Here are some tips I followed when writing my resume:

• Keep your resume to one page or less.
  • With five or more years of experience, your resume can be two pages.
• Use default margins, bold headings and make them consistent, and have an appropriate font and size.
• Don’t overuse boldface type.
• Check for spelling and grammar.
• The top of the resume should include the following information:
  • Name in bold and in a slightly larger font than the rest of the document.
  • Address.
  • Phone number.
  • Email.
  • This information could be aligned to the left, right, or center.
• List the most recent education and job first.
  • Bold the name of the school or company and include its city and state.
• Include additional educational information to make you stand out.
  • Put your cumulative GPA if it’s above a 3.0.
  • List class rank if you’re in the top half.
• List at least three jobs that you’ve had, even if it’s babysitting.
  • Put the title and dates that you worked at each job underneath the company name.
  • Beneath the title, include a bulleted list of three duties or responsibilities.
• Activities and honors can be combined into one section.
  • Don’t bullet this section to vary the look of your content.
  • Include the dates associated with activities and awards.
• If space allows, include volunteer experiences or skills.
  • Unless you have special skills that may help you on the job, don’t include a skills section.
  • For volunteering, include the organization, job, and the years volunteered.

My Favorite Resume Writing Tips from Kuder Navigator®:

• Make your resume original and tailored to the specific position.
• Use strong action verbs.
• List three to five former employers or faculty members as references.
• Avoid use of the pronoun “I.”
• Print on a laser printer, using high quality bond paper that matches the quality and color of paper you use for your cover letter, envelope, and references list.

^{Note: The author of this article is not an expert in writing a resume. The tips provided are from the personal perspective and experiences of a high school student. This article first appeared in the Kuder Blog March 3, 2014.}