Helpful Hints

Resume

  1. Have your resume proofread by someone else.
  2. Always spell check your resume and use proper grammar.
  3. Only use personal stationary. Never use stationary from your place of employment for your cover letter or resume.
  4. Your job description should list your accomplishments—don’t make it too duty oriented in which it reads like a job description.
  5. Make sure your resume is current and not outdated.
  6. Provide your home and business phone number on your resume. List a cell phone number if you have one.
  7. Choose resume paper in which words are easy to read.
  8. Use an appropriate font style/size on your resume. Use an easy-to-read font style, like Arial or Times New Roman—no smaller than 9 point, no bigger than 12 point.
  9. Check employment dates and make sure dates are not inaccurate or missing.
  10. Make sure your contact information is accurate.
  11. Provide an email address. If you don’t have one, get a free email address from Yahoo or Hotmail.
  12. Use a professional email address. Your email address speaks volumes about you.
  13. Do not include irrelevant and/or inappropriate personal information on your resume such as hobbies, marital status, and/or children.
  14. Do not provide misleading, inaccurate or inflated terms, degrees, titles or descriptions.
  15. Do not use meaningless introductions.
  16. Send your resume as an attachment using Microsoft Word. Don’t send in .pdf, .zip, or Web page formatting.
  17. Don’t use pictures, graphics or URL links in a resume.
  18. Make sure there are no gaps in employment.
  19. Make sure you reference the correct position or title you are applying for.

Application

1.  Follow ALL application procedures and submit a complete application.

2.  Submit application materials before the deadline date.

3.  Verify with your references that it’s OK to use them and tell them the exact position you are applying for.

4.  Verify reference telephone numbers before you submit them.

5.  Provide home and business telephone numbers of references.

General

1.  Record a professional answering machine message and do not allow children to answer the telephone if they cannot take proper messages.