Resume Checklist

Resume fills the page but is no longer than one page (more than one page is acceptable in some cases for Master’s students, etc.)
I'm using an easy to read font between 10-12 point
Punctuation and formatting is consistent (dates written the same way, headers formatted the same)
Equal margins all around (.5”- 1”)
Categories are arranged in logical order, with the most relevant first

Full name at the top in a larger/bold font (14-18 point) so it stands out
If address is listed, make sure it is current
List Virginia Tech email
List appropriate pronouns if comfortable
List phone number
Obvious facts such as “phone” or “email” are not labeled

Include objective to tell employer what kind of position you are seeking
Objective is targeted toward a specific position or career

List the school name as Virginia Tech
List city, state
List major, minors and date of graduation
Include GPA: may include in-major GPA if higher
Avoid listing high school unless you are a first year student

Format each experience section in the same way
Include title, company name and location (city & state) and dates employed (start and end date)
List all experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent to furthest in the past)
Use bullet points to describe responsibilities
Use active verbs to begin each bullet point
Use a variety of action verbs, watch that some are not repeated throughout the resume
Punctuation is consistent: each phrase either has punctuation, or not
Avoid personal pronouns (I, me, my)
Quantify when possible (How many employees did you train? How many people did you tutor?)
Use present tense verbs for current positions (teach)
Use past tense verbs for prior positions (taught)
Note: Experience can come from class projects, volunteer work, internships, externships, part time jobs, etc.

List relevant campus involvement, professional associations or community involvement
Fully list names, and not just abbreviations
Include leadership positions and describe the specific activities that reveal those leadership skills

References are only listed on a resume if requested by the employer in the application instructions
“References available upon request” is not listed on resume