Your resume is the first impression prospective employers will have of you, so it must be neat and free of errors. A sloppy resume indicates that you do sloppy work. Your resume must also be truthful. If you lie on your resume and your employer finds out, it is grounds for dismissal.

Your resume should be clear and easy to navigate. Use a typeface that is easy to read and appropriate for the occasion.

Also, use bold type and bullets for emphasis in your resume. Break your resume down into logical sections: experience/employment, skills, education, hobbies, etc., and describe your responsibilities and accomplishments as clearly as possible. Don't use italic type, as it is difficult to read.

Writing tips:

1. Keep it to one page. Employers are busy, and they receive a lot of resumes. Make their job as easy as possible.
2. Keep it clear and simple. Employers aren't going to go looking for important information if it's not immediately clear. They'll look for other resumes.
3. Emphasize experience, either in the job world, in high school and college or as a volunteer. Employers look for job candidates who demonstrate responsibility. Holding an office in a school club or working/volunteering in your free time indicate a strong work ethic and willingness to take on extra responsibility.
4. Participation in sports teams could also be included in a resume. Playing a sport requires hard work and an ability to get along well with others, both of which are traits employers value.
5. When describing the duties you perform at work, school or as a volunteer, be specific and use strong, clear action verbs. For example:
   
   Experience
   Ticket Taker, Your Local Cinema, 10/07-present
   • Greet customers when they come through the door
   • Manage hundreds of dollars every night
   • Train new employees
   • Coordinate cash transfers with managers
   • Perform light cleaning duties during down times
   Not:
   • Work with hundreds of dollars every night (vague, not forceful)
   • New employee training (doesn't have a verb)
   • Have light cleaning duties (not forceful)
   
   
6. In your section on jobs and volunteering, include the location and the dates of employment or volunteering. If you're still there, list the day you started to "present."
7. Avoid using buzzwords or phrases (paradigm, utilize, synergize, ‘outside the box,' etc.). They are vague and do little to describe your skills or experience.
8. Include a section on skills. Knowing computer programs, speaking a foreign language or possessing a specialized skill set from previous experience, such as the ability to use an espresso machine, set you apart from other job candidates.
9. Include a section on honors and awards. Being on the Dean's List or making it to state championships demonstrates a strong work ethic.
10. If your resume is light, you can include a hobbies or interests section. If you like to work with animals, and as such volunteer at the local animal shelter or participate in 4-H activities, you can include it in your resume. Hobbies can demonstrate important traits like commitment and dedication.
11. Your current address, phone number and e-mail address should all appear on your resume. Make sure your voicemail greeting is appropriate for a prospective employer to hear. If your e-mail is not professional, open a new account specifically for jobs. For example, if your primary e-mail address is tequilagirl17@hotmail.com, you should get another, more professional, one, something like jane.doe@gmail.com or j.doe@yahoo.com. Make sure to include your last name and either your full first name or initials in the account.
12. The format in which your name, address and contact information appear at the top of your resume should also appear in that same way on the top of your cover letter. It creates a logo out of your name and provides continuity between your application materials.
13. Keep your resume balanced. Don't try to cram in too much information into one page. Make sure the margins are wide and the text is large enough to read. The formatting in all sections should be consistent.
14. Never include an objective in your resume. It limits you. If you apply to be a waiter and there's an open host position, ideally you want to be considered for both.
15. Include three references at the bottom of your resume. Don't include a line that says "References available upon request." That creates extra work for the employer.
16. If sending a resume via e-mail, send the file as a PDF rather than a word document. Not all computers have the same fonts or format for reading files, which means a text file can end up looking like a jumbled mess on the employers' computer — even if it looks immaculate on yours. A PDF will keep your resume layout and your text choice intact.

Sample Resume for a college student with volunteer and paid service experience.

Sample Resume for a college student with volunteer service experience.

Sample Resume for a high school student with volunteer experience.