Cautious And Conservative

Remember that most prospective employers aren't wild and crazy people looking for kindred spirits. They want to hire talented, hard-working people. Create that image in your résumé

Don't Fib

If you lie on your résumé, why should the prospective employer trust anything you say--let alone offer you a job?

Don't Fudge

Don't stretch employment dates in an effort to hide a period of unemployment. Don't inflate job titles or duties. Don't omit the dates degrees were awarded on the theory that this will prevent employers from calculating your age. Get the small details right to create a solid overall impression.

Contact Information

This should be basic, but it isn't: Be sure to include your name, home address, phone number with area code and e-mail address. After sending out résumés to selected employers, be sure to check your voice mail and e-mail for responses. In most cases, a letter sent via The Snail is a polite "no, thank you." If you don't get a response, pick up the phone and call them.

Presentation Counts

Your résumé will create the prospective employer's first impression of you. Make it a good one. Use high-quality white or off-white paper--not shocking pink or pond scum green--and (write this down, if necessary) proofread your résumé. Don't use a font with curlicues. Run the spellchecker, and ask a friend with a sharp eye to look it over. Typos are death.

Don't Slam Yourself

A good résumé is a sales tool designed to get you an interview. Don't include your weaknesses. It's counterproductive to note that you're lazy, unimaginative and possess the IQ (but none of the grace) of a rock. Always emphasize the positive.

Write Tight