Every time you update your resumé for a new role, edit for content, spelling, grammar and how well it matches the needs of the employer.  Have friends or family edit your resumé at least once, and read your resumé out loud to ensure it doesn’t sound awkward.

Edit for action words

Action words tell employers what you’ve done, how you did and what the results were.  When editing your resumé, look for verbs that denote skills (these are often “-ed” verbs such as launched, communicated, explained or reviewed).

Use a variety of verbs.  Reading the same word repetitively is boring and downplays your experience.

If you want to stress organization skills in your resumé, use a range of verbs such as organized, planned, scheduled, catalogued, re-organized or prioritized.

Start each bullet with an action verb so the person reading your resumé can get one of the most important pieces of information first.

Spell it out

Edit for acronyms, short forms and abbreviations. Using any short forms in job titles and company names could downplay your experience if the employer does not know what they mean.

Avoid acronyms even if they’re well-known in the industry you are applying to. Your resumé may first go through human resources staff who might not understand the acronym or abbreviation used, landing your resumé in the trash.

The medium is the message

Print your resumé on a good printer with good quality 8.5×11 inch paper.  Generally, your resumé should be black and white, and always crinkle free.

Remember that the goal of a resumé is to get an interview.  Among the masses of resumes that an employer receives, a resumé that is well designed, clear, concise and error free is most likely to be read.