word on the street is that people take a whole six seconds to review a resume. Don't even think about writing long paragraphs or including full blocks of text. It will not be read. Guaranteed.
Don't be Embarrassed
Most employers don't need a full life's history. Although you don't want to omit past experiences (leaving holes in your resume), you don't need to go into detail about irrelevant lines of work. Highlight only the jobs and skills that you have developed that are applicable to the job you are applying for.
Don't use colors. Stick to black and white. Unless it is essential for a specific industry (like modeling or acting) don't include photos. It distracts employers from the content of your resume. They will waste several of those precious six seconds on your picture and never get to the good stuff.
Be careful about what contact information you give. If you are still using your juvenile, middle school e-mail, you might want to consider getting a new, more professional one. Being known as pinkunicornlover4evr will not lend much credibility to you professionally.
Avoid putting information (especially contact information) in headers or footers. It could fly for hard copies, but if you send in electronic copies, headers are easy to overlook. Make sure all of your essential information is clear and unmistakable.
These days, it is becoming imperative to include a URL for your online profiles. Especially if you have a common name, employers might end up looking at the wrong LinkedIn profile if you don't provide the proper URL for them.
Study groups are only as effective as the people that make them up. If your classmates are a bunch of goof-offs, you might not get anything done. Instead, invite people that inspire you and motivate you to do better. If you don't know anyone in the class, choose the people that you can tell are paying attention, even if it means they are constantly asking questions.
Don't underestimate the value of your free time. If you have hobbies, experiences, volunteer opportunities, etc., that have built character, skills, or perspectives that may be useful to the company/job you are applying for, include them on your resume! Employers are interested in you as a whole person, not just a pencil pusher.
Visit your Nampa College Campus for even more help on designing your professional resume!
About the Author:
The new Nampa Campus now makes it possible to earn your degree at a Nampa college campus. Beautiful surroundings, a wonderful climate, incredible facilities, and an enthusiastic community spirit create an ideal opportunity. All this, including small town friendliness, make our new Campus the perfect place to get the education you need to improve your life.
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