5 Resume Do’s and Do Not’s
By: Lindsay McKay
Published On:
February 10, 2022
When looking to get a job, whether it is a part-time job to get you through school or the first step in your new career, one thing is for sure – that you will need a well-thought-out and customized resume. I know for many resumes can be a little daunting, especially if it is your first time creating a resume or you are new to Canada as resumes can look very different across the globe. For example, in some EU countries such as Poland and Italy, attaching a photo to your CV or resume is standard practice. If you were to do that in Canada the recruiter might be confused unless it was for a modelling or on-screen reporter position, a photo in that case makes sense. In this post, I will go over some resume do’s and do not’s to help you understand some resume basics. Designing, templates, and more comprehensive guides to come! Do take note that different industries may have different formats that they follow, and it is important to do more research on top of just looking at general guides. If you are a current student or past student of Ashton College, you can get your resume looked over by the Student Success Coordinator, it is always beneficial to get your resume looked over by multiple people.
5 Resume Do’s
- Do limit your resume to 2 pages – only recent and related job experience and education need to be mentioned based on the job description.
- Do tailor your resume for each job application – this can even include changing how you write about your work experience or what achievements you include.
- Do be honest – while this seems obvious, you would be surprised at the amount of people who will include a skill they do not process or lie about their level in a previous role.
- Do quantify your achievements – use firm numbers that the employer will understand and be impressed by. For example, how many people you supervised, by what you achieved at upselling a customer (great to use if you only have retail or POS experience), by what percentage you increased sales or engagement, etc.
- Use simple and action verbs – the person reading your resume may not have the same expertise as the field you are trying to get a job in such as a hiring manager or recruiter. Using persuasive action verbs can help them understand your skills and how you were an asset to precious employers.
5 Resume Do Not’s
- Do not use an inappropriate email address – do you remember the Hotmail account you created as a child? Ya, do not use that one be sure you have a professional email address, even just your name at gmail.com will work well.
- Do not include unnecessary personal information – all you need is your name, contact details such as email address and phone number, your LinkedIn URL is your profile is up to date and polished, and maybe your current job title if it is relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Do not use personal pronouns – your resume should be written in the third person; first-person pronouns should be saved for your cover letter.
- Do not simply list job responsibilities – instead use action words to list your accomplishments and provide specific examples, your job title will give enough information about your job responsibilities.
- Do not include references – an employer only requires references if they are seriously considering hiring you. Keep references on a separate sheet and provide them only when they are specifically requested.
Resumes take time and effort to get right, be sure to set aside undistracted time to job hunt, do the research, tailor your resume, and proofread it many times. Start your job hunting on a job search website like Jooble today!
Disclaimer
The information contained in this post is considered true and accurate as of the publication date. However, the accuracy of this information may be impacted by changes in circumstances that occur after the time of publication. Ashton College assumes no liability for any error or omissions in the information contained in this post or any other post in our blog.
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