How to create a resume?

A resume is a document used when people are seeking a job. This document includes specific information about your background and abilities and should communicate the most relevant information about you to employers in a clear format.

The goal behind making a resume is to quickly inform why you are the most qualified person for the position based on the skillset you have, as well as your experiences. 

In this post, we’re going to indicate to you how to create a resume that will likely get noticed by employers. All you have to do is follow a few steps, and the primary goal you need to keep in mind is to make your resume readable and relevant.

Let’s take a more proper look at the best ways to write each of the resume’s sections.

The importance of a well-designed resume

Resumes are sent to employers, so they can determine which individual is best suited for a job. Employers use these documents to acquire a deeper understanding of a candidate's strengths and experience.

For this reason, your resume needs to reflect your accomplishments and your level of education, and every other outstanding ability you have. Your resume is going to be your initial point of contact with employers in search for workers, so the document needs to set the tone for the upcoming job interviews.

Suggestions on how to create a professional resume

Follow the steps below whenever you’re drafting a resume for your next job application:

Choose the proper resume format

A format represents both the style and order in which your information is displayed on your resume. Most people use three resume formats, and you can choose yours based on which one is right for you:

Chronological

A chronological resume format presents the professional history section at the beginning, and this type of resume is a suitable choice if you have a rich professional work history without gaps in employment whatsoever.

Functional

The functional resume format focuses on the skills section, and it’s the right choice if you want to switch industries or have a few gaps in your work history.

Chronological

Moreover, the combination resume format is a terrific option if you have some professional experience, where both your work history and skills are equally essential.

Never forget to include your name and contact data

Your resume needs to begin with your name and contact data, in which you have to include an email address and phone number. You can choose between including or skipping your mailing address.

Similarly, your name should be visible at the top of the document in a larger, bold font than the rest. However, be sure not to use a 15-point font.

Otherwise, you might also want to include a link to your online portfolio if you want to apply to creative positions.

Include a summary or objective

After you add your contact information, you have the possibility of including a resume summary or an objective statement. For instance, an objective statement explains what your career goals are and is an excellent choice for those who don’t have varied professional experience, such as high school graduates.

On the other hand, a resume summary is a limited statement that uses active language to describe your relevant jobs and experiences.

Make a list of your skillset

Take a break and start considering which skills make you the ideal candidate for the job. Review the job description and look for keywords and highlight them in case they’re your forte.

In addition, consider both technical and interpersonal skills, as well as transferable skills you can utilize when switching industries or careers. Design your own skill section with the keywords that matter the most to employers. List any demanded skills such as licenses or certifications.

List your work history using keywords

Write your work history section implementing a reverse-chronological order. You can start with your most recent job and include a brief description in which you need to mention the company time, how much time you worked there, and your job title.

Plus, you might want to include relevant learnings you experienced while working there. When you list your professional history, keep the following practices in mind:

• Use numbers whenever you can to measure your impact: using specific numerical achievements can help an employer understand your potential value to their business.

• Utilize keywords from the job descriptions: Just like your skills section, you can also add supplementary information from the job description in your job history. For example, if you happen to encounter a job description that mentions the need of meeting sales quotas, you could include your experience in previous roles.

• Be brief: Employers don’t have enough time to read resumes properly, so you should keep your descriptions concise so you make a favorable initial impression.

• Use action verbs: You can make a stronger impact if you use action verbs to describe professional accomplishments. You can use “developed”, “saved” and “drove.”

Include an educational section

Adding an educational section will be important if your work experience is limited such as recent college graduates, or if you want to be transferred to a diverse industry. You can include information like:

• Relevant coursework.
• Grade average (It needs to be above 3.5 points.).
• Participations in organizations or clubs.
• Leadership role.
• Achievements or awards.

While writing your education section, we suggest you include the name of the institution as well as dates of attendance and the degree of the area you specialize in. If you’re applying for higher-level positions, then you’ll need to dismiss everything but the name of the school and your dates of attendance to make space for relevant professional experience.

You can add extra sections

Lastly, if you manage to have more white space on your resume, consider adding an interests section. By doing so, you can complement a short resume, especially, if you have limited education and work experience. This could be what you lacked to make the perfect resume.

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