43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job in 2024
Haven’t updated your resume in a while?
We feel you!
There’s a lot that goes into crafting a resume, and unless you’re an expert, the whole process can be overwhelming.
Worry not, though. We’re here to help!
In this value-packed guide, we’re going to give you 43+ of the best resume tips & tricks. Follow these tips to the T, and you’re bound to land your next job.
If you have the time, we’d recommend reading the guide end-to-end. We didn’t include anything that’s “Optional.”
If you don't, that’s fine too! We divided the guide into 3 chapters, with the most important ones on top...
- Fundamental Tips - These resume tips are a game-changer. Whether you follow them or not can be the deciding factor in whether you’re getting hired.
- Essential Tips - These resume tips are very important, but not as important as the Fundamentals.
- Nice-to-Have Tips - These resume tips aren’t that ground-breaking, but they can still have an impact on your job-search.
Let’s get this started.
19+ Fundamental Resume Tips and Tricks
1) use a professional email address.
No one wants to contact that guy with the tacky email from high school (We’re looking at you, [email protected]).
Create a professional email address for anything related to your job-search and career.
Any combination of [first name] and [last name] will do.
If you have a common name and the email is taken, consider using your initials ( e.g. [FirstNameInitial][LastName]@gmail.com ), or even buying your own custom domain name.
2) Double-Check Your Contact Information
Even the most confident writer is not safe from typos.
Make sure that all your contact information on your resume is accurate, both email and phone number.
After all, even if you’re the most qualified person in the world, it’s not going to matter much if the HR manager can’t contact you.
3) Include Phone Number and Country Code
It’s always a good idea to include your phone number in your resume.
Sure, in most cases, the HR manager will reach you on email. But what if the email gets lost, for whatever reason? Or worse - it goes to your spam section.
If you’re applying for a foreign job, you should also include a country code .
For example, if you’re from Denmark and you’re applying to another country, you’d want to include the country code (+45) in front of your number.
4) Mention Achievements Over Job Responsibilities
When listing your work experience , include achievements instead of responsibilities whenever possible.
Chances are, the HR manager already knows what your responsibilities were from your job title.
Fun fact: your responsibilities are probably literally the same as everyone else's in your profession.
Instead, to stand out, you want to include as many achievements as possible.
Here’s some achievement examples:
- Exceeded sales KPIs by 25% for 3+ months straight.
- Generated over $25,000 in sales in 1 month.
Compared to responsibilities:
- Generated leads through cold calling.
- Carried out sales operations and managed existing clients.
See the difference? The first example shows that you’re a high achiever. The second shows that you’re a sales manager.
In some fields, though, you might not have any real achievements. If you’re a server, for example, you can’t have “served 200+ people really well” as an achievement.
In that case, it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities.
Not sure which achievements to mention? Check out our list of 40+ achievements for every field
5) Stick to Relevant Work Experience
Speaking of work experience, make sure you only include previous positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for .
Make sure that all work experience entries are…
- Timely - Only mention your last 3-5 positions max. No one cares what job you did 15 years ago.
- Contextual - Applying for the role of a dentist ? You don’t have to mention that one time you worked as a pre-school math teacher.
If you don’t have a lot of experience in the field (or no experience at all), though, you can include whatever you have. It’s better to have some experience rather than none .
6) Focus On Other Sections If You Have No Experience
What if you’re a student who’s never worked a day in their life?
The good news is that you don’t need work experience to have a good resume.
In fact, for entry-level jobs, the hiring manager doesn’t expect you to have any experience.
If you want to stand out with a no-experience resume, you can focus more on other sections, such as:
- Coursework - Want to show the HR manager that you have the right know-how, even though you don’t have experience? Mention any relevant courses you took in university.
- Extracurricular Activities - You’ve probably heard the famous college saying - “extracurricular activities are good for your resume.” Well, here’s some good news. It’s not just a rumour, they actually are! List your extracurricular activities just as you’d list your work experience, and you’re good to go.
- Projects - Done some interesting projects in your free time? Maybe you grew an instagram page to thousands of followers. Or, you worked on a part-time startup in uni? Whichever the case, you can add it to your resume.
Want to learn how to write a convincing student resume? Be sure to check out our no-experience resume guide !
7) Be Super Specific - Add Numbers, Data, and Experiences When Possible
Everything you write in your resume should be very specific .
Back every claim with specific experiences, numbers, or data.
What do we mean by that? Well, compare these 2 examples:
- Results-oriented sales manager with 5+ years of experience in the fin-tech industry. Driven over $500,000 worth of enterprise software sales at Company X. Deep knowledge of multiple CRM tools, including SalesForce, PipeDrive, HubSpot CRM, and more.
- Sales manager looking for the next step in their career. Previous experience involves doing sales for several software companies. Deep knowledge of CRM software.
See the difference between the two examples?
The first is very specific, mentioning numbers, data, experiences, etc.
The second, on the other hand, is very generic. The only thing you learn from it is that the candidate does sales.
8) Gap In Your Resume? Explain What Happened
A gap in your resume can be a huge red flag - but only if you don’t address it.
The hiring manager is going to assume the worst by default. So, it’s a good idea to be direct and insert 2-3 sentences acknowledging the gap and explaining what happened.
To do this, just make a small note under your latest work experience entry:
MadeUpHospital
Jan 2016 - Jun 2017
*Quit due to medical reasons in 2017, looking to rejoin the workforce.
- Responsibility #1
- Responsibility #2
- Responsibility #3
Need more tips & tricks on how to get your career back on track? Check out our complete guide to getting back to work after a long period of unemployment !
9) Mention Promotions and Career Progression
Recently got promoted? Congrats!
Make sure to mention that in your resume.
Company Name
Latest Position
- Dates Worked
- Promotion Explanation (can be an achievement)
- Achievements/Responsibilities
Older Position
10) Use Active Language
Language matters.
The way you present your achievements can amplify their significance, or downplay their worth.
Compare these 2 examples:
- Spearheaded company X’s content marketing operations.
- Responsible for content marketing at company X.
The first example makes you seem more in-charge, like what you did had a huge impact.
The second, on the other hand, sounds super plan, as if you straight up said “I did content marketing.”
You should use action words to make your achievements sound a LOT more significant.
Some of our favorite action words include:
- Accelerated
- Accomplished
- Contributed
Not sure which action words you want to use? Check out our complete list of 340+ best action verbs for your resume .
11) Tailor Your Resume to Job Ad
Imagine 2 resumes:
- The first describes THE person you’re looking for. They possess all the relevant skills and experiences, and they’re accurately listed in the resume.
- The second MIGHT be the person you’re looking for, but you’re just not sure. They seem to have some relevant experience, but not others.
Which one would you pick? Exactly!
So, how do you make YOUR resume look like the first example?
By tailoring it to the job ad!
How? Well, let’s look at the following job ad:
We’ve highlighted some of the essential skills in blue above.
Now, to tailor your resume to these requirements, all you’d have to do is mention in your resume that you:
“Have 5+ years of experience in online marketing.”
- You can mention this in your resume summary.
“Have experience with social media marketing.”
- This can go in either the “Skills” or “Work Experience” section
“Have a B.A. in marketing or business.”
- This, of course, belongs in the education section.
“Have experience in managing $20,000+ monthly ad budget on Facebook.”
- You can mention this in either Work Experience or Resume Summary
If your resume mentions all the essential job requirements, there’s no reason for the hiring manager NOT to call you back!
12) Create a Convincing Cover Letter
Do you want to get an interview in just about every job you apply to?
Well, that’s going to require a bit more effort than usual: you’re going to have to create a killer cover letter.
For most job-seekers, the cover letter is an after-thought.
They put 100% of their focus on the resume, and re-use the same cover letter for every position they apply for.
Here’s the thing, though: a cover letter is as important as a resume. In a lot of cases, it can even be the deciding factor on whether you get called in for an interview or not.
So, want to know how to write a good cover letter? Here’s what it should include:
- Your Contact Information.
- Hiring manager’s contact information.
- Opening paragraph - Brief introduction to your career, 1-2 top achievements and intent (why you’re applying for this company or position)
- The body - Go through your experiences and achievements in more detail. Explain how your background is relevant for the position they’re hiring for.
- Closing paragraph - Summarize your main points, and include a call to action (“if you’re interested, I’d love to chat!”)
There’s a LOT more to creating a good cover letter than what we just covered. Check out our complete guide to cover letters for a more detailed walkthrough on how to make one!
13) Keep Your Resume 1-2 Pages at Most
An ideal resume length is 1 page .
Nope, no excuses. 95%+ of job-seekers don’t need to go past the one-page limit.
After all, HR managers receive over 1,000+ resumes for each open position. They don’t have the time to read your autobiography.
There are some exclusions to the one-page rule, though. You can go up to 2 pages if:
- You’re applying for a job in academia. In which case, it’s OK to go up to even 3 pages.
- If you’re an experienced executive with a decade’s worth of work experience.
Want to learn more? Check out the guide on how long should a resume be !
14) Use a Reverse-Chronological Resume Format
Part of creating an effective resume is choosing the right format to tell your story.
If you ask just about any career expert (including us), they’d recommend you to stick with the reverse-chronological format .
That means starting off every resume section with your latest experience, and working your way down to the earliest.
In some rare cases (if you have a career gap, for example), you might want to go for a different resume format, such as the Functional Resume or a Combination Resume. If you want to learn more, check out our guide to resume formats .
15) Include White Space
White space refers to the space in your resume between all the sections and paragraphs of text.
When formatting your resume, you should keep some space in between your sections so that it’s easier for the HR manager to skim your resume.
Here’s some basic layout info you should keep in mind when it comes to white space:
- Margins - aim for 1-inch margin on all four sides of your resume to maximize white space.
- Line spacing - go for 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing between text and double lines after subheadings.
- Bullet points - limit up to 6 points within each section.
Not sure if you’ve got your resume layout right? Check out our guide!
16) Use the Right Resume Font
You want your resume to be easy to read, right?
But at the same time, you also want it to stand out.
That means that you should pick the right font, and the right font size.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Best resume fonts: Ubuntu, Robot, Overpass
- Best resume font size: 11-12pt for normal text, 14-16pt for section titles and headers
Check out our full guide on best resume font, size, and format for more info and practical examples.
17) Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly
ATS is an applicant tracking system that many businesses use to screen resumes.
The way this works is, the ATS scans your resume to see if you mention the right keywords, and if you don’t, it automatically discards your application.
So, how do you make sure that a robot doesn’t reject your resume that worked so hard on?
Well, it’s 2 things:
- Pick a Tried-and-Tested Format - Here’s the thing: if the ATS can’t scan your resume, it will automatically discard it. So, you want to use a resume that’s built with ATS in mind. We might be biased, but we’d recommend trying out Novorésumé. We build our resume with with ATS in mind, making it scannable by applicant tracking systems world-wide.
- Sprinkle the Right Keywords - Just as we explained in the “Tailor Your Resume” tip, go through the job ad and figure out what keywords the ATS could be looking for. Then, sprinkle them all around your resume. Head over here if you want to learn more about ATS & keywords .
18) Don’t Lie On Your Resume
This one’s pretty obvious, but we thought we’d mention it anyway:
Don’t lie on your resume. Ever.
You’re going to be found out sooner or later and it’s going to cost you your job, or even your career.
It’s just not worth it.
19) Use an Online Resume Builder
Ever used Word editing tools to build your resume?
Then you probably know what we mean when we say that it’s a total pain.
You spend hours perfecting your resume, and then you make a single, small layout change, and BAM! The whole resume gets messed up.
Want to save yourself from all that hassle?
Use an online resume builder !
All you have to do is pick your favorite resume template , and start filling it in.
Whether you’re a recent graduate, or a professional with a decade of work experience, we have the right format for you!
13+ Essential Resume Tips and Tricks
20) include your job title in resume.
Your professional title should be the job title you’re applying for word-for-word.
Applying for a job as an advertising account executive?
Make sure to include the position name in your resume (below your name) as it’s written in the job ad.
Ditch the buzzwords - no hiring manager likes those.
- Software Developer
- Code Monkey Ninja Samurai Hero
21) Name Your Resume Correctly
Once you’re done optimizing your resume and you’re ready to send it in, make sure the PDF version has the right name.
The ideal format is FullName - Resume .
- John Doe - Resume.pdf
- John Resume - Final Final Final Version Fixed
22) Use Correct Subheadings
You’ll want your resume section subheadings to be accurate and easy to find.
So, to help the HR manager reading your resume, try to keep things simple.
- Resume Summary
- Work Experience
- Organizations
- Background Information
- Career History
- Groups Part Of
Bonus Points - this can also help Applicant Tracking Systems read your resume. They recognize “Work Experience,” but not “Work History.”
23) Include Only Relevant Social Media
Wondering if you should include social media links in your resume?
As a rule of thumb, you should only mention the ones that are relevant to your profession and career.
Here’s a brief overview of what you might include:
- LinkedIn - If your LinkedIn is updated, you can mention it for most professions.
- Stack Overflow / GitHub - If you’re a software engineer.
- Medium -Are you a freelance writer or blogger? Include your Medium.
- Quora - Are you an influencer in your field? Mention your Quora account (as long as you have a decent number of answers).
- Website/Blog - Do you have an online presence? Maybe a personal blog that positions you as an expert? If so, make sure to mention it.
24) Include Resume Objective or Summary
The hiring manager looks at your resume for 5-6 seconds max to decide if they’re going to read the rest or not.
Want to catch their attention in a snap?
Use a resume objective or summary.
Both of these sections act as an introduction to your resume, and are used to show that you’re qualified for the job from the get-go (before the HR gets to read the rest of your resume).
So, what’s what?
Both of these sections go in your resume header, right under your contact information section.
A resume objective is mainly for students, or professionals switching their careers. An objective is a 3-4 sentence snapshot of your professional goals and aspirations.
A resume summary is a 3-4 sentence summary of your resume. You use this instead of a resume objective if you’ve previously worked as the position you’re applying for.
- Multilingual customer service representative looking to provide Company X provide stellar customer experience. Strong communication skills, fluent in English, German, and French. Basic knowledge of CRM systems.
- Proactive UX designer with 5 years of experience in delivering enjoyable web and mobile products within the FinTech industry. Designed UI/UX and other marketing materials for 6 apps and 3 games at Company X, 2 of which were features in the App store. Skilled with Sketch and Adobe Creative Studio.
25) Don’t Use Personal Pronouns (“I”, “Me”)
Once you put your name at the top of your resume, it’s already implied that everything you mention in your resume applies to you.
So, there is no need to unnecessarily repeat “I did…” in your resume countless times.
- Managed data entry integrity within the applicant tracking system, ensuring timely entry and visibility of recruitment activity within ATS/CRM technologies.
- I managed data entry integrity within the applicant tracking system. I ensured timely entry, and I worked on the visibility of recruitment activity within the ATS/CRM technologies.
26) Consider Optional Resume Sections
Still have extra space to fill within your resume and want to show off your other important qualifications?
You can include some of the following optional sections to help your resume stand out:
- Hobbies and interests - While this is not a game-changer, they can really help show YOU are as an individual.
- Volunteering experience - If you try to help others in your free time, while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. This can be a huge plus for the HR manager.
- Certifications and awards - Do you have any relevant certifications and awards in your field? As long as it’s relevant, feel free to include it.
- Publications - Are you a freelance writer or a distinguished author? You can include your published works (online, academic journal, etc.) here.
- Projects - Working on a side project can really show off your passion for your field. Hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time.
27) Tailor Your Skills to The Job Position
When scanning your resume, one of the most important things hiring managers look for is whether you have the right skills or not.
They’re not looking for just any skills, either. They’re looking for the skills that are going to help you excel at the job you’re applying for.
So, you need to tailor your skills section for each position you apply for.
You can usually figure out which ones are worth mentioning by scanning the job ad.
As a given, make sure you don’t mention anything that’s not directly related to your job.
For example, no one cares about your Photoshop design skills if you’re applying to work as a cashier.
Not sure which skills you can include? Check out our comprehensive list of 150+ must-have skills for any resume .
28) Cut the Fluff
Fluff is way more common than you’d think.
A lot of university students and fresh graduates often fill up their skills section with buzzwords like:
- Critical thinking
- Communication
But if you take a step back and think about it, those skills don’t mean anything. You know it, we know it, the HR manager knows it.
Without providing an example, they’re just a waste of space.
Just about everyone is good at “ communication ” - it doesn’t mean anything without experience to back it up.
So, go through your resume again, and think about this: does everything I say provide clear value?
If the answer is “No,” we’d recommend cutting it and replacing it with something more interesting.
Don’t have much experience? Struggling to fill in your resume? Check out our guide to making a no-experience resume .
29) Proofread With a Tool Like Grammarly
You can’t afford to have any typos on your resume.
There’s nothing more ironic than someone claiming to have an “eye for detail” with a bunch of spelling mistakes in their resume.
So, to be positive that your resume is typo-free, you can use a tool like Grammarly when you’re going over your final edits.
While Microsoft Word and Google Docs do a decent job of detecting errors, it’s always a good idea to have a backup spelling tool just in case.
30) Be Consistent With Section Formatting
Be consistent with your section formatting so that your overall resume is easy on the eyes.
This includes things like:
- Line spacing.
31) Include Volunteering Experience
You can’t go wrong with volunteering experience.
It’ll make you stand out regardless of your job position or industry.
If the volunteering experience is somehow related to your career and has some transferable skills, you can even include it in your work experience
Here’s what that might look like:
Volunteer Camp Instructor
FireTech Summer Camps
06/2018 - 09/2018
Courses taught:
- Coding games with Java
- Python and electronics with Minecraft
- Teen coding with Python
32) Include Irrelevant Jobs if You Have No Other Experience
As a general rule, when applying for a job, you only list work experience that’s relevant for the position.
But what if you have none?
In that case, it’s totally OK to mention ANY work experience you might have, even if it’s not relevant for the job you’re applying for.
Look at it this way: the recruiter is more likely to hire someone that's worked A job, rather than a person that's never worked a day in their life.
11+ Nice-to-Have Resume Tips and Tricks
33) include languages and proficiency.
Most companies are international nowadays, and being bilingual is a great way to gain a competitive advantage.
Even if knowing a foreign language isn’t necessary for the job you’re applying for, it might come in handy at some point in the future.
When listing languages, you should always include your skill level:
- Intermediate
Oh, and it goes without saying that you shouldn’t lie about your skill levels.
Trust us, you don’t want to end up in a situation where the interviewer is a native Spanish speaker, and you exaggerated your “Proficient Spanish.”
34) Don’t Include “Reference Available Upon Request”
This is another common mistake many people still make.
Having a whole section dedicated to that one phrase is just a waste of space.
Hiring managers know they can always request your list of references - so what’s the point of mentioning it?
35) Don’t Include a Photo (If You’re From the US and UK)
There’s a lot of confusion around photos on resumes .
Some people always use a photo on their resume.
Others believe it’s a strict no-no.
So, which one is it?
It depends on your location.
There are strict anti-discrimination labor laws in some countries, namely:
- United Kingdom
- United States
If you’re from one of those countries, don’t include a photo on your resume.
Obviously, there are some exceptions to the rule - such as, if you’re applying for a modelling job.
If you’re from anywhere else in the world, though, you can include a photo.
36) Feeling Stumped? Get Inspired by Resume Examples
Have doubts about your resume design or layout?
Check out some of our job-winning resume examples .
We made sure to cover samples for several different fields, including business, computer science, and more!
37) Read Your Resume Out Loud
While it may sound awkward, reading your resume out loud is the best way to spot any awkward phrases or spelling mistakes.
Sure, Grammarly is useful, but it often misses a lot of really obvious mistakes (which the HR manager probably won’t!).
This is going to be monotonous, yes. But it’s the best way to proofread your resume and it also beats any spell checking tools out there.
38) Clean Up Your Online Presence
Imagine this:
The recruiter LOVES your resume.
They’re about to call you in for an interview, but before that, they decide to check up on your online presence.
Big mistake.
The first thing that pops up when they Google your name is your Facebook page, with very embarrassing photos from your last night out.
Not really that appropriate for a Senior Banker.
Want to avoid such awkward situations? Make sure your online presence is working FOR you, not against you:
- Change your Facebook Privacy setting to “Friends” to make sure random people can’t see your profile.
- Clean up your Twitter account, make sure you’re not posting anything too scandalous.
- Google your name and see if you can find anything off. You can ask Google to remove any private sensitive information .
Do you have a LinkedIn profile? You should! It shows the recruiter that you’re serious about your career.
Make sure to optimize your LinkedIn profile so that it complements your resume!
39) Consider Putting Education First
The most important sections of your resume should come first.
Are you a student with very limited work experience?
Consider putting your education section on top of your work experience.
This places a lot more focus on your education career, as opposed to any irrelevant jobs you might have worked.
Of course, if you have worked a job in your field, you’d always want to put work experience on top.
40) Add Your Courses In the Education Section
If your education section is your biggest selling point, then you might want to also add any relevant courses you’ve taken.
As usual, relevance is key here. Applying for a job in finance? The recruiter doesn’t care about the social media course you took in your freshman year.
B.A. in Accounting and Finance
- Advanced financial statistics
- Econometrics II
- Advanced accounting II
- Media communication
- Digital and social media
- Communication research
41) Use DocSend to Track Your Resume
Ever wondered what happens after you send in your application?
Did the HR even read your resume, or did it fall through the cracks?
Well, with a tool like DocSend , you can know for sure whether someone look at your resume or not.
The way this works is, you upload your resume on DocSend, and it gives you a link you can use.
Whenever someone opens your link and looks at your resume, you’ll get a notification.
Cool, right?
This way, you can know for sure if you can expect a call for an interview (the HR looked at your resume for 60+ seconds), or you’re just not qualified (HR closed the resume within 5 seconds of opening it).
And to put the cherry on top, you’ll know if the HR manager missed your resume (you won’t get the notification within a week), so you can just send them a quick reminder!
- Unfortunately, this method only works if you’re applying for a job through e-mail and not through an online application.
42) Use Colors to Stand Out
The color scheme you use in your resume is an important part of its design.
Ideally, you should strike the right balance of creativity and professionalism.
If you’re applying for a job in a more conservative industry (e.g. finances, banking), a standard black and white theme is fine.
But if you’re applying to work in a creative startup as a web designer or a developer, you can get more creative.
After all, HR managers get a TON of resumes every day, and most of them look exactly the same.
Whenever you can afford to stand out with your resume, you should!
43) Consider Using a Professional Template
If you’re looking to create a new resume but don’t want to go through the painstaking process of creating one from scratch - consider using a professional template.
There’s a lot of pre-built online resume templates that can have you up and running with a fully customized resume in a matter of minutes.
There’s a lot of variety as well. You can pick a design that works perfectly for your industry or field.
Want to give it a try? Check out some of our top resume templates !
Key Takeaways
And that's a wrap!
There are a ton of resume tips & tricks on the web, and in this guide, we covered all the essential stuff.
So, we hope you enjoyed the guide and are a lot more confident with your resume skills!
Looking for more actionable advice? Check out our career blog for industry-leading career tips and tricks!
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- Resume and Cover Letter
- How to Make a Resume:...
How to Make a Resume: Beginner's Writing Guide with Examples
30 min read · Updated on March 22, 2024
Your dream job is one resume away!
Your resume is arguably the most important financial document you'll ever own. And before you think, “Yeah – right” let's consider for a moment. Without a resume, you don't get the job, so you can't pay bills, support a family, go to the big game, have that weekend trip, or plan for retirement. Your resume is the doorway to your future, so let's make sure it's perfect.
Part of making it perfect is remembering that it's a targeted career marketing document – not a chronicle of your life. So, how do you write a resume? In this beginner's writing guide, we'll show you how to make a resume and provide examples of what each section should look like.
Grab a cup of coffee and strap in, because you're about to learn everything you need to know about how to make a new resume!
Table of contents:
The purpose of a resume
Avoid rejection by the ATS
What is your career target?
Build your personal brand, what should your resume look like, how to make a resume – the layout.
How long does it take to put together a resume?
A major resume no-no: typos
How to make your resume more professional
Theory in practice – resume examples
The most basic purpose of a resume is to sell your skills , achievements , and qualifications to prospective employers. This one document can financially make or break you. Let's take a quick look at what being unemployed costs you per day (assuming a five-day workweek):
If you make $40,000 per year, you lose about $155 every day that you're out of work
If you make $50,000 per year, you lose about $190 every day that you're out of work
If you make $75,000 per year, you lose about $288 every day that you're out of work
If you make $100,000 per year, you lose about $385 every day that you're out of work
Clearly, finding out how to make a resume for a job is critical so that you can properly sell your skills, qualifications, experiences, and achievements to prospective employers.
The job market is tough and highly competitive; you have to stand out in a sea of qualified candidates by creating a compelling narrative that tells a story of value, keeping in mind that your resume is supposed to do a few things for you:
Introduce you to a new company
Underscore how your experiences and education are relevant
Showcase how your skills and competencies will benefit the new company's team
Win interviews
Avoid rejection by the ATS
What do you know about applicant tracking systems? Job seeking can be compared to throwing your resume into a black hole. You can go through 100 listings on any job search website and complete the online application with zero results.
Ever had that happen? It's okay, it happens to everyone at some point or another!
The problem is that you're probably not putting the correct keywords into your resume. When you hit “Submit” on an online application, it isn't magically emailed to the hiring manager.
Oh, no!
It goes through a computer system that scans your resume for specific keywords that can be found in the job description posted by the company. And, just so you know, approximately 90% of companies use ATS scans , including everything from mom-and-pop shops to Fortune 500 companies.
The companies use these programs because they just don't have time for a human to go through all the resumes they receive. Depending on the job opening, a company can get between 250 and 500 applicants . Can you imagine being the person who has to sift through all those resumes?
Here is where the ATS steps in. It's designed to weed through candidates to narrow the applicant pool, so that the human hiring manager has a more reasonable resume load to go through. It ranks the remaining candidates in order based on how much of a match they are for the position that's open.
Being overlooked by the ATS is one of the number one reasons job seekers get ghosted by companies.
Once your resume makes it through the ATS and gets into the hands of a hiring manager, don't think they're going to sit down and read each one. Who has that kind of time? You should expect that the first round of resume sorting will consist of them flipping through the stack to pick the ones that stand out within about 6 seconds of glancing at them.
PRO TIP: Put your resume on a table, stand up, and look at it from a little distance. Is it eye-catching? Can you tell the position you're seeking just by glancing at it? Set a timer if you have to, but no more than 10 seconds.
Speaking of eye-catching, don't make the same mistake as a lot of your rival job seekers by being too generic with your resume. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that being non-specific will open doors to more opportunities. The problem is that the hiring manager won't be able to tell exactly where you'll fit within their organization.
The first step in winning an interview is being sure that your resume actually makes it into the hands of a human being at the company you apply to. Start by defining what you want to do.
So the first, and most important, step in crafting the perfect resume is to narrow down your target career path. The more specific you are with this first step, the more response you'll receive from hiring managers because they'll be able to tell exactly how you fit within their organization. There are four areas to focus on as you begin to chart your career path:
Industry: Do you want to work in private sector, nonprofit, government, or public roles?
Geography: This one is more in-depth than choosing rural vs urban. It also includes whether you want to work in a dynamic or static environment.
Company size: You may not think it, but having an idea about whether you want to work in a small company or one with thousands of employees is important.
Role: Saving the best for last, you have to know what position you want.
On the surface, it may seem like these things are only important for the job search aspect of landing a new position, but you have to know what voice to write your resume in, too. Part of that is knowing your audience. When you understand your audience, you can build a personal brand that resonates with what they're looking for in a new staff member.
Now that you've gotten your target career path nailed down, the next step is to brand you. Think of yourself as a product and your resume is the packaging. Companies spend a lot of time on their branding and packaging - you have to do the same thing.
The best place to start is with a career assessment . Taking one of these tests can help you to identify your strengths, what sets you apart from others, and key themes of your professional identity. Just like Nike and Coca-Cola have timeless taglines and catchphrases that succinctly define what they have to offer to consumers, your personal brand has to tell a concise, yet compelling, story. This is where your resume comes in.
Your resume isn't just a piece of paper you give to a hiring manager or upload to a website that says, “I'm interested in this job.” Your resume is a personal marketing tool. You shape that tool with words that describe your experiences and achievements, to impress and grab the attention of the hiring manager.
Unlike Nike's “Just Do It” phrase, your personal brand isn't something you build and forget. It is fluid and should be revisited and refined as you gain new skills, experiences, and achievements. Weave the elements of your brand into every section of your resume.
There is a common misconception that entry-level resumes look different than executive resumes. The reality is that the only difference is how much content is available to write about.
Obviously, someone who has little to no experience will have a short resume – generally one page.
When you start to get up to 10 years of experience, then you've earned the second page, so go ahead and use it.
It's not incremental though
Just because you have 20 years of experience doesn't mean you can have a three-page resume. As you work through how to make a resume, remember that a three-page resume should be avoided, unless you have a lot of career extras like publications, research, patents, publications, or public speaking engagements to talk about.
Other than the number of pages, your resume should use the same format and layout no matter if you're applying to a job as someone fresh out of college or seeking to be the CEO of a company.
Chronological resume
The reverse-chronological is the most popular, traditional, and well-known resume format. Its focus is placed on achievements from your career history and is defined by listing your work history starting with your current or most recent job and working backward 10-15 years.
Employers like this type of resume because it tells them what, when, and where you worked. It's best to use this if your work history is steady and shows growth and development. If you're looking to make a career change, have had frequent job changes, or if you're seeking your first job, this may not be the best format to use.
Pro Tip: You could also get lost in the ATS if your resume is over-designed . Many resume writers will tell you that you need to stand out in the sea of sameness by adding some personality to your resume through design. While that's true, you need to avoid heavily formatted resumes which are often rejected by computer scanners as being illegible.
Functional resume
This resume type focuses more on skills and experiences rather than on your work history. It's more of a “what you know and how you apply that knowledge” than a simple list of where you got the knowledge. It plays down gaps in work history and makes frequent job changes less noticeable. If it isn't done properly, though, it can be confusing for the hiring manager to read and understand. There's also a bit of a stigma behind it, because employers know that job seekers use this style to downplay job-hopping. So, the first thing they do when they get a functional resume is check employment dates. If you can avoid using this style, it's best to do so.
Combination resume
There is another resume format that focuses on skills first and then experience last. It's the combination resume, which is sometimes called a hybrid resume. This is the most complex resume type and the best resume for mid-career professionals who are transitioning into another career or for people who have special skills and a strong track record of accomplishments. These types of resumes do take a long time to read and some hiring managers won't take the time unless they're looking to fill a hard-to-fill position.
Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae (CV) is Latin and means “course of life.” It's a little different from a resume, but some positions require a CV over a resume. The first thing you would notice is that a CV is significantly longer than a resume. A resume is a self-branding document meant to portray your experience and achievements in a concise and easy-to-read format. A CV goes much further into the depth of your education and accomplishments (think publications, awards, and honors) and even has a section for you to include "Areas of Interest."
The best way to describe a CV is that it's a career biography. The biggest significant difference is that a CV is arranged chronologically in a way that gives a complete overview of your full working career. It also doesn't change based on the career or position for which you're applying.
Layout
To make things easier for the hiring manager to digest the content of your resume, it should be laid out in a specific way to ensure that the right information is in the right place.
Hiring managers don't READ resumes. They skim through until they find something that piques their interest and then they stop to read
Contact information
Title
Professional summary , core competencies, experience , education and credentials , awards, certificates, and volunteer work .
Since the reverse-chronological resume is the one that the majority of people will use to apply for jobs, and because it's the format that hiring managers want to see, we'll focus this article on showing you how to make a resume using that style.
Current contact information
Location | Phone | Email | LinkedIn | Portfolio (if applicable)
You can be creative and use bold font in your contact information and even put a border under it to separate it from the body of your resume.
- Name: Be sure to list your name the same across all professional documents (e.g., resume, cover letter, thank you note, LinkedIn profile). Don't get hung up with whether to use your legal name (i.e. the name on your birth certificate or driver's license). Write your name in the manner you want people to address you. Also, if you use any abbreviated credentials after your name (e.g. Jane Smith, MD), remember to include them on all professional documents. You can also include any shortened versions of your name in quotations (e.g. Christopher "Chris" Smith). Just make sure to list it the same way everywhere you put your name.
- Address: It is no longer customary to include your full address on your resume. There have been instances of discrimination against job seekers based on their address. As far as your address is concerned, all you need is the City, State, and Zip Code. A lot of people leave off the Zip Code; however, hiring managers can query the ATS for all resumes within a radius of a Zip Code. If you exclude the Zip Code or put something like, "Greater New York Metro Area," your resume won't be included in the query.
- Phone and email: Put the telephone number and email address where you can easily be reached. Also, be sure that your email address is professional. Using something like [email protected] just won't cut it. The best idea is to use some form of your name. If you're paranoid about having your name in your email address, then you can use some form of the type of position you seek, like [email protected].
- LinkedIn URL: You don't have to spell out the entire URL on the contact line. You can put the words “LinkedIn URL” and hyperlink those words. Before you include your LinkedIn URL, be sure that your LinkedIn profile is optimized for the career you want - because you can bet if they have access to it, the hiring manager will look at it.
- Portfolio: If you're applying for a position like Graphic Designer or Software Designer, you may have a portfolio of work that you want to make available to someone reviewing your application for employment. Include a hyperlink to the portfolio in your contact information.
- Headshot / photo: There is no reason to include a headshot on your resume . Actually, it's seen as taboo and could be the thing that gets your resume rejected, because the hiring manager might assume you think you can get the job based on your looks. However, there are some exceptions, like if you're applying to be a model or actor.
Do you want a hiring manager to be able to tell immediately what type of candidate you are? Put a title at the top of your resume. Center the text on the line, put it in bold font, and put a blank space above and below. The white space and the small amount of words will help it to jump off the page and immediately be noticed. It will also be the first step in helping you stand out in the sea of sameness.
Also, be sure the title on your resume mirrors the title on the job description that you're applying to, but add a bit of panache to it so that it's not too boring. For example, instead of writing “Financial Services Associate,” write “Client-Centric Financial Services Associate Dedicated to Customer Engagement and Revenue Growth.” Just remember to keep it on one line.
The very next thing on the page should always be your Professional Summary. But how do you write a summary for a resume?
It's a three to five-sentence statement about you. Where you've been in your career, where you're going, and how you'll use your experience to get there.
While the professional summary is sometimes referred to as the resume objective , you must remember that the days of writing a resume objective are dead . Never, ever include an objective on your resume. They are a waste of space and don't relay any information that markets you as the best candidate for an open position.
Let's take a look at an example of each:
Sales Representative seeking a challenging position that will use my skills and provide opportunities for growth in a dynamic and rewarding company.
As you can see, the objective is very inward-facing and only talks about what you want out of your career. It provides no value to the hiring manager and eliminates any possibility for them to be able to tell what you bring to the table for them.
Professional Summary:
Ambitious sales professional offering 10+ years' experience in customer retention and aggressive revenue growth. Conquers goals and quotas through a keen awareness of the human buying motive that allows for quickly overcoming objections. Used historical data and consumer trends to reach new customers and grow territory by 24%. Innate ability to work independently or as a member of a cross-functional team.
The best use of resume space is to write a summary of your career. The effectiveness of this summary comes from the fusing of three things:
Relevant keywords – customer retention, revenue growth, and quotas
Hard and soft skills – overcoming objections and working independently
An achievement – 24% territory growth
With this professional summary, the hiring manager will be able to tell in an instant what you have to offer their team.
Even though the skills section of your resume is small, it packs a powerful punch! The skills you list in this section highlight your key abilities and show potential employers what you bring to the table.
It should contain approximately 12 ATS-friendly keywords and phrases that align with the keywords in the job description. Meaning, this is a fluid section that will need to be tailored to every job that you apply to. Technically speaking, your entire resume should be customized to align with each job description. That's one thing that will help you get past the ATS.
Be sure to include a good mix of hard and soft skills because prospective employers not only want to know that you can perform the tasks related to your job (hard skills), but they also want to gain a clear understanding of how you'll fit within the culture of the company (soft skills).
Tips for building your Core Competencies section:
Include skills that are relevant to the job that you're applying to
Avoid creating a laundry list of everything you know how to do – be selective so that the section is more impactful
Group similar competencies together using categories – technical skills, soft skills, and languages
Prioritize your top skills based on their relevance to the job you want
Update frequently
Be consistent with the formatting
Here is a sample Core Competencies list that contains both hard and soft skills:
Core Competencies
Project Management | Data Analysis | Cross-Functional Collaboration | Digital Marketing Strategy | Python Programming | Customer Relationship Management (CRM) | Negotiation | Team Leadership | Business Development | Financial Modeling | Articulate Communication
This section is meant to show how your career history lends itself to the skills you have that make you the perfect candidate for a given job. There are some general rules of thumb on how to make a resume with a great professional experience section:
Don't go further back than 10 to 15 years
Use no more than 3 to 5 bullets per work listing
Incorporate at least 5 measurable achievements per 10 years of experience (the more the better)
Use stacking for companies where you held more than one role
10-15 Years
The 10-15 years of experience is the most relevant – you can list more than that, but avoid using bullet points for roles over 10 years old. Begin by listing your most recent position first and work your way backward to your oldest position, within that 10-15-year range. If you have 30 years of experience, you can use achievements or skills you learned during that time as talking points during the interview. Listing those older experiences on your resume will only dilute the content.
As you write out your bullet points, keep two words in mind: “so what?” The hiring manager is going to be thinking it, you might as well be thinking it, too. Every time you write something on your resume, think, “So what? Why am I writing this? What value will it bring to my new employer? Will this be THE THING that lands me an interview?"
Achievements
Remove “Responsible for…” from your resume-writing vocabulary. That's because it's crucial that you talk about what you achieved, instead of just what your responsibilities were. Let's face it, there are a lot of things that people are “responsible for” that never get done. So, be sure to talk about things you actually accomplished, as that will be the proof the hiring manager needs to take the next step and call you for an interview.
1. Use numbers whenever possible
The best way to call attention to your career accomplishments is to use numbers. Numbers add credibility to your claims and provide a clear picture of what you bring to the table.
Don't write this:
- Conducted cold calls to expand client base
Write this instead:
- Increased sales by 15% by making approximately 20 cold calls per day to expand the client base
The latter makes an unmistakable assertion that you had a positive impact, not only in your role but on the company as a whole. You can take it a step further and talk about things like problem-solving skills and how you addressed challenges to lead to team success. These types of soft skills are highly valued by employers and could be the thing that lands you an interview.
PRO TIP: Use the CAR method for building achievement statements into your resume.
2. Use action words to convey accomplishment
A lot of people make the mistake of copying bullet points from the job descriptions of the roles they've held. This practice makes you sound detached from achievements and focuses more on responsibilities. Using passive language is too generic and doesn't allow a hiring manager to see what you'll be able to accomplish in the new role.
It's better to use action language to show that you're an achiever rather than a doer. Here are some examples of action words you can use on your resume:
Worked with others: Advised, Aided, Assisted, Chaired, Coached, Collaborated with, Consulted with, Helped, Instructed, Interacted with, Mentored, Motivated, Supported
Communicated: Addressed, Advertised, Answered, Briefed, Corresponded with, Debated, Explained, Facilitated, Informed, Interpreted, Interviewed, Persuaded, Responded to
Analyzed data: Assessed, Appraised, Audited, Calculated, Computed, Estimated, Evaluated, Forecast, Inspected, Measured, Researched, Surveyed, Tested
Operated equipment: Installed, Maintained, Programmed, Ran, Serviced, Used
Worked with money or contracts: Administered, Appropriated, Authorized, Balanced, Controlled, Directed, Enforced, Financed, Funded, Governed, Invested, Monitored, Oversaw, Purchased
Organized something: Arranged, Assembled, Catalogued, Compiled, Coordinated, Itemized, Routed, Scheduled, Stocked, Tracked
Created: Composed, Customized, Designed, Directed, Established, Founded, Illustrated, Originated, Shaped
Researched: Analyzed, Collected, Criticized, Detected, Diagnosed, Evaluated, Tested
How to make your professional experience section: The formula
There's a formula for writing your professional experience section in a way that focuses on achievements. You'll start by asking yourself these questions about every job you've had:
What was the name of the company?
What was the title of your role?
What dates were you employed? (*Hint: use the MM/YYYY format for your dates)
What did you do every day? (*Example: Leveraged management skills to direct operations of 5 separate but concurrent projects by delegating tasks to staff based on employee acumen and monitoring / controlling budgets)
What is one thing you did at the company that you're really proud of?
What is another thing you're really proud of?
What is one more thing you did that you're really proud of?
When you put all of that together, it should look like this:
Company Name | MM/YYYY to Present
Position Title
Balanced competing priorities on multiple and concurrent projects and program management initiatives using data-driven strategies in Agile environments. Managed key accounts, onboarded new accounts, and oversaw organizational process adoption for nursing facilities, emergency departments, and pharmacies.
Developed $2M Provider Incentive Program that increased community provider partnerships
Saved $800K by using Six Sigma skills to implement DMAIC approach
Coached and mentored 2 direct reports, creating an open environment of communication that facilitated future-facing decision-making
Many people will create separate sections for education history and certifications. That's not necessary. You can include all of it in one section. You can also include extras like relevant coursework , projects, and achievements. These extras can be truly beneficial for your application if you have little to no work experience.
There are some general rules of thumb for the education section:
Spell out acronyms (BS, MS, PhD) and school abbreviations
It is no longer customary to include graduation dates unless you're still in school or graduated within the last year
Never include high school, unless you're still in high school - listing high school doesn't say “ I finished high school, ” it says, “ I didn't go to college .”
List your degree first and then your school, unless you've obtained multiple degrees at the same institution.
Here's what a regular education section looks like:
EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS
Master of Business Administration (MBA) | ABC University
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) | XYZ University
Six Sigma Black Belt | Council for Six Sigma Certification
If you don't have a lot of experience and need to include some relevant coursework or major projects to inject relevant keywords into your resume, then this is what that would look like:
Relevant coursework: Marketing, Operations Management, Accounting, Corporate Finance
Capstone project: Let a team of 4 to execute a market analysis project to expand the Brooms and Handles company into new regions. Used market and consumer analysis data to identify gaps and achieve a 15% projected revenue increase and a 20% increase in customer satisfaction within the pilot program.
You can include educational information about a degree program even if it's still in progress. Here's what that would look like:
Expected completion: 05/2024
Capstone project: Let a team of 4 to execute a market analysis project to expand the Brooms and Handles company into new regions. Used market and consumer analysis data to identify gaps and achieve a 15% projected revenue increase and a 20% increase in customer satisfaction within the pilot program.
It is important to list what you do outside of work and school. It helps to demonstrate that you're a well-rounded person.
Were you the president of a fraternity or sorority?
Did you get involved with showing new students around campus?
Have you headed a sales team that produced top awards?
Were you an employee of the month?
Do you speak multiple languages?
Did you volunteer for an organization?
Did you perform some major research that ended up being published?
All of these extras allow prospective employers a sneak peek into your life outside of work. They can also go a long way to breaking the ice during an interview, especially if something you do outside work is important or interesting to the hiring manager.
Keep in mind to list only those volunteer positions, projects, or affiliations that are related to your career goals.
How long does it take to make a resume?
If you're going to use the resume wizard that MS Word has, you can slap your information together in a day or two. It will get to employers. The bad thing is that it probably won't get a whole lot of attention.
The "just right resume" can take weeks, because of how much background work goes into it. You'll write it, rewrite it, and write it again, and may even have multiple versions. Ultimately, the exact amount of time that goes into putting your resume together depends on your level of experience, how complex your history is, and the specificity of the job you're applying to.
Entry-level resumes take the least amount of time, simply because there's less information to include
Mid-level resumes take a few days because of the amount of detail in your work history
Executive resumes, or those for specialized positions, can take weeks - especially if you have to do some digging to come up with accomplishments from your previous positions
Updating an existing resume that's well-maintained can be done in just a few hours
While the time spent can seem like a lot, if you're truly marketing yourself for that “just right” position, do you want your resume to say “This was thrown together in a couple of hours using a template” OR do you want it to say “I know this document is important and a significant amount of time was spent on it to make it perfect?”
The first and foremost thing that will get your resume tossed in the garbage can are typos. The number of resumes with errors that are turned in every day to employers across the globe is so astounding that it bears discussing.
You must proofread your resume!
The major problem with typos and grammatical boo-boos is that your eyes will read what you intended to type. So, after you've read through your resume a few times and think it's perfect, get a friend to read it. Make sure the friend is one of those brutally honest types. It's better to get it back marked all over with bright red ink so you can fix it before you send it out, than to send it out and then realize there's a mistake in it.
How to make your resume seem more professional
Lazy words: Do you see words like "etc" or “other duties as required” on your resume? Delete them immediately. If you take shortcuts in the language of your resume, hiring managers will wonder if you'll be taking shortcuts at work.
Cookie cutter resumes: Your resume has to stand out. Because of that, you should avoid throwing something together that you find a sample of online. Make it yours, make it represent you. Many people rely on the resume wizard that comes loaded with MS Word and, while that is a good tool to use to help you remember the sections to include, it shouldn't be the end-all-and-be-all of your resume design.
Specificity: You've had three jobs in the last 10 years and you've listed every detail of everything you've done during your tenure at those jobs. That makes you a Jack (or Jackie) of all trades, but a master of nothing. You have to be specific to the job for which you're applying. What value do you bring to that employer for that job? What achievements can you highlight?
Tailoring: Considering the rampant use of ATS by companies big and small, you have to take the time to customize your resume so that it gets past those scanners. Remember to use relevant keywords from the job descriptions throughout your resume.
PRO TIP: You can check to see how to make your resume better! Have it checked against an ATS and get a free, personalized, and professional resume review .
Theory in practice – 10 resume examples
It's one thing to have someone tell you how to make a resume, it's another thing to see an example – proof that all of this information can come together in a practical way that makes sense.
1. Software Engineer resume example
Click here for an example of a Software Engineer resume.
2. Data Scientist resume example
Click here for an example of a Data Scientist resume.
3. Cybersecurity resume example
Click here for an example of a cybersecurity resume.
4. Digital Marketing Manager resume example
Click here for an example of a Digital Marketing Manager resume.
5. Nurse Practitioner resume example
Click here for an example of a Nurse Practitioner resume.
6. Finance Director resume example
Click here for an example of a Finance Director resume.
7. Attorney resume example
Click here for an example of a Attorney resume.
8. Administrative Office Assistant resume example
Click here for an example of an Administrative Office Assistant resume.
9. Information Technology Expert resume example
Click here for an example of an Information Technology Expert resume.
10. Chief Executive Officer resume example
Click here for an example of a CEO resume.
Now you know how to make a resume for your next job!
It may seem like it takes a lot of work to make a good resume, but if you've followed along this far there are a few things that should be ingrained in you that will help you write a professional resume:
Know what you want to do – be specific
Make your resume with the right format
Use a standard layout, whether you are writing your first resume or 50th
Use action words to make your resume stand out
Quantify your achievements to prove that you have what it takes to succeed in a new role
Tailor your new resume to each job
Double and triple-check for errors, typos, and grammar mistakes
If you're still unsure how to make a perfect resume, TopResume has you covered. Our team of professional resume writers has the know-how and experience to write a resume for you that will win interviews.
Recommended reading:
Resume Tricks That Don't Work
What Does Your Resume Really Say About You?
Bad Resume Advice You Should Completely Ignore
Related Articles:
Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?
How to Create a Resume With No Education
Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang
See how your resume stacks up.
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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > 10 proven tips for building better resumes
10 proven tips for building better resumes
Applying for new jobs is exciting—and stressful. Updating or creating a new resume can be a challenge, especially if you haven’t changed jobs recently. If you’re confused or discouraged, it’s time to get some tried-and-true resume help.
In this blog post, we rounded up necessary information about resumes, and ten tips to help yours shine.
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What is a resume?
Most recruiters ask job candidates to send their resumes alongside cover letters and recommender information. In academia, they ask for curriculum vitae (CVs) . These are rarely requested in a business setting.
In the business world, a resume is a single-paged document that lists a person’s professional background and skills. It can cover a variety of topics, including your:
- Professional summary
- Certificates
- Awards and honors
While resumes often contain these core materials, they rarely look the same. You can organize your resume chronologically, by function, or a mix of the two. You can use plain white paper with black lettering, or add color and interesting shapes.
You can format your resume however you’d like, as long as it is organized and appealing. However, it does need to reflect your unique qualities.
Why is having a good resume relevant?
Resumes are often the first thing recruiters look through. Cover letters, recommenders, and professional websites come later.
Recruiters spend 7.4 seconds screening your resume before they decide whether or not to keep looking at it. In that time, recruiters must be able to determine your work history and if you’ll be suitable for the position.
After the initial scan, recruiters want to review the highlights of your career. If your resume is well-written, they see your job history at its finest.
Resume help: 10 resume tips
So how can you make your resume stand out? You should:
- Use simple formatting. Recruiters will scan your resume quickly. If the formatting is overly complex, they might put it down. Carefully balance font style, font size, layout, and design. Use bullet points and bold headings to break up the text.
- Place an overview or mission statement at the top. Your most important information should be at the top of your resume. An overview at the top gives your recruiter a good sense of you right away.
- Include both hard and soft skills. Today’s recruiters aren’t just looking for hard skills. They want to be sure that you can thrive in their offices, too. Depending on the job you’re applying for, include a mixture of both hard and soft skills.
- Show results where you can. Don’t just mention your capabilities. You’ll need to show results, too. Include numbers where you can, and give small, telling details that show how you have helped projects succeed.
- Leave off what you can. Packed resumes often look disorganized. Include what is relevant to the role you’re applying for. You can leave off items like your mailing address and social media accounts, too, unless they’re necessary.
- Be consistent with your design and text. To help make your resume clear, ensure your colors and fonts are consistent. If you use specific tactics in formatting, like bullet points or sentence fragments, stay consistent throughout.
- Get creative. If you work in a creative field, experiment with design and presentation. If you don’t work in a creative field, you can still get creative with your text. Think of ways to reword items to exemplify their challenges and how you overcame them.
- Keep it to one page. Recruiters expect a one-page resume. While this can be a hurdle, it’s also a good thing. One page forces you to focus on the aspects of your history and present skills that matter.
- Proofread. Finally, you’ll need to proofread. Grammar and spelling errors can make your resume look unprofessional. It can help to read your resume out loud. You might even want to put your resume away for a day and come back to it later with fresh eyes.
Should you ever pay for resume help?
There are various businesses and freelancers who will write your resume for a fee.
If you are extremely stressed out about your resume and have absolutely no idea where it should start, this can be a good option. It might help your anxiety to know that a professional is in charge. Plus, your resume writer will certainly write you a relevant, clear resume.
However, if you pay someone to write your resume:
- It will cost you
- The finished product might seem clichéd
- It will be difficult for them to reflect your personality
- Your writing at a later stage (cover letter, emails, thank you note, etc.) might seem obviously different
Authoring your resume is free, and you’ll be able to make it unique. When you get a job, it will be apparent to your coworkers that the person who wrote your resume was you.
Plus, if you have a Microsoft account, you can use templates to get you started.
Getting resume help with templates in Word
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How do I update my resume to help land that job? Ask HR
Johnny C. Taylor Jr. tackles your human resources questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR professional society and author of "Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval.”
Have a question? Submit it here .
Question: Since leaving a job I have had for almost a decade, I have primarily conducted my job search online. I have used the same resume design since I started working 12 years ago. Should I update my resume design to be more effective? What do you recommend for building a modern resume? – Sandra
Answer: Updating your resume design can indeed be a wise move, especially if you've been using the same format for a long time. A fresh, modern design can help your resume stand out and leave a positive impression on recruiters and hiring managers. Here’s what I recommend for building a modern resume:
◾ Clean, professional layout: Opt for a layout that’s visually appealing and easy to read. Avoid cluttered designs and overly decorative elements that may distract from your content.
◾ Font selection: Stick to standard, easy-to-read fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. These fonts are widely accepted and compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), ensuring your résumé is easily scannable by both humans and software.
◾ Incorporate keywords: Tailor your resume to each job application by incorporating industry-specific keywords and phrases relevant to the position. Many companies use ATS to screen résumés, so this will increase the likelihood of your resume being noticed.
◾ Organized sections: Structure your resume into clear sections, including Contact Information, Summary or Objective, Work Experience, Skills, Education and any additional relevant sections such as Certifications or Volunteer Work. This organization makes it easy for recruiters to quickly find the information they need.
◾ Summary/objective statement: Start your résumé with a summary that highlights your key qualifications and career goals. Keep it concise, focusing on what sets you apart and what you aim to achieve in your career.
◾ Accomplishment-oriented experience: When listing your work experience, focus on highlighting your accomplishments, rather than just listing job duties. Use quantifiable achievements whenever possible, to demonstrate your impact, such as increasing sales by a certain percentage or leading successful projects.
◾ Skills section: Dedicate a section to showcasing your key skills and competencies, including both technical skills and soft skills relevant to the job. This section provides recruiters with a quick overview of your capabilities.
◾ Proofreading: Before submitting your resume, thoroughly proofread it to ensure there are no grammatical errors, typos, or formatting issues. Consider having someone else review your resume for feedback and additional insights.
By updating your resuméewith a modern design and incorporating these key elements, you can increase your chances of making a strong impression in today’s competitive job market. Good luck with your job search!
Ghosting a job Is it bad to ghost low priority potential employers? Ask HR
I've been denied PTO requests on multiple occasions, which is becoming increasingly frustrating. Most of them are denied on the grounds of staffing needs. Do I have any recourse in fighting these denials? What can I do to ensure PTO approvals? – Chanette
You may indeed have some recourse in addressing these denied paid time off requests. Start by reviewing your company's PTO policy and procedures. Many employers have specific guidelines regarding PTO requests, including deadlines for submission and limits on the number of employees who can be on leave simultaneously, to ensure adequate staffing levels.
First, check if your PTO requests were made in accordance with company policy. If they were not, ensure that you adhere to the established procedures for future requests, to increase the likelihood of approval.
However, if you followed company policy and your requests were still denied, consider discussing the matter with your manager or the human resources team. Seek clarification on the reasons for the denials and inquire about potential strategies to improve the approval rate for your requests.
It's also essential to consider whether your state mandates sick leave, and if your company uses PTO to fulfill those requirements. If so, your employer may be obligated to approve leave requests that align with qualifying reasons for sick leave under the law. If you’re uncertain about your state’s sick leave requirements, consult your HR team for clarification.
Ultimately, unless there is a contractual agreement or policy stating otherwise, employers typically have discretion in managing PTO usage. However, by following company procedures and addressing your concerns with management or HR, you may increase the likelihood of having your PTO requests approved more frequently.
Salaried, nonexempt What does that mean? Ask HR
15 Hobbies That Actually Look Good on a Resume
Posted: April 26, 2024 | Last updated: April 26, 2024
There’s no denying it: there’s an art to crafting a near-perfect resume. While no resume is flawless, there are definitely tips and tricks every job seeker should use, like including hobbies under their “personal interests” section. However, not all hobbies are created equal in the eyes of a potential employer.
This is a list of curated hobbies that impress even the most discerning boss. Forget about listing “video games” and “having fun with friends. These are the hobbies that level up every resume.
One of the best hobbies anybody can have is reading books. It’s an impressive habit. It shows a desire to expand one’s knowledge, and it’s infinitely preferable to admit that you’re hopelessly addicted to trendy (and trashy) reality TV shows.
I include reading as one of my favorite hobbies whenever I apply for a new job, and the strategy has yet to let me down.
2. Learning New Languages
Learning a new language is one of the best uses of anybody’s free time, and it’s a must-add to any resume. Dedicating yourself to learning a foreign language shows your potential employer that you’re determined and can focus on long-term projects.
These traits are what every boss wants to see in their workers. In addition, knowing more than one language is beneficial in international networking environments.
3. Photography
Photography takes talent. I’ve attempted to get into the hobby many times in my life, even going as far as buying an expensive digital camera. Still, I didn’t have an eye for it and eventually gave up. Fortunately, amateur photographers who include this hobby on their resumes will go over very well with a hiring manager.
Photographers have a keen eye for the little things and a steady hand. Any boss would be happy to have both traits in their employees.
4. Traveling
My extensive traveling over the past three years has made me a better, more well-rounded, and empathetic person. I’ve grown a lot. Traveling will do that to you. You appreciate different walks of life, see the lighter side of life, and know how to initiate a conversation with anyone.
Unsurprisingly, recruiters love seeing traveling listed as a hobby on a resume because they know the value of seeing the world and believe it translates to a successful work-life balance.
5. Making Music
I’m envious of anyone who can create music out of thin air. I wish I had that level of talent, but alas, I’m doomed to a fate of listening to music I didn’t create. Making music is one of the best hobbies a boss will see on a resume.
Hiring managers take one look at this particular hobby, and they think about the creative spark you’ll give the company. It’s a great hobby to list.
6. Graphic Design
I don’t think anyone denies that graphic designers (amateur or otherwise) have phenomenal talent. What these men and women can do with a digital canvas is genuinely next-level. As a result, hiring managers always consider them deserving of joining any workforce.
Graphic designers are creators, and bosses want to fill their teams with people who can create revenue, build culture, and innovate in their respective industries.
Many employers look for candidates with character, and writers have that quality in spades. Writers have a reputation to uphold. Many men and women consider writers far more intelligent, charming, and upstanding than non-writers (which is why I’m sure my significant other is drawn to me). For these reasons, including writing as a hobby on your resume is a good idea.
Maybe your future boss needs someone to update the employee handbook.
Loving the great outdoors and being one with nature is a great quality, and hiring managers love seeing “camping” as a hobby on resumes. Campers are great on their feet, problem-solvers, and don’t break under pressure.
If you love to take the occasional camping trip in the woods, don’t forget to mention it on your resume, especially if you’re looking for a job in the sporting goods industry.
9. Volunteering
Anyone who volunteers in their free time would be welcomed by nearly every company. Think about all the people you know who consistently volunteer; I’m sure they’re all phenomenal human beings who would be an asset to whoever they work for.
Let me put it this way: if you were in charge of hiring, would you toss the perpetual volunteer into the “no” pile? Of course, you wouldn’t.
10. Stand-Up Comedy
Believe it or not, having experience in the stand-up comedy world draws attention to your resume and signifies to a hiring manager that you’re witty, personable, and can make people laugh.
It takes an exceptional talent to stand on a stage and make people laugh. Only some people have a skillset like that, and many jobs want to diversify their employee pull as much as possible, so it’s a win-win situation.
11. Gardening
The best gardeners are faithful, have superb attention to detail, and know how to keep their heads down and work. What job wouldn’t want someone like that on staff?
You may not think that the gardening habit you’ve been addicted to since you were young is an impressive part of your resume, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Prospective employers always look for people who can keep their nose to the grindstone.
12. Philanthropy
The most remarkable people in the world routinely give their money away toward good causes and worthy people to help make the world a better place. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that bosses prefer generous workers to stingy ones; philanthropists foster healthy work environments and are a joy to be around.
If you donate to the less fortunate, don’t hesitate to include this fact on your resume. It could be the difference-maker the hiring manager is looking for.
13. Community Leadership
Contrary to popular belief, your next boss isn’t looking for the next great little worker bee; they’re looking for someone who can lead the company to the next level. If you’re a leader in your community, you’ll most likely be a leader wherever you work.
Being an active community leader, whether you’re a pastor or head of your school’s parent-teacher association, is one of the most significant resume green flags.
14. Practicing Yoga
I adore and respect may people who practice yoga, so it shouldn’t be surprising that a boss would feel the same way about yogis when they scan their resumes. Yoga is about balance and centeredness, and these two qualities make for a fantastic employee.
In addition, being a yoga fanatic will come in handy if your company ever goes on a wellness retreat, which I’m sure most bosses keep in mind when scouring through candidate’s files.
15. Archery
Patience. That’s precisely the trait a potential employer thinks you have if you include archery as a hobby on your resume. That’s an inherently good thing. Although archery may seem like a random hobby, it shows you’re disciplined and will never stop aspiring to hit your targets.
I’ve never used a bow and arrow before, but now that I know what it can do for my resume, I want to get into the hobby as soon as possible.
More Articles from 'Technabob'
- 15 Traditionally Masculine Hobbies That Women Do Well
- 15 Really Cool Hobbies That Require Little to No Money
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Here's some resume tips and tricks for this section: 21. Put experience first, education later. Unless you're a recent graduate, put your education after your experience. Chances are, your last couple of jobs are more important and relevant to you getting the job than where you went to college. 22.
3. List your name and contact information. To start writing your resume, create an eye-catching resume header that quickly highlights your contact information and job title. Your name should always be the largest element on your resume to make it stand out, so use a font size larger than 20 points.
Don't create a random Skills section just for the sake of it being there (ah, the responsible, detail-oriented, positive team player). If you're claiming you're great at "leadership," other sections of your resume should support it, and the skill should be relevant for the job. 31. Get Rid of Nonsensical Jargon.
10 resume writing tips. Here are a few key resume-writing tips to help you organize and design your resume. 1. Look for keywords in the job posting. The best place to start when preparing to write a resume is to carefully read the job postings that interest you. As you apply for different jobs, study each job description for keywords that show ...
Before you decide on using a builder, you should research the best resume builder websites and find one that fits your budget. 11. Avoid buzzwords. "Go-getter", "results-driven", "synergize" - a lot of job seekers think using buzzwords like these on their resume will magically impress employers.
Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles. Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there's a good chance they'll mess up your resume's formatting.
42) Use Colors to Stand Out. The color scheme you use in your resume is an important part of its design. Ideally, you should strike the right balance of creativity and professionalism. If you're applying for a job in a more conservative industry (e.g. finances, banking), a standard black and white theme is fine.
Make it distinctive to highlight your name and contact information. Organize your resume sections in the following order: summary/objective, work experience, education, skills, and extras. Use bullet points for your entries under each section. Find resume icons for each section or skip them altogether. File format.
Resume Help Improve your resume with help from expert guides. Create a resume now. CV. CV Builder Create a CV in 5 minutes. Get the job you want. ... To help you win the job, your resume must also look good and have a proper format, so we strongly advise you to also pick a professional resume template you can quickly fill in online and download ...
55 resume tips to help you land the job. 1. Include the job title on your resume. ATS are engineered in a way that enables them to highlight resumes that have the exact job titles recruiters are hiring for. The reason for this is that companies generally prefer applicants with experience in the same or related positions.
Example: "Achieved goal of reaching 250% annual sales quota, winning sales MVP two quarters in a row.". Be brief. Employers have mere seconds to review your resume, so you should keep your descriptions as concise and relevant as possible. Try removing filler words like "and," and "the.".
Use a standard layout, whether you are writing your first resume or 50th. Use action words to make your resume stand out. Quantify your achievements to prove that you have what it takes to succeed in a new role. Tailor your new resume to each job. Double and triple-check for errors, typos, and grammar mistakes.
Here's how to make your résumé stand out to robots and humans alike. 1. Highlight your achievements in your résumé. A common mistake job seekers make is believing a résumé is a recap of ...
Carefully balance font style, font size, layout, and design. Use bullet points and bold headings to break up the text. Place an overview or mission statement at the top. Your most important information should be at the top of your resume. An overview at the top gives your recruiter a good sense of you right away.
As a scientist, you need a resume that adequately covers the breadth of your educational background, research work, and experience. Find out how to fit so many important qualifications into a one-page resume with our examples below. Science & Research 6. Bioinformatics Resume. Chemistry Resume.
To make a resume that fully demonstrates your experiences and goals, it's important to be strategic with the language, format, and sections you include. In general, there are three broad steps to making your resume: Identifying keywords and important skills. Choosing a format. Writing each section. In this resume guide, we'll offer tips and ...
12 characteristics that make a good resume. Here's a list of elements that can help you distinguish yourself from other candidates when applying to your next position. 1. Power words. Power words are action verbs that provide a brief and effective context of your experience and the value you bring to an organization.
Examples of skills to put on a resume with no experience. OK, you understand now that your resume should be tailored to each job. But to get you started, here are 16 great skills to put on a resume with no experience—from soft to hard skills. General and behavioral skills. Need some key skills to put on a resume for an entry-level position?
Here are some tips to help you craft a successful resume: review resumes templates from your industry. incorporate common keywords used in job descriptions. prioritise important information. choose a professional layout and font. optimise your skills section. update and include your contact information.
2. Don't make it too long. Submit a one-page resume whenever possible so the hiring manager can quickly skim your qualifications and determine you're hireable. This is an important resume tip that will help ensure employers don't miss any of your key accomplishments. Per professional standards, the length of your resume can reach 2-3 pages only when you have 10+ years of experience or ...
Yes, well, so do recruiters. Keep your contact information relevant and current. To make a great resume header, you need to include your: full name (no nicknames) current address (optional) cell phone number. professional email address that you check regularly. LinkedIn profile or online portfolio if relevant.
Best practices include: Using clear and consistent formatting. Using bullet points to convey work experience in a concise format. Removing irrelevant information such as hobbies, photos, and graphs. Making the most of valuable space by adhering to margins and ensuring appropriate font size (10-11 point) 2. Focus on relevant experience.
Answer: Updating your resume design can indeed be a wise move, especially if you've been using the same format for a long time. A fresh, modern design can help your resume stand out and leave a ...
There's no denying it: there's an art to crafting a near-perfect resume. While no resume is flawless, there are definitely tips and tricks every job seeker should use, like including hobbies ...
Resume Help Improve your resume with help from expert guides. Create a resume now. CV. CV Builder Create a CV in 5 minutes. Get the job you want. ... With the Zety resume app, you'll no longer be sending resumes unsure of whether they're actually any good. If you follow all the creator's tips, you'll only ever send top-notch job applications!
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