Employment: How to write a resume to land a job

By Meg Walsh

Published April 11, 2006

When you apply for a job, your resume is often the first impression a potential employer will get of your value to his or her company. It is important to include vital information and skills.

When compiling material for a resume, you should keep in mind the expectations of the employer and your personal skills, abilities, talents and accomplishments.

Past experiences related to the job are especially important.

Always include your name, local and permaneant address, phone numbers and your e-mail address.

Do not include hobbies, interests or personal information.

Make clear the personal goals you have in joining the company.

Include information about education, including names and dates of institutions. High schol can be included as well if post-secondary education is brief.

Include GPA and course work not normally associated with your field of study that would be relevant to the job.

Give the resume to 10 people to see their reactions and get feedback. The Career Center can also do an analysis of your resume.

Print the resume on high-quality paper, and make sure to do a final proofread before it is sent out.

Two pages are only acceptable for a resume if the second page is completely filled. One page is enough for a recent college graduate.

Do not use first-person pronouns; make the points as impersonal as possible.

Make sure refereneces are willing to write letters of recommendation or take phone calls regarding your candidacy prior to using them as a reference.