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Getting a Job
Resumes & Cover Letters

Person handing you a resumePresentation


Almost all jobs require you to submit a resume, so it is important for you to have one.  Resumes are formal documents.  They are often one of the first things a potential employer looks at.  Therefore, your resume needs to look very professional.  It’s not just the content of your resume that is important, but also the presentation.  "Presentation" means the organization and appearance of your resume.
 

Here are some guidelines for the resume presentation:

Checkmark Your resume should be typed in a professional-looking font (Times New Roman font is safe).
Checkmark Your resume should be printed in black ink.
Checkmark Your resume should be printed on white paper.
Checkmark The paper should not be wrinkled, stained, or torn.
Checkmark Your resume should not be folded. Keep it in a large envelope if necessary.
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It should contain no spelling or grammatical errors. Proofread your resume and do a spelling check on the computer.  Then, ask someone to proofread your resume.
Checkmark Your resume should not contain first person language ("I," "me").  Using first person language will make your resume sound less professional. 
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Your resume should be brief (1 page is recommended). WHY
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Your resume should also be relatively current and accurate.  That is, only list jobs you have had within the past 10 years. If you have a lot of volunteer or work-related information that is current (within the last 10 years) and it takes up more than 1 – 2 pages, you should consider what information is important to include and what information you could leave out.  Include experiences and information that:

  • Relates to the job most closely.
  • Highlights your most impressive skills or responsibilities.
  • Shows you can hold a job or volunteer position for an extended period.  That means, if you are deciding which of 2 jobs to include, you should choose the job that you stayed at longer.
Checkmark Resumes are usually submitted with your application to the job.  Although you may have already submitted it with the application, you should also bring 2 copies of your resume to a job interview.  That way, you can give a copy to the interviewer and you will still have one to refer to if needed.
Key Points
  • Use a professional-looking font (i.e. Times New Roman).
  • Print on white paper, using black ink.
  • No wrinkles, stains, or tears.
  • Proofread your resume and ask someone else to proofread it too.
  • Do not use first person language.
  • Keep your resume to 1 page.
  • The information on your resume should be current and accurate.

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