12.3 Resume Content and Format

Information to include in a resume

What are employers looking for? Here is some basic information to include on your resume:

Include education regarding information. Name your college, degree, certificate, and/or training correctly (e.g., is it a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (Imaging Track), or a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (Tissue Track?)
Provide detailed information on past employment and experience. Ensure to include company name, location, job title, list of job duties, months, and years of employment.

Be concise! One page is preferable in most cases. Especially individuals applying for an entry level or internship positions usually do not have much experience to list.
Break information into small pieces that can be easily read and retained. Avoid big blocks of type. Bulleted lists and phrases work better than paragraphs and sentences.
Use a standard, easy-to-read type font, such as Arial or Calibri (sans serif) or the traditional Times New Roman, usually 12-point size (no smaller than 10 and no larger than 14; slightly larger for headings is o.k.).
Do not use colored paper, colored text, or shading, as these features make your resume harder to read. Stick with black text on a white background (unless you are in a creative field and are expected to deviate from a standard resume presentation).
Put your name on the first line of the resume. Include the rest of your contact information under your name, either all centered on the page or all in a block at the left-hand margin.
Do not include a photograph or image of yourself, unless expressly directed to do so.
Use a professional email address you check regularly. Email addresses that are difficult to remember and over the top may give the wrong impression. For example, avoid email addresses such as: beachbunny68@yahoo.com or poli_sci1l-67@gmail.com

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