Are you looking for your dream job? If so, one of the most important things you’ll need is a strong resume. Your resume is your chance to make a great first impression and stand out from other candidates. But what exactly should you include in your resume? And how can you make sure it’s effective? In this blog post, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to write a resume that will impress hiring managers.
First things first: what’s the difference between a resume and a CV? While a CV is a comprehensive record of your academic credentials and professional experience, a resume is a concise summary of your skills and qualifications for a specific position. The purpose of your resume is to highlight the most important aspects of your career trajectory while showcasing who you are and what sets you apart from other candidates.
So, who’s your target audience? When writing your resume, keep in mind that you’re trying to impress the hiring committee. You want to show off your professional accolades and technical prowess while also showcasing your unique personality. While you can’t include your entire life story on one page, you can give the hiring committee just enough to get them excited about interviewing you in person.
Let’s break down the structure of a resume.
First up: the education section. This section is where you can highlight your academic achievements in a clear and concise manner. Keep it simple and avoid using jargon or abbreviations. Include the name of your degree, the college or university you attended, and your grades, followed by the month and year of graduation.
Next, the professional experience section. List your full-time work experience, followed by any part-time roles or internships. Make sure to include your job title, company name, and dates of employment. List your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your current role. For each job, include 3-5 bullet points that highlight your responsibilities and the impact you made in that role. Focus on your top achievements, particularly those that go above and beyond your typical work and demonstrate your leadership skills.
The leadership skills section is an opportunity to highlight any projects or work you’ve undertaken that showcase your exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, as well as your ability to manage a team. The hiring committee wants to see you in action, reflecting on your initiative and willingness to take the plunge to ensure the success of a team or project.
The volunteer experience section is an excellent way to show a more well-rounded profile on your job application. Use this section to not only show what you’re passionate about but to convey what you do to give back to the community. Including a separate volunteer experience section will add a more personal touch to your profile while giving you an additional space to demonstrate your leadership and job-oriented skills.
Finally, the additional information section is a place to include any achievements and interests that don’t fit under the other sections. This might include technical skills, certifications, research projects, publications, coursework taken, language skills, and more.
When it comes to formatting your resume, less is more. Try to fit all your information into a single page and organize your sections based on their importance. Use a professional font size between 10-12 and a font type that’s easy to read. Include your name, mailing address, professional email address, and contact information in the header of the page. Use action verbs to start each bullet point, followed by the goal and the key results. Keep each point to 1 to 1.5 lines for better readability. Quantify your impact using numbers and statistics and avoid using unnecessary technical jargon.
Formatting tips
Never underestimate the power of a well-executed resume. Fit all your information into a single page and pay attention to how to organize your different sections based on their importance.
- Select a font size between 10-12 and a professional font type to go with it.
- Include your name, mailing address, professional email address, and contact information in the header of the page.
- Start each bullet point with an action verb followed by the goal and conclude with the key results. Keep each point in 1 to 1.5 lines only for better readability.
- Always quantify your impact using numbers and statistics and resist the urge to use unnecessary and complicated technical jargon.
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