After Technical Employment Services receives your resume, it will be scanned into a database whenever possible. For this reason, we prefer that your resume have the following characteristics:

• No graphics or pictures
• No italics
• Easy to read fonts (no Old English, etc.)
• Large text typeface (12 points)
• Don’t use all capital letters: THIS CAN BE VERY HARD TO READ!!!
• Be specific when listing your technical expertise (for example, Software: Adobe Illustrator, Framemaker Rel. 5; Operating Systems: HP/UNIX, Windows NT 4.0; CAD Programs: AutoCad Rel. 14). Since we search the entire text of your resume, listing specific expertise will increase the chances of your resume matching a search.
• We recommend a cover letter, but it is not required.
• Multiple variations of resumes will not be used in our database.
• When responding to specific jobs, you do not need to send another copy of your resume if we already have it in our system.
• When updating a resume, please let us know that your resume is an update.
• As you receive additional education, certifications or new employment experience, please send us an updated resume.

Your initial contact with future employers is almost always achieved through your resume. With the high volume of resumes that most hiring managers review for a given position, it is crucial that your resume clearly show how you will benefit their company. Most hiring managers spend 30 seconds or less initially reviewing each resume. Your resume must sell your skills quickly for you to be considered for a face-to-face interview. Without an effective resume, your chances of success are greatly reduced.

The appearance and content of the resume is a direct reflection on your professionalism, attention to detail, and desire that goes beyond just documenting your education, work history, and contact information.

While the old rule of thumb was one page, two and even three page resumes are becoming more common and, for the most part, acceptable. With many professionals changing employers more often, the growing number of contract professionals, and the need to detail computer skills, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to produce a single page resume. Most employers, however, still prefer a one to two page resume. The reader will lose focus and interest with more than two pages. Remember, you still need to sell your value to the employer in 30 seconds or less.

• Contact information – Name, address, phone number(s), e-mail address).
• Employment/career objective.
• Summary of qualifications – Optional; put right below your objective.
• Education – Name of institution, degree, graduation date. If you are a recent College Graduate with little or no relevant work history, place your education toward the top of the resume. Otherwise, put it toward the bottom. If you have a college degree, you do not need to list your high school or earlier education. If high school is your highest education, list your high school and no earlier education.
• Work History – Start with the most recent or current position at the top of the resume and work backwards. List dates, employer name, position, and brief description of your accomplishments and responsibilities.
• Do not use the word "I" (I did this, I did that). Use action verbs such as initiated, accomplished, successfully completed, designed, reduced, improved, etc. This will show your potential value to a new employer, rather than just documenting your past tasks.
• Additional Skills – Include any special computer skills such as software packages (include release/version numbers; for example, AutoCAD 13, or MS Word 6.0), operating systems, programming languages, etc. Also include skills such as ability to read blueprints, SPC, CMM, calipers, QS-9000, etc.
• Additional Training – Relevant courses, seminars, or certifications. This should follow your Education section.
• Professional Affiliations – Include only those which support your career objective or which may be of interest to a potential employer.
• Awards – include relevant awards, special recognition or published works

Do not include the following:

• References – A simple statement such as "References Furnished Upon Request" will do. One of our recruiters will request references prior to submitting your resume for a position.
• Irrelevant information such as your height, weight, children, marital status or age.
• Activities or hobbies, unless you feel there is a direct benefit or relevance to the position you are seeking.
• Salary history – Let us know your salary requirements on a cover letter so that we can match a position to your requirements.
• Anything negative.
• Unexplained time gaps.

Also avoid being too wordy, check your grammar, use proper punctuation, and be sure to use your spell checker or have it proofread by others.

If you are successful with the resume and able to secure an interview, it is very important that you research the company with which you are interviewing. Hiring Managers are impressed with those who show the initiative to do their homework and are disappointed by candidates who know little or nothing about their company. Show them that you want the job. The internet, schools, public libraries, trade journals and annual reports are all great sources for corporate information.