• Overall design should be neat, balanced, consistent, easy to read and logically organized. 
• Typically, resumes are one page, but can be as long as two.
• Information categories should be listed in order of importance according based on the position.
• Specific experience under each category should be listed in reverse chronological order.
• Details under each specific experience should be listed starting with the most significant or relevant first.
• Focus on describing accomplishments or skills developed, rather than listing duties. Almost anyone can perform a duty, but not everyone accomplishes something or learns from an experience.
• Use active verbs to begin details under each specific experience. Use key words from the job description.
• Employers tend to prefer bulleted, concise, relevant and accurate details under experience. Short lines of text make it easier to pick out details.
• Avoid the use of personal pronouns.
• Margins should be consistent all the way around. One inch to approximately .5 inch margins are recommended.
• Use size 10-12 font with larger headings. Be conservative in font style. We suggest Arial, Times New Roman or Tahoma.
• Use graphics, bold, italics and underlined text judiciously. Don't let styling distract from content.
• Proofread multiple times. Career Services can help. Please email careerservices@americanvisionuniversity.org for assistance.
• Use resume paper when printing. If sending electronically, save as a PDF to retain formatting.

• Name, mailing address, phone number, email address, links to portfolios and/or Linkedin
• Education and training
• Work, internship, volunteerism and other significant experiences
• Skills such as technology, equipment and foreign languages
• Licenses, accreditations and/or certifications
• Honors, awards and achievements
• Service activities, leadership, clubs and organizations

• Personal data such as height, weight, age, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, date of birth or a photograph
• Social Security number
• Reasons for leaving a job
• Salary
• Early childhood experiences
• Weaknesses, demands or exaggerations
• Long paragraphs — use short statements or bulleted lists
• Hobbies unless pertinent to position
• References are typically listed on a separate document and given only when requested

• Cover letters are typically one page and briefly elaborate qualifications for the job. It's an opportunity to add context and detail to resume information.
• A letter of qualification is similar to a cover letter, but addresses each item of qualification in the job description. It is often longer than one page.

• Target concisely to the desired position.
• Connect skills to the company's needs and wants. Show, don't just tell, how what you offer matches what they seek.
• Support each skill or qualification with specific examples of education or experience.
• Use the language of your field and key words from the job description. However, make sure the letter is understandable to any reader and not just those from your field.
• Avoid informal language, such as slang, contractions and acronyms.
• Be confident, but do not exaggerate.
• Proofread multiple times. Career Services can help. Please email us at careerservices@americanvisionuniversity.org for assistance.
• Use standard business letter format.
• Use the same font and paper as your resume.
• If printed, sign it in ink. If sending electronically, type your name and save as a PDF.

• CVs are similar to a resume, but more detailed and not limited in length.
• CVs are commonly used in higher education and focus on academic pursuits. They are also used in applying for research positions in industry and as documentation in grant proposals.
• Internationally, the terms “resume” and “curriculum vitae” may be used interchangeably. Check with the organization to determine what is needed.
• Resumes/CVs for positions with organizations outside the U.S often have different requirements. Email us at careerservices@americanvisionuniversity.org for more information.

• Like a resume, order categories of information from most to least important, and list items chronologically.
• Be accurate and concise. Edit for grammar and spelling. Career Advisors can help review your CV.
• Use conservative fonts and approximately 0.7-1 inch margins all around. Format neatly and organize logically.
• Focus on accomplishments rather than simple duties. Numbers and percentages add a sense of tangible proof — use whenever appropriate.
• Use the language of the field, but avoid overuse of jargon, acronyms and abbreviations.
• Cite publications accurately and in the style of your field. Humanities tend to call for MLA or Chicago style. Use APA style for business, psychology and most sciences.

Like a resume, order CV categories by importance to the field. Categories listed first tend to get noticed more.

Possible Categories

• Name, email, phone number, mailing address, links to portfolio and/or LinkedIn
• Education and training
• Work experiences, internships, assistantships
• Research experiences
• Teaching experiences
• Administrative experience
• Areas of knowledge or interest
• Projects, works and performances
• Certificates, licenses and credentials
• Advising/mentoring
• Publications (authored or contributed to) including: articles, books, dissertation, thesis, other scholarly works
• Conferences, workshops, and programs attended and/or presented
• Skills such as: languages, technical, computer
• Leadership
• Fellowships, grants, or other funding
• Service activities (community, college, profession)
• Academic awards and accomplishments
• Affiliations or memberships
• International experiences
• Other awards and honors (outside of academia)