BLHteacher | Resources

• Forgetting your phone number. Having a wrong number or wrong area code. Phone number is hard to find or hard to read.
• Typos and spelling mistakes. Proofread your resume and ask a friend to proofread it as well.
• Your name is missing. Yes it's happened! But if there is a correct phone number we can call and leave a message.
• A hard to read font, one that is impossible to read or doesn't transfer well, a typeface that's too small or too ornate. Huge blocks of type that are a challenge to read.
• Hiding your skills. Don't make anyone read through a big paragraph to find your specialized skills such as C++ programming or knowledge of Alias. Highlight your skills under a separate heading.
• Resumes with multiple pages. Your resume should not be more than one page. Cleanly typed and comfortably spaced. Organize the page so that it can be easily scanned. An indented hierarchy, with headings and bullets or italics makes it easier for one to read. Don't feel you need to include everything you've ever done. You only get one chance to make a first impression.
• Resumes that fail to tell us who you are, what you know (skills), what you've done (accomplishments), and what you want to do (objective or goal). If you are changing careers, focus your resume on the job you want rather than the job you have.
• Paper that doesn't copy well. Test your resume. Copy it and make a copy of the copy. (Orange and dark blue paper turns black, marbleized paper makes your resume look like someone poured coffee over it).
• Be careful about dressing up your page with gimmicky graphics or other unnecessary verbiage. In short, reflect who you really are, just don't over do it. Graphics or artwork on a gray scale behind the type. After doing the copy test you will find those beautiful graphics in the background are now some of the ugliest stuff you've seen on paper and what's more, you can no longer read your phone number or name which looked so crisp in front of the graphic on the original. If you want someone to get a sample of your graphics include it on a separate page with your name and phone number.