Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

Résumé Tips*

Focus your résumé on the essentials.

In general your résumé should highlight the following:

1. What you are seeking
2. What you can do
3. What you can do for an organization
4. Your knowledge, skills, abilities, talents
5. Your accomplishments and results
6. Employment that reflects your career path
7. Responsibility spectrum (scope and variety)
8. Education and training
9. Affiliations related to your profession

Keep it short and concise.

The length of your résumé will be determined by your career history. You should, however, attempt to limit your résumé to one to two pages. Many résumés will fit onto one page which encapsulates all of the pertinent information. More detailed information can be included in an addendum which you can provide the employer during the interview. Use simple, short, active sentences.

Be honest.

Present yourself positively and accurately. Do not exaggerate or write what you know to be false.

Pay attention to content.

Include your full name and current contact information.

Make sure your “Objective” statement is clearly stated, brief, and to the point. Don’t use terms like “…a challenging opportunity with an expanding company.”

Emphasize your accomplishments. Include quantitative figures to substantiate your statements. Emphasize your skills, education, and experience that are related to the job you are seeking. Tell the employer what you can do for the company. Rewrite your résumé for each position to reflect the specific skills you have that will meet the needs of the employer.

Include information about your work, educational, military, and volunteer experiences with dates and special accomplishments for each experience.

Do not include the following:

• § Reasons for leaving previous employers. These statements are open to misinterpretation and are best handled in the interview.
• § Personal information not related to the job, such as age, height, weight, marital status, race, religion, or disability. Such information could be used to discriminate against you.
• § Salary history or salary requirements.
• § Geographic preference. Stipulating a narrow geographical area may prevent you from being considered for some job opportunities.

Use action words and verbs as much as possible. Spell out abbreviations, acryonyms, and “buzz words” unless they are widely known.

Remember presentation and appearance.

You will want your résumé to look conservatively attractive, professional, and easy to read.

The data on your résumé should be well proportioned and spaced to provide a great amount of white space. Both margins need to be justified with plenty of space for notes by the reader.

The font size should not be so small that it is hard to read. Use a work processor or good print type (11 or 12 point with CG Times or Times New Roman). Typewriters are out of date for a good résumé.

Paper color is a personal preference. If you want to have a professional looking résumé, consider specializing it by using a conservatively colored bond paper. Cover letters to employees can also be written on this paper. White, off-white, light tan, or light grey are examples of acceptable paper colors.

Get feedback.

Once you have completed your résumé, show it to a friend or counselor and ask their opinion on how it looks and reads. Ask them to check for typos and spelling errors.

Keep it handy.

Make sure that you have copies of your résumé with you at all times during your job search.

Remember supporting documents.

Never send a résumé to a company without a cover letter which relates your general qualifications to the specific position you are applying for.

Always keep a list of references on hand to accompany your résumé.

Follow up.

Telephone or visit the company to which you have sent your résumé and cover letter.

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