Want to make your resume shine? Here's how to put
together a resume that will impress any
prospective employer.
!! Steps !!
_ Understand the purpose of a resume. This will
help you to identify what is really important to focus on when
putting yours together. Basically, a resume is a brief overview of
your experience and credentials put together in such a way as to sell
you as one of the best choices for a prospective employer to
interview. It initiates the process of introducing yourself to the
employer. Therefore, given that a resume is both introductory and a
personal sales presentation, a good resume will be concise, easy to
read, positive, and interesting.
* A resume is not a mere summary of what you've done – a resume
needs to be focused on the job targeted, making the content
relevant to the hiring team's viewpoint.[1] An often-made mistake
is to develop a "one-size-fits-all" resume without tailoring it to
the specifics of the job.[2]
* Look at existing resume examples to get a good feel for putting
together a good resume. Borrow books on resume writing from the
local library, or get online and check out resumes uploaded by
various people. Within your industry, it's often possible to get a
search return for people who have submitted resumes that have been
made public and stored electronically, and this gives you a great
opportunity to see how the top people in your industry prepare
their resumes.
* Know what the reader will be looking to get out of a resume. Key
professional behaviors that a reader will want to see leap out
from reading your resume include communication and listening
skills, ability to be a team player, goal orientation, analytical
skills, motivation and initiative, reliability and dedication,
determination, confidence, pride and integrity, efficiency, and
the ability to follow directions.[3]
Make it easy to read. The manner of presentation will impact how
easy it is to read the resume. Use good taste when developing a
resume and forget gimmicks; in general, recruiters approach resumes
conservatively and do not like or trust being presented with resumes
printed on color paper, in 3D, with unusual fonts, or shaped like
whatever product the company's trying to sell.[4] Stay with what is
tried and trusted because recruiters like the familiar, and anything
that bucks that trend risks a negative reaction.
* Use the font size 10-12. For a traditional look, use the serif
Times New Roman. Use Century Old Style for traditional business
jobs. For a more contemporary look, use the sans serif fonts
Helvetica or Arial. Non-traditional fonts not only risk looking
unprofessional but if you're emailing them and your employer
doesn't have the font type, your resume will end up unformatted as
it's replaced by a different font, with the end result probably
looking unreadable.[5]
* Avoid switching between too many fonts. Sans serif fonts are best
for headers, serif fonts are best for listing the content details.
* Use bold and italics to make important information stand out but
use bold sparingly. Also make use of white space; ensure there is
enough to make it easier to read.
* Use black and white. Color should be used restrictively and
preferably not at all.
* Keep the format neat and well organized. Format consistently
throughout the document.
* If printing hard copies to send, use quality paper.
Choose a style you'll use. Leaving out personal pronouns is
commonplace but the use of third person or first person is really up
to you and your personal style. What matters is that you come across
as personable and someone people want to work with. Don't make it
overly stiff or overly casual; try to find a perfect medium.
* Be careful to maintain the correct tense throughout the resume.
Decide on the positioning of the content. A
resume can be chronological (placed in date
order) or functional (focused on specific
professional skills). The chronological resume
is the more common, listing current work and
moving down to your first job. Chronological
resumes work well for people who have remained
in the same profession and can demonstrate an
evolving, improving history of experience. For
people who change jobs frequently, it can make
you appear less reliable and knowledgeable. The
functional resume works best for older workers,
for frequent job changers, for those who have a
career hiatus (such as for child-raising or
illness), and for anyone who wishes to focus
more on skills.[6] Many resumes tend to be a
combination of both approaches now.
* An example of a chronological resume can be viewed here; an
example of a functional resume can be viewed here.
Make a master list. This list will be your background working
document from which you create each new resume. Keep it somewhere
safe and refer to it every time you create a resume, as well as
remembering to constantly update it as you do new things in your
life. Having the master list will trigger your memory quickly and
allows you to cherry pick from all of your experiences, rather than
leaving you tempted to include absolutely everything in the resume
document itself. Over a lifetime, your resumes will appear quite
different as you emphasize a different set of skills for different
positions.
* Make a list of all the jobs you have ever had. Don't leave out
anything, even short stints, internships, or work experience
opportunities.
* Include awards, educational degrees, skills, and personal
projects.
* Think of anything that would be impressive or interesting to
anyone reading about you.
* Maintain this list so that you don't have to revisit the older
portions year after year. It's helpful to organize the list by
category: that way you can find your answers quickly.
Avoid making your resume too long!Consider the resume content
carefully. A resume should be brief and unless you have
considerable experience in many jobs, it's important to keep
your resume to 1 to 2 pages in length at the most. One standard
suggests that a page for every 10 years of experience is
appropriate.[7] On average, a resume is given less than two
minutes reading time,[8] so you'll want to make sure that the
content that it does contain matters and sells you well. If
you're tempted to bloat it, keep in mind that the interview is
the right place to share more information.
* If you're just out of school or college, make the resume no more
than one page. List your scholastic accomplishments, including
involvement in official positions, school newspaper, student
council, awards, etc.
* Provide your educational history. Placement of this depends on the
importance of them to your job and the amount of time you've been
in the workforce. Always list top accomplishments first, for
example, use the order: PhD, MA, BA, diploma, certificate. It is
standard to abbreviate degrees. List relevant scholarships and
awards.
* Include positions that were extensive. Unless you're fresh out of
school, working at a place for a few weeks does not count as
"extensive", and tends to suggest that you job hop.
* Include accreditation and licenses.
* Include employment dates. A resume that does not include the dates
makes recruiters nervous.[9]
* Include an address, phone number, and email address. But do not
include an email that shows you shouldn't be taken seriously, such
as beerandboys@email.com. Don't use your current employer's name,
number or email, either. If necessary, get an extra email address
with a professional name that you can use for job searches.
* Top resumes do not list referee's names because it's assumed by
the recruiter that you have referees and it only comes into play
if you're successful at the interview. It's considered
unprofessional to set out names in this way.[10]
Tailor your resume. Using your master list as a prompt, it's time to
craft a resume targeted at your intended job. In order to tailor the
resume, you'll need to do your research, be prepared to trim out any
irrelevant information, and rework the relevance of remaining
information that you're including.
* For your research, use the job advertisement, job description,
anyone you know who works in the place, media information
(internet, newspaper, company's own press releases, etc.), gossip,
and calling up the incumbent or person identified as the
appropriate person to talk to.
* Make the tone positive. Whenever possible, list your experience in
terms of accomplishments and achievements rather than tasks and
responsibilities. Show your success. Accomplishments are more
impressive than a list of duties. For example, "Cut expenses by 25
percent over six months while maintaining historic revenue levels"
is more impressive than saying, "Was responsible for a $500,000
budget." The latter says "I did this", while the former says, "I
did this, and I can do it for you too."
* Accomplishments that can be quantified can be helpful, such as
saying how much time your streamlining saved the company.
* Explain the relevance to the targeted job of the content placed in
the resume.
Know what to watch out for. There are some things that might seem
good at the time but are real "killers" when it comes to a recruiter
trying to gauge your worth to be added to the workplace. Here are
some things that will dissuade the reader from letting you through
the rest of the recruitment process:
* Don't make demands. If you set out to let your potential employer
know what you expect to get out of them, you'll lose them straight
away. Leave this part for the negotiations at the time of the job
offer.
* Don't inflate your achievements and abilities. Three out of every
ten resumes contain inflated educational qualifications, causing
employers to check these more often than not.[11] If you haven't
done it, don't say you have; if you're still getting a
qualification, simply make that clear!
* Don't over-qualify yourself for the position. Give enough
information for interest and save the "wow" factor for the
interview.
* Be careful to avoid coming across as stubborn, arrogant, or
difficult to work with. While it might seem fine to tell someone
that you're strong willed and stand your ground in a dispute, this
can suggest that you're inflexible and disinterested in listening
to others' opinions, not likely to be someone a boss is keen to
have on board! Always take great care with the impression your
words create about your character.
* Avoid listing weaknesses. While the unoriginal, standard question
"What are your weaknesses" will likely come up in an interview,
the resume isn't the place to be berating yourself! This is a
sales document, not a soul-searching exercise.
* Unless relevant to your job, avoid mentioning age, race, religion,
sex, and national origin. In the latter case, national origin may
be necessary if you're working in a country not of your birth –
in that case, make it clear that you are entitled to work in the
country.[12]
* Forget the photo unless you're applying for a job where your
appearance matters (such as modeling). The current trend is moving
away from the inclusion of a photo.[13]
* Avoid space wasters such as telling the employer you're available
(why apply if you're not?), titling your resume "Resume/CV/etc.",
talking about early childhood achievements (you're not asking your
mom for a job!), or health (unless health is integral to the
position).
Make your resume interesting. We'd all rather meet an interesting
person than someone who doesn't seem to be engaging, is indifferent,
or is on the dull side. Giving the impression that you're worth
meeting is vital in a resume. The key element of a resume is to sell
yourself without sounding reticent or over-the-top.
* Focus on your best accomplishments, and write in a way that a
reader will think: "I want to find out more about how this person
did that!"
* Some useful things that increase your interesting allure include
listing professional affiliations (demonstrates career
commitment), your language abilities (always useful in a
globalized world), your publications and patents (what a
creative!), military or emergency services experience (dedication,
teamwork, determination), professional training (you like to
remain up-to-date), and endorsements (people praise you!).
* This isn't a time to be shy. The resume needs to sell you_ to
people who haven't met you yet, so refrain from the shrinking
violet approach on paper. Your modesty will come across in the
interview. Instead of saying "answered phones", say "answered
multi-line phone and routed calls for an office of 43 people".
This demonstrates that you're able to handle high volume work in a
complex environment, which is not something to be shy about!
* Use action verbs. Find a list of resume action verbs online or in
a resume book. These will make it much easier for you to write a
resume that is vivid and very readable.
Proofread and revise. This step cannot be under
emphasized. Proofread your resume several
times. Have someone else proofread it. Have
another person further removed from you read
it. Spelling errors and grammatical errors in a
resume are enough of a reason to discard it
when you're competing in the dozens or
hundreds. Don't let this simple part slip you
up! As well as looking for errors, ask your
proofreader to be frank about the overall
style, tone, and presentation – ask them
"does this sell me for this job?". And look at
what you can excise from the resume – spend a
lot of time removing superfluous language,
repetitive elements, and anything that you have
doubts about.
* Take constructive criticism on board and amend your resume to
reflect the suggestions if they're valid.
* Check that you have followed all the directions provided by the
job application instructions. This is a huge indicator of
responsibility to a hiring manager. If the ad says "no calls
please," then don't call!
* It's a good idea to prepare your resume several days in advance,
so that you can come back and read it again a day or two later,
with fresh eyes. You may be able to better see what to leave out,
and to add anything else pertinent.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* If you're sending a resume to a company likely to use keywords to
sort through resumes, be sure to use a keyword section in your
resume. The purpose of this is to have your resume picked up by
the keyword search, and it also serves as a brief overview of your
entire resume.[14] Alternatively, add an executive summary as a
way to provide a concise 3–5 line overview of you – your
education, experience, and abilities.
* Sometimes it helps to include an objective. If doing so, keep it
short and to the point, a single sentence. Personalize it to the
position and make sure it doesn't contradict the position you're
applying for. If it doesn't add to the resume, don't include it,
as many recruiters will ignore it.[15]
* Don't overdo attachments. Remember that the recruiter has to read
the information and attachments are not a means for sneaking in
the information you had to cut out of the resume. Only include
them if they're absolutely necessary and totally relevant, and
keep their length and number to a minimum. It's far easier to
indicate that your certifications, letters of recommendation,
etc., are available upon request. If you have graphic images you'd
like your potential employer to see, it is suggested that you
simply say that you have samples which you can provide.
* If the job description asks you to provide your salary history,
then you will _probably_ want to include that information in your
resume. However, this is not an absolute: it may limit your
negotiating power to get the best possible salary.
* If you're open to relocation, make this evident in your resume.
Don't state you're not open to it though; this clarifies
immediately that you're inflexible by nature.
* Employers are impressed by a candidate who continues to refresh
his or her knowledge. Be sure to include anything you're currently
enrolled in to improve your educational qualifications; it's a
sign that you aim to keep fresh.
* While this article isn't about cover letters, these often
accompany a resume. Keep the cover letter short (no more than a
page), sweet, and to the point. Address logical questions in your
cover letter, such as why you're applying for a job in NYC when
you live in LA.
* Listing personal hobbies is optional and it can make you appear
well-rounded but be sure that any hobbies added send the right
impression. While your skateboarding prowess fills you with pride,
your employer's more likely to be interested in your Toastmaster's
International speaking experience.
* Consider sending a double submission. Send one to Human Resources,
and another to the most applicable ranking officer (if you don't
know who that is, do your research). Human Resources clerks might
disqualify a resume on a technicality, whereas a less
bureaucratically inclined officer might be interested. This isn't
an issue if you're being employed through a recruitment agency.
!! Warnings !!
* Pride comes before a fall. Don't boast about written communication
skills with a typo. Always triple check everything written!
* If you do list the names of referees (really not recommended!), be
sure you have their permission to be contacted for this purpose.
* Back up your master list and all copies of tailored resumes. You
don't want to have to reinvent the wheel when your computer
crashes or gets stolen.
* Padding, inflating, or outright lying in a resume is morally
wrong, and in some jurisdictions, is also illegal. At the very
least, discovery that you lied in your resume will travel by
word-of-mouth and cause you to be regarded poorly by other
recruiters in your industry. People lose their jobs over lies in
resumes, even years after the fact.
* Age discrimination occurs in some industries, such as those where
graduates are preferred over older workers. There is not need to
tell people your age unless a specific requirement is in place
(such as for the army, police force, etc. where age impacts
physical ability). It's nobody's business otherwise.
* Don't use capitalized words to emphasize points; it's inaccurate
and unprofessional. For example, "I did EVERYTHING in that
office!" should be written as "I did _everything_ in that office"
if you wish to emphasize it, but keep in mind that the reader is
intelligent and will add emphases as he or she reads, so it may
better simply written as "I did everything in that office".
!! Things You\'ll Need !!
* Dictionary
* Quality paper
* Word processing ability
* Proofreaders (friends, family, a professional)
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Find an Internship
* How to Write a Resume for graduates
* How to Switch Careers
* How to Get a Job for Which You Are Not Really Qualified
* How to Develop Your Personal Elevator Pitch
* How to Write a Good Cv (curriculum Vitae)
* How to Include References on a Resume
* How to Post Your Resume Online
* How to Answer an Interview Question on Your Previous Job
Experience
* How to Write a Theater Resume
!! Sources And Citations !!
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
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