Time to re-do that old resume? Here are 32 easy do’s and don’ts to power-up your resume.
32 Easy Do’s and Don’ts to Power-up Your Resume
My clients who are in job transitions often feel nervous about their resumes. Usually it’s not because they have nothing meaningful to put on the resume. Nope! They are stressed about the format, wording and details.
Here are 32 easy do’s and don’ts that I share with them:
Do:
- Read the job description and adapt the resume to it, if possible. Use keywords that help the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) identify your resume as relevant for the job (job titles, skills related to the job, leadership qualities and other “soft skills”)
- Proofread and then have someone else proofread
- Glance over your finished resume and ask yourself, “Will it catch the hiring personnel’s attention within 6 seconds?”
- Keep it to 1 page (adjust font size and spacing- but don’t make the font too small)
- Use a simple, clean font (no fancy or goofy stuff)
- Use single spacing
- 1-inch margins
- Send as PDF if emailing the resume
- Include
- Name
- Contact Information- email, phone, snail mail address, website
- Profile (This is your one-sentence elevator speech or branding statement.)
- Skills/Areas of Expertise- include professional, technical and networking/soft skills
- Experience- jobs and internships (If you don’t have much job history, include significant experiences such as missions trips, significant travel, or significant charitable work.)
- Describe your jobs in terms of accomplishments, leadership, problems solved, challenges overcome, results and positive impact for the organization
- Include numbers, if possible, such as “Increased sales by 50%” or “Reduced error rate by 20%”
- Explain if there is significant time between jobs
- Watch your grammar- keep verb tenses same
- Awards
- Education (and Professional Development, if applicable)
Don’t:
- Create a fancier format of resume than the position warrants- an artist or graphic designer should present a wildly creative resume look, a lawyer should not
- Use photos or icons if the job is not a creative position
- Give an email address that is silly or difficult to copy or remember
- Include Objectives (they went out of style)
- Include Date of Birth (unless you want to)
- Include high school name if you already have a college degree (unless you REALLY want to)
- If you use bullet points, try not to include more than 5 bullets in a section
- Use slang, contractions or abbreviations
- Use the word “I”
- Exaggerate
Try:
- 2-column format (You can buy templates on Etsy if you need help.)
Power Vocabulary for Resume
Accomplished

Get started on your career-change journey with the Trail Guide to Career Exploration for Adults.
Achieved
Analyzed
Arranged
Assisted
Collaborated
Communicated
Completed
Composed
Conducted
Contributed
Coordinated
Created
Directed
Demonstrated
Determined
Developed
Enhanced
Evaluated
Executed
Explored
Facilitated
Founded
Generated
Guided
Identified
Implemented
Improved
Increased
Influenced
Initiated
Leadership
Led
Maintained
Managed
Mentored
Networked
Obtained
Organized
Overhauled
Performance enhancement
Pioneered
Planned
Problem solving
Processed
Productivity enhancement
Programmed
Promoted
Reduced
Reformed
Repaired
Represented
Resolved
Spearheaded
Stimulated
Strengthened
Team building
Trained
Won
Now it is your turn! Get busy with your career change and your resume. Contact me for wise guidance on your adventure!
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