How to Write a Professional Resume

Your resume is a silent salesperson. Is yours up to par? Here’s how to make sure it stands out from the crowd:

Format

Your resume should be clear, concise and easy to read. Do not overcrowd your resume with text
Use a chronological format
Ensure the main sections are clearly titled (education, experience, etc.)
Leave sufficient spacing between sections
Ensure the font is professional (Times New Roman, Arial, etc.) and is used consistently
Be sure the formatting is consistent – margins, indenting, spacing, capitalization, etc.
Use bullet points for listing responsibilities, placing the most important points at the top
Save your resume in a user-friendly format such as .doc (Word) or PDF

Content

Always include a brief description of the company, along with your responsibilities and any particular programs/software used during your tenure
Use keywords from the job posting where applicable
Quantify your experience whenever possible (percentages and dollar values)
Use “action words” such as implemented, developed, and prepared
Explain any gaps in employment
Ensure that your contact email is professional
Do not include personal data such as age or marital status
Leave out your career objectives and personal skills (E.g. team player) as these can be limiting
Do not state “references available upon request” – this is understood
Ensure your resume is free of grammatical and spelling errors, and use a consistent tense