Outstanding Resumes

o make your resume look the most professional, there are a few changes that you can make that will make it stand out.

A general rule is to avoid abbreviations where possible. For instance, in your address under your emboldened name, rather than have something like this: 227 N. Avers Ave, Apt. 17 replace it with 227 North Avers Avenue, Apartment 17. Notice the difference. The un-abbreviated entry on your resume looks more professional. The same rule can apply throughout your resume.

Always to spell out acronyms for the first use, and then use the acronym for the second and subsequent uses. For instance, say that you are a member of the Latino Association of Business Students, and after that, refer to it as LABS. Commonly accepted acronyms like FBI (standing for Federal Bureau of Investigation) need not be spelled out unless the FBI stands for something else. Company-wise, standard accepted abbreviations like GE as in GE Capital are fine.  Others like PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) or E&Y (Ernst & Young) need to be spelled out. Incidentally, here's an example of the only proper use of the abbreviation "&."  When used in a proper name, it is acceptable.  Never use it when you mean "and" within the text of your resume.

Lastly, nothing is more unprofessional than to bullet point every entry on your resume. Every bullet point you put down automatically weakens every other bullet point on your resume.  Bullet points are supposed to highlight things like transferable skills that you have acquired in your previous work experience in case those accomplishments get lost by other entries on your resume.  If you bullet point everything on your resume, what's the point of bullet points?

Make some of these changes and then look at your resume again. I'm sure you'll agree that following these couple tips will make your resume look more professional and stand out from all the others.