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Resume checklist :


Name & address:
Did you put your name at the top?   Is it larger than all other information?  Is it bolded?
Did you use a current address where you can be reached or where someone will know your current address?  If you included two addresses (school/college and permanent) did you includes dates when you can be reached at each? Did you include a phone number where a message can be left or someone will generally be available answer the phone?
 Did you include a fax number, if you have one?
Did you include your e-mail address? 

Objective:

 Is your objective clear?  Concise? Does it list a position? Include skills, setting, or long-range goals?

Body:

Did you include only information showing your qualifications for this position?
Are sections prioritized by relevance or importance to the type of position you want?

Education:

 Did you list your degree or year in school first?  Including Major?
Did you name your college or university after naming your major?  (unless your major is not relevant for your objective).
Did you list the city & state of your college or university next?
Have you included the month and/or year of completion of your degree?
 Do you have GPA information next?
If applicable, did you show percent of schooling for which you paid (or assumed responsibility)
If you’ve included “specialized” or “relevant” courses, does your list include only electives or those courses relevant for your objective but outside your major?

Experience:

 Did you list your position title first?  Followed by employer, city and state, and dates of experience, preferably in that order?
Did you use bullets (or asterisks if this resume might be scanned) to make important points?
Did you begin each phrase with a powerful action verb describing your accomplishments?
Have you included only skills important in the type of position you seek?

Honors/Awards/Activities: 

Have you included those that demonstrate important abilities or characteristics in the workforce?
Did you remember to prioritize (by dates or by relevance)?
Is this section current and recent? 
Have you included leadership positions? 

Formatting and Finalizing:

 Did you leave at least 3/4-inch (1 inch is preferred) margins on all four sides?
Do you have lots of white space?  Does important information (section headings, for example) stand out?
Are all section headings treated the same?
Have you used only one font?  and is it easily read?
Have you used a spell checker?
Did you look for consistency in punctuation?
Have you omitted personal data that may be used against you (including age, height, weight, marital status, nationality or ethnicity, photograph)?

Did you know? …

In a 1997 survey conducted by Dr. Ralph Brigham with on-campus recruiters, the following skills and personal characteristics were ranked as being the most important in today's workplace.  To be most effective, your resume should address these skills and characteristics.

1.   ability to solve problems
2.   ability to be self-motivated.
3.   oral communication skills.
4.   ability to know how to learn.
5.   showing integrity/honesty.
6.   having a sense of responsibility.
7.   being dependable.
8.   listening skills
9.   possessing initiative
10. ability to plan and organize
11. ability to be a team player
12. ability to make a decision
13. ability to be a logical thinker		 14. ability to cope with change (tie)
14. ability to handle stress (tie)
16. ability to acquire and evaluate information. (tie)
16. possessing appropriate technical skills. (tie)
16. working to satisfy customer expectation (tie)
 19. ability to cope with pressure.
20. ability to be cooperative
21. ability to be a creative thinker
22. written communication skills
23. showing enthusiasm on the job
24. showing flexibility
25. ability to organize and maintain info

 

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