Aah, May. Thousands of graduates are looking for jobs. For some, it's their first go-around; others are re-entering the market after going back to school or leaving a 20-year job.

Either way, building the perfect resume is easier said then done.

There are the basics, such as spelling your name correctly, although Hollye Hatfield, the director of operations at Spherion in Augusta, says her company has run into that problem, too.

Here are some tips:

Pick the right font: "You really want to stick with one, no more than two fonts," Ms. Goley says. "Stick with your Times Roman or something straight forward and plain."

Never go below a 10-point font for text, though 12 is best. Remember to leave white space - no employer wants to read a text-heavy resume.

Watch your e-mail address: whiskeychick769@acme.com or bmarley@acme.com don't really scream professional, do they?

"That is one of the biggest things we see honestly," Ms. Hatfield says. She suggests setting up an alias or temporary account specifically for your job hunt. Keep it simple and professional.

Julie Goley, the director of Augusta State University's Career Center, recommends making your phone's voice-mail message - and how you answer your phone - sound professional.

Don't hide your contact information: Your name, e-mail and phone number should be at the top. Don't make the employer search for it, Ms. Goley says.

Provide reliable contact information: If you're not good about checking your e-mail, don't put it on your resume, Ms. Goley says. You'll miss critical e-mails from potential employers.

If your 5-year-old answers the home phone (and then forgets to take messages), direct calls to your cell phone.

Give details: You say you helped increase sales at your previous job, but how much?

Don't list your duties without explaining what you did and the difference it made, Ms. Hatfield says. Employers want to see the results.

Break out of the box: As many know, Microsoft Word's resume isn't all that user-friendly.

"Don't assume that the resume template on Word is the correct way to do a resume," Ms. Goley says. "They're really not that great."

Avoid social networking site faux pas: You don't have to shut down your MySpace or Facebook account, but reconsider posting those wild spring break photos or other deal-killing materials.

Make your account password protected and limit who can access your page. Be careful whom you accept as your "friend."

Some employers are creating accounts using school alumni addresses with an .edu or using young interns with university accounts to gain access to your page to see the real you, Ms. Goley says.

Avoid the left-hand margin: People often put dates in the left-hand margin, Ms. Goley says, but that makes it hard to read when employers are scanning your resume. List information left to right, with the job title first.

Reconsider listing affiliations: Your work with a religious or political association might be rewarding, but consider whether it's a positive or negative to a potential employer.

Don't talk salary: If it is requested, though, it might be addressed in a cover letter.

Keep it simple: Resumes should be no longer than one or two pages at most, Ms. Hatfield says. If you're just starting out in the market, you don't need more than one page.

DON'T LIE: "Don't ever fudge, lie or inflate statistics," Ms. Hatfield says. "Employers can and do verify resume facts."

If you can speak five words of Spanish, you aren't fluent. If you weren't behind a major initiative at your office, then don't say you were. Two credits shy of a MBA? You might have lots of knowledge, but you still can't say you have the degree.

Don't get personal: Although listing Social Security number, marital status, the number of children, etc., was once common on resumes, that is no longer the case. For legal reasons, employers don't want or need to know that information so they can avoid accusations of discrimination.

Reconsider how you group information: If you have an inconsistent work history, which can be a red flag for potential employers, consider organizing past jobs by category, not date.

Part-time jobs, such as a fast-food restaurant manager, usually aren't worth adding, but if you're aiming for a managerial position and you managed an entire restaurant, that could be worth showcasing, Ms. Hatfield says.

Don't list hobbies: Keep information relevant to job history and skills. Ms. Hatfield recommends leaving hobbies and personal interests off.

Use another set of eyes: Find someone good at checking for grammar, spelling and style. After working on a resume for hours, you might miss mistakes. That person might remember information you forgot, such as a two-year research project you worked on that shows your talents, Ms. Goley says.

Follow up: After you send in your resume, check with the human resources department or the point person to make sure they received it, whether they need anything else from you and how long it will stay on file.

Try a career center: Go in with a draft so they can help you tailor your resume. If one isn't available, pick up a book on resumes targeted to the discipline you're interested in to find tips and view samples.

When writing the resume, prioritize your information according to what the industry or employer holds highest, whether it's the school from which you graduated or the hotshot internships you had. Some care more about experience, others focus more on educational background.

Put your top achievements at the top to showcase your biggest successes.

Be specific: If you don't take the time to tailor your resume to each specific job, expect to be passed over. Do your homework on the company and find ways to show them exactly how experience would benefit the company and the position, Ms. Goley says.

Also, she says, look at the job description and use key words. More companies are using a main database to scan for those words, and if you don't target your application, you could be passed over.

Reach Laura Youngs at (706) 823-3227 or laura.youngs@augustachronicle.com.