It pretty much goes without saying that L.A. isn’t cheap. Rent, food, gas and even movie tickets are likely more costly than they are in your hometown. So, getting a job is usually at the top of the priority list when moving to the city of angels, and the first part of getting a job is having a super resume that will get noticed by employers in Los Angeles. Check out Survive the City’s top resume do’s and don’ts.  These tips are sure to improve your resume. Hey, we aren’t claiming to be experts, but we do have jobs, and most of us even do the hiring for our companies.

DO: Keep it short and sweet.

Today’s standards allow for more than one page, but remember if your potential employer is old school, they won’t appreciate a novel. Three pages should be the max.

DON’T: Get too fancy.

Don’t go crazy with font sizes and styles, images or color. It’s not a bad idea to go bold on one of those things, but all three, and it’s overwhelming. Also, make sure your font is legible. If you have to reduce to seven-point font to get all your information on one page, an employer will pass it over for a resume that is easy to read.

DO: Use bullet points with action verbs.

Bullet points make it easy for potential employers to see the high points of what you’ve done. Remember, they are likely getting several hundred resumes. Let them know what you’ve done in a concise, easy-to-read way. Action verbs show that you actually did those things. For example: “Developed company manuals…” “Researched online venues…,” “Coordinated company meetings…”.

DON’T: Show employers that you are applying to many places at once.

While logically a potential employer knows that you are likely sending resumes out to many places, they don’t want to see it on your resume. This goes back to paying attention to the ad and details such as job title and requirements. Any indication that you’re doing a mass-mailer of resumes will have your resume heading strait to the deleted files.

DO: Use “buzz” industry words and key phrases.

You should have an idea of what skills are necessary for the position. If you have them, by all means, make it known. For example, if they are hiring for a bookkeeper, use words like “bookkeeper,” “Quickbooks” and “accounting” throughout your resume. Employers often use a search tool (like ctrl F) to scan a resume for specific skills.

DON’T: Call a perspective employer.

Unless they specifically tell you in the ad to call, don’t hunt down the business phone number and call them. While ambition is usually a desirable trait, this will be a turn-off to busy employers.

DO: Change your “Objective” when needed.

If you decide to list an “Objective” on your resume, make sure you change it to fit each job you apply for. If the company is hiring for a “part time assistant,” and you put that your objective is to find full-time work in a management position, you may be overlooked.

DON’T: Be too cute.

Of course you want to stand out in the gaggle of resumes, but quirky quotes, family stories, too-detailed personal history, pictures (unless requested), Bible quotations, jokes or anything other than a clean, easy-to-read cover letter and resume is just gonna get you a one-way ticket to the “no” pile.

DO: Follow directions.

Read the ad, and look for how they want to receive your resume. Also, look to see if they request a cover letter. If so, write a brief note and attach the documents to the email. Do not paste the entire cover letter into the body of the email, and then, attach it. These are separate greetings. If they do not ask for a cover letter, you can use a shorter version in the body of the email with your resume attached. Pay attention to the format in which they request your resume. Usually a Word document is your safest bet.

DON’T: Put a salary requirement (unless it’s requested).

Some employers will post how much the position pays. Others will ask for a salary history or required salary. Unless an employer asks for this information, it’s better to keep them in the dark until the interview. Often times you could be selling yourself short and cheap. Also, employers sometimes have a number in mind, but will bump it up for the right person.

DO: Be brief in your cover letter.

Your cover letter should flush out and play up points in your resume that need to be expounded upon. Yet, this doesn’t mean to ramble on. When in doubt, bullet points are never a bad idea.

DON’T: Forget to attach your resume and have up to date contact information.

It’s seems like the most obvious of the above, but it happens. Also, whenever possible, send your resume from the email account the employer will respond to. Sifting though hundreds of resumes for an address that is not there can get you lost in the shuffle.

DO: If you haven’t yet moved, do whatever you can to get an L.A. address.

Ask a friend, find a P.O. box and be vague. Do whatever you can do to make it appear you’ve moved to L.A. or have the intention of doing so. If a hiring officer asks you to come in for an interview and you are living out-of-town, tell them that you are currently out-of-town on business or are in transition, and went back home to tie-up loose ends. Offer to do a phone interview or schedule an interview time later.  If it is worth it to you, book a flight to L.A.

- Heather Broeker and Lori Bartlett