Tips to sharpen your resume

Here are four tips to keep your resume looking its sharpest:

1. Make it Legible
It’s a good idea to stay on the basic end of things. Try a sans-serif font like Calibri or a standard one like Times New Roman. The important thing is that the font you select doesn’t distract the reader from your resume’s content. Regardless of the kind of job you’re applying for, it’s smart to keep your resume professional.

2. Organize Carefully
There are two common ways to organize your resume. The majority of resumes follow a reverse chronological order, so you list your most recent job first. Organization like this is beneficial because it shows employers that you’ve been hired consecutively by businesses and organizations. If you’re in a field that requires a resume more similar in structure to a portfolio, you can organize items on your resume by their relevance to the job you’re applying for or by highest to lowest quality. Either way, be sure that your resume tells your professional story in a way that gives you well-deserved recognition.

3. Focus on the Important Information
The most important things on your resume will most likely be your level of education coupled with the relevant experience you’ve had in the field. Make sure both of these pieces (especially the relevant work experience) are the primary features on your resume. If you’re a recent grad or have been awarded a high-level degree (think doctorate), your education should be fairly high up in your resume. Research if positions in the field you’re applying for require you to list your GPA or attach a transcript, too.

4. Don’t Waste Space
It’s always nice to know what kinds of hobbies you have or what types of volunteer work you’ve completed, but that won’t give potential employers any legitimate reason to hire you. Shave the stuff off your resume that has nothing to do with the position for which you’re applying.