I had to review many résumés recently for an IT job that we had available for a consultant. Here are some things that really jumped out...

1. If a consultant or temporary staffing service sends out your résumé, ask to see a copy. Sometimes, staffing services take your document and rework it to match jobs that are available. We had some that were riddled with formatting and typographical errors. When the candidate came in for the interview, she gave us copies of her résumé (that didn't look anything like what the company sent).

2. Proofread your work. I can't say that enough. Errors cause the reader to question your abilities.

3. If you are going to submit your résumé electronically, make sure to have a version that will look good when it is pasted into a web page or other document. Interesting fonts and formatting often don't translate. (I have a friend who created a version in Notepad for electronic submissions.)

4. Don't use funky or cute fonts. Stick to the basics Arial or Times New Roman. Arial (and other san serif fonts) are preferred for online work. Times New Roman (and other serif fonts) are preferred for printed documents.

5. Never use clipart or call-outs. This is not a newsletter. This is a formal document that markets your skills.