I have compiled a brief list of tips to consider when writing your own resume. Many have taken on this feat of writing their own resume. Some will do exceptionally well while others…may not.

Hope these tips help!

1. Do not use “I” when listing your position description. (e.g., “I was responsible for entering data into the database and I created all of the reports for the department.”) You could say “Entered data into the database and generated departmental reports.” It’s a given that you’re talking about yourself because it’s your resume.
2. The above tip leads to the next. You should start each sentence in your position description with an action verb. (eg: “Managed the project…, Coordinated events…., Developed department processes…, etc.”) rather than (“Responsible for various projects, I was in charge of organizing events, etc.”) Although you should try not to start each sentence with the same action verb. This is when a Thesaurus might come in handy.
3. Don’t leave the resume reviewer hanging. Provide the outcome. Include your accomplishments. So you developed the process to computerize your department’s filing system…what were the results of this new process? Elaborate so it shows that this project was more than just a quick item on your “To Do List”. Resulted in standard company filing guidelines, which decreased % of errors and eliminated duplication of effort among staff, etc. This will give a better picture of the extent of the project.
4. If you have a list of skills to include on your resume it’s helpful to use a table to keep the list in order vs tabs. A table will keep your list lined up no matter who views your resume. Check out this resume sample. After you have created the table, highlight the table, right click on it and select “No Border” under “Borders and Shading”. Try to keep each skill to short phrases.
5. More is really not always better. You don’t have to list every last thing that you do on a daily basis on your resume. We all want our job to seem like it is the most important job at the company so you think a list of 20 bullet points will do the trick. Then the recruiter reads through the list and we see organize files, answer phones, greet clients, order coffee (all listed as separate bullet points). All are very important tasks but just like the cable company, you can create bundles. Maybe you could say something like “Provide excellent customer service by greeting clients in a courteous manner, answering phones and routing calls to appropriate staff while supporting the needs of the entire department.” It still gets the point across.
6. When you’ve completed your resume it’s a great help to have someone else review it. A second set of eyes might also catch errors that you may have overlooked. When you are writing your own resume, you may think enough detail was provided to get a clear picture of what your positions entailed. This is because you are already knowledgeable about the work you’ve done therefore, what you have listed may sound very clear to you. Someone else that doesn’t know you or your work may read your resume and not get a clear picture of your previous work experience. A second person can give you that feedback.
7. If you want information about the layout of a resume…what goes where then read a previous post, Anatomy of a Resume: What Goes Where?

Hope you find these tips helpful!