Resumes & Cover Letters Page 21

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RESUME CRITIQUE CHECKLIST
Format
_____ Does format choice (chronological, functional, etc.) effectively present your background and
support your career goal?
____ Is information (headlines, titles, dates) consistently presented and emphasized by capitalizing,
underlining, spacing, bolding, etc.?
____ If the resume is a chronological one, are the items in reverse chronological order (most recent
first)?
____ Does the resume have an overall neat, readable appearance? Is it easy to scan? Is there
sufficient but not excessive blank space?
Content
____ Is the information presented relevant, specific, and concise? Is it quantitative where
appropriate?
_____ Are accomplishments career-specific?; Are transferable skills emphasized?
____ Are your name, address(es), including e-mail and telephone number(s) at the top of the first
page? If there is a second page, is your name at the top?
____ Is all the information that supports your job objective included?
____ Is extraneous material eliminated? This includes health, marital status, age, information that is
assumed (i.e. high school for a college graduate), and out-of-date information (i.e. college
extracurricular activities for a person who graduated many years ago).
NOTE: International Students: This may differ from personal information that is required on
resumes/CV’s in your home country.
Style
____ Do phrases begin with action verbs?
____ Is writing style consistent throughout the resume?
____ Is choice of vocabulary appropriate to your job target (i.e., avoid using the jargon of your
current field if you are making a career transition)?
____ Are grammar, punctuation, and spelling correct?
____ Are sentences of a readable length?
____ Have extraneous phrases, such as “responsible for” been eliminated?
FINAL CHECK
Test market your resume by asking someone you know, or the Director of Career Services, or your
site counselor (depending on availability) at CMC for feedback on the impression it gives of you and
for suggestions on improving it. Make necessary changes and proofread before printing and
distributing to intended employers.

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