Resume Dos and Don'ts

Do

Limit to one page
Use the undergraduate and graduate resume templates on our website — they are ATS friendly
List your GPA if it is 3.5 above; optional to list if your GPA is 3.0 - 3.4
Create a comprehensive resume to keep all of your experiences in one document from which you can write a targeted resume by copying and pasting sections applicable to your current job search
Use numbers to quantify results, team size, reach of company, project time frames
Highlight your most relevant experiences
Demonstrate via your accomplishment statements (i.e., bullet points) the top skills employers are looking for: leadership, teamwork, written and verbal communication, and problem solving
Put experiences in reverse chronological order, which means listing your most recent experience first
Put current experiences in present tense, previous experiences in past tense
Proofread and use spelling and grammar check

Use a resume template from Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Canva that includes formatting with tables or columns, which aren't ATS friendly
Include an Objective unless specifically requested to do so by an employer; if you include an Objective, make it brief and specific to a particular job/field/role
List all the colleges/universities you’ve attended; list only institutions you have or will receive a degree from
Use more than two lines per bullet
Use personal pronouns (I, my, me)
Include a photo or other personal details (height, marital status, etc.)
Include an unprofessional email address
Lie or claim a skill you don’t have. Instead, use LinkedIn Learning for free (found on myusf.usfca.edu) to acquire technical and other skills
List your jobs duties (focus on accomplishments and results)
Use more than one font and one size. Use 10 to 12 pt font except for your name, which can be 14 pt
Undersell yourself! Include part-time jobs, student organizations, relevant class projects, family or personal (i.e. Etsy) business
Include references unless specifically requested