CSO's Do's & Don't's List
If you've been to CSO for a resume and/or cover letter critique, you may have seen our counselors using a pink laminated card during your session. Below is the information that card contains: the guidelines CSO uses to ensure consistency and professionalism. The CSO counseling staff compiled these guidelines based on our knowledge of trends in application materials, feedback and suggestions from employers, and rules for writing and punctuation styles. We hope this information will assist you in your preparation of resumes and cover letters!
Resume
DO:
Check (and double- and triple-check) for misspellings and typosKeep the resume to one pagePut your education section first after your nameBe consistent with format, writing style, font, bulleting, margins, verb tense use, using a period with bullet points, using bold/caps/underlining for text emphasisConsider whether the resume might be scanned, and if so, eliminate special text formatting (lines, italics, etc.)
DON'T:
Omit dates, locations, contact information, organization names, job titles, action verbsUse a font point size less than 11Put GPA if it's less than 3.2Use a job objectiveList jobs or job skills in your education sectionPut "references available" anywhere on the resumeLeave e-mail addresses hyperlinkedHave ampersands (&) anywhere on the resumeUse personal pronouns ("I did this…")Use a narrative or verbose style
WE RECOMMEND:
Only first-years or sophomores should include high school in the education sectionIf you do include high school, honors aren't recommended UNLESS you went to a well-known school, you are going into education, and/or you were the class valedictorian
Letters
DO:
Use appropriate business letter format (block, left-justified, masthead OK)Place the date on the left-hand side (unless you're using letter format with date and signature on right-hand side)Keep the letter to approximately 3-4 paragraphs (no shorter, no longer than a page)Be consistent with spacing and punctuationSpend a lot of time making your first paragraph great!Use a colon (:) at the end of your "dear" lineHighlight skills more than desiresMention the name of the employer and the position title in the first paragraphInclude as much contact information as possible: Salutation (Mr./Ms.), Name, Title, Employer Name, Address, City, State, ZIP code
DON'T:
Use a generic "dear" line such as "To whom it may concern" - always use a name!Put the e-mail address or phone number of the addressee anywhere on the letter (DO see our sample for placement)Write "boilerplate" or "form" lettersUse weak language, i.e. "if at all possible .."Bold-face job titles in the body of your letterPut addressee's titles in italics and/or parentheses (if you copied it from MoJo)Double-space the text of your lettersUse words that have a negative connotation such as "anxious"Repeat "I" at the beginning of sentencesOmit transitions between paragraphs
WE RECOMMEND:
State "enclosure" or "attachment" (if electronic) at the bottom of the letter if it's your preference to do soIf sending a cover letter electronically, leave one blank line between the closing and your name (in hard-copy format, leave four blank lines for your signature)
