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Many job hunters think that these templates will provide them with a good format for their resume. What they do not realize is that most resumes are first viewed as e-mail attachments and not as printed documents. If one of these templates is used the tables, lines, and revisions can be seen by the person viewing the document. Start with a blank MS Word document and build your resume from there.
Leave these areas of the document alone. Do not add page numbering or insert your contact information into the Header or Footer.
For printed copies of your resume use only 8.5" x 11" standard white paper. It is recommended that you use a heavy bond or weight for paper copies but keep it white. Some larger companies scan resumes and white works best. Do not add a scent to your resume and do not add or use paper with pre-printed borders, frames, or lines. Additionally, do not insert your digital picture into the resume. While you should have a professional digital picture available, it does not belong on your resume.
Use a common font for all text - we recommend Arial, Times New Roman, Veranda, or Garamond (Our samples all use Arial). If you use an odd font that is not supported by the viewer's system, your resume may not completely convert and data will be unreadable to the reviewer. Also, stick with the same font throughout the entire document. Do not use colors - stick to the standard black. It is acceptable to use Bold, Italic, and/or Underlined text to bring attention to parts of your resume but avoid going overboard. Font size for everything but your name should be between 9 and 12. Your name should stand out in a 14-16 Bold font.
We recommend keeping your resume to one (1) page in most circumstances. If you are a transitioning Junior Military Officer, NCO, or technician, you should have no reason to go over one page. Industry experienced Job Seekers can justify a two (2) page resume but only if it makes a one page version look too cramped. Start with an Arial 10 or 11 font and adjust accordingly. Your margins should be set to .5" for the Top and Bottom and between .5" and 1" for the Left and Right. These can also be adjusted to fit the text. Our samples are all set to .5" for the Top, Bottom, Left and Right. Avoid blank spaces - never have more than one line of unused space between sections.
- Non-conformity in style - Listing dates differently, varying font attributes different margins, etc...
- Spell/Grammar Check - Make sure you run it and remove (ignore) any highlighted items
- State Abbreviations - Use the standard USPS format (two letters, both capitalized, no period)
- Markup - Make sure you turn off the Markup function when editing or revising your resume. If you send it with markup enables, the reviewer can see what and when you have made changes
- Lines - Remove anything that is not text
- Title - Just list your name. Not John_Doe_sales_version_28
- Periods on Bullets - No need for them
- Bullet Style - Do not use imported icons or graphics. Just use standard Word selections
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