The Basic Resume Checklist, Part 2

Choose Your Words Carefully

• Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words: accept (to receive), except (to exclude), all right (correct), alright (this is not a word), affect (to bring about change), effect (result), personal (private), personnel (staff members), role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).
• Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff).

Other Potential Mistakes

• Check dates of all prior employment.
• Check your address and phone number - are they still current and correct?
• Check the number of returns separating your categories: are they consistent?
• Check abbreviation of state names. All state abbreviations are two letters - no periods. For example, New York is abbreviated NY, California is CA, and Florida is FL. Look up other state abbreviations.

Design Is Important

• Don't overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.
• Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.
• Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.
• Use a font that is easy to read. Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to "rag."
• Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.
• Make sure your name, address,phone number and email address appear on your resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.
• Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer. Print on one side of the paper only.

What To Omit

• Omit salary history.
• Omit sex, age, race, marital status, or other similar personal information.