A winning résumé is an important tool to have in your career transition toolkit. It showcases how your skills, talent, and experience are a match to a particular job or industry.

While there is no résumé Bible, there are ways you can articulate your value to prospective employers. Along with a suite of reference materials at MOAA.org available to everyone, MOAA Premium and Life members should consider a résumé review to maximize your application’s effectiveness.

But before you sit down for a review, get the basics in order. Whether your review is in-person, virtual, or via email, the reviewer will have a limited time to tailor your materials to your target audience – any help you can give in advance will streamline the process and improve the final product.

For anyone looking to craft, rewrite, or hone their résumé, consider these tips:

• Know Your Audience: Ensure your résumé is targeted and tailored to the specific job or industry.
• Stay Simple and Straightforward: Your résumé should be two pages or less, with 1-inch margins and sufficient white space.
• Dump the Jargon: Most readers won’t understand a hodgepodge of military acronyms and service-specific lingo.
• Watch Your Personal Info: Include your name, phone number, email, and customized LinkedIn URL. Only list metropolitan area or city and state – not your personal address.
• Make It Matter: Describe your specific accomplishments instead of providing a long job description. And keep your work experience recent and relevant -- only go back 10 to 12 years
• Choose Your Words (and Commas) Carefully: Lead with action verbs (“led,” “streamlined,” “created,” “produced,” “designed”). Remember to proofread, then proofread again, and again.

Want more tips? Visit MOAA.org/resumehelp for answers to specific résumé and application questions. MOAA Premium and Life members can check out the Résumé Development section of MOAA’s Webinar Archive.