Write Your NEXT Resume
Creating a powerful resume is crucial to making a lasting impression on potential employers. Approximately 40% of hiring managers spend less than a minute reviewing a resume, so yours needs to stand out. Let’s explore how to write an effective resume step by step.
Gather Your Professional Information
Preparation is the key to a standout resume. Begin by compiling all relevant information about your qualifications, skills, and achievements. This foundational step ensures your resume aligns with the job you are targeting.
Gather Essential Details
- Achievements: Document measurable accomplishments from previous roles.
- Skills: List your soft, hard, and technical skills that match the job description.
- Employment History: Include detailed information about previous employers, job titles, and responsibilities.
- Education: Note down your degrees, certifications, and licenses.
- Volunteer Work: Include any volunteer experience relevant to the job.
- Awards: Highlight any notable awards and honors you’ve received.
Having a comprehensive list ensures that you can tailor your resume to fit the job description, which increases your chances of securing an interview.
Pick the Best Resume Format
Choosing the right resume format is essential to effectively showcase your qualifications. There are three standard formats to consider:
This format is the most common and ideal for candidates with a consistent professional background. It highlights your work experience in reverse-chronological order.
A functional resume emphasizes your skills and training. It is particularly beneficial for those with employment gaps or those changing careers.
Also known as a hybrid resume, this format combines the best aspects of chronological and functional resumes. It showcases both your skills and work experience, making it suitable for experienced job seekers.
Add Your Contact Information
Your contact information should be clear and easy to find. Ensure you include:
- Full Name
- Phone Number
- Professional Email Address
- Location (City, State, ZIP code)
- Professional Links (LinkedIn, portfolio, etc.)
Example:
Kathy Backer | 555-555-5555 | Milwaukee, WI 53209
[email protected] | LinkedIn
Write a Compelling Resume Summary
A resume summary provides a snapshot of your qualifications and career goals. It should be concise and engaging, highlighting your most valuable skills and achievements.
Example:
Efficient, accuracy-driven secretary successful at delivering key clerical support to internal teams, customers, vendors, and other stakeholders. Demonstrated success in analytical problem-solving and boosting operational efficiency. Bringing 10 years of superior performance in related roles.
If you are a first-time job seeker or changing careers, consider writing a resume objective instead, focusing on the company’s needs rather than your own.
Make a Resume Work History Section
Your work history section should display your professional experience in reverse-chronological order. For each job, include:
- Job Title
- Company Name
- Location
- Dates of Employment
- Key Achievements and Responsibilities
Example:
Secretary | BCforward – Milwaukee, WI | 08/2015 – Current
- Conducted thorough research to assist professional staff with project tasks.
- Provided clerical support to 200 company employees.
- Produced accurate office files, updated spreadsheets, and crafted presentations.
Use action verbs like “Spearheaded,” “Improved,” and “Managed” to make your achievements more impactful.
Create a Resume Skills Section
Including a skills section is crucial, no matter which resume format you choose. List both hard and soft skills relevant to the job. Aim for six to eight top strengths.
Example:
- Project Management
- Analytical Problem-Solving
- Team Collaboration
- Technical Writing
- Customer Service
- Time Management
List Your Education
Your education section should include all relevant academic credentials. If you didn’t complete a degree, list the courses you did complete. Include the following details:
- School Name
- Location (City, State)
- Graduation Date (or expected date)
- Degree and Major
Example:
Columbia University, New York, NY
May 2014
Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Add Relevant Certifications, Licenses, and Training
For professions requiring certifications or licenses, create a separate section for them. Include:
- Certification Title
- Certifying Agency
- Date Obtained
- Expiration Date (if applicable)
Example:
Lifeguard Certification
American Red Cross, June 2021
Expires: June 2023
Include Optional Resume Sections
Optional sections like volunteer work, awards, honors, and publications can make your resume stand out. If these qualifications are relevant, include them under separate headings.
Example:
Volunteer Experience
Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer Builder, 2018-present
- Worked on construction projects for low-income families.
- Collaborated with a team to complete projects on time and within budget.
Proofread, Check Your Formatting, and Save
Typos and grammatical errors can ruin a resume. Reread your document thoroughly and ensure all dates and names are correct. Follow these formatting tips:
- Length: One page unless you have extensive experience.
- Margins: Set to 1 inch on all sides.
- Fonts: Use Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica.
- Font Size: 10-12 points for the body, 14-16 points for headers.
- Line Spacing: Single to 1.5 points.
- File Format: Save as PDF or DOCX.
Make sure your file name is clear and professional, such as “[Your First Name][Your Last Name][Resume].pdf.”
By following these steps, you can create a compelling resume that effectively showcases your qualifications and helps you secure your desired job. Take the time to tailor your resume to each job application, ensuring it highlights the skills and experience that are most relevant. Good luck with your job search!
Write Your Next Resume: A Comprehensive Guide to Crafting a Stand-Out Application
Approximately 40% of hiring managers spend less than a minute reviewing a resume. To make a lasting impression, you’ll need an eye-catching document that effectively showcases your skills and qualifications. This comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to craft a resume that gets you noticed and lands you interviews.
Crafting a Compelling Resume: Step-by-Step
We’ll break down the resume writing process into manageable steps, providing clear instructions and valuable tips along the way.
Step 1: Gather Your Professional Information
Preparation is key! Before diving into writing, take time to gather all the relevant information you’ll need to build a strong resume. Here’s what to include:
- Impressive Accomplishments: Quantify your achievements from previous positions, highlighting the impact you made. Did you increase sales? Streamline a process? Quantifiable results showcase your value.
- Skillset Inventory: Create a comprehensive list of your skills, encompassing hard skills (technical proficiencies) and soft skills (interpersonal strengths). Tailor this list to the specific job requirements.
- Detailed Employment History: List your previous employers, job titles, dates of employment, locations, and responsibilities. Be thorough and accurate.
- Educational Credentials: Include your college degrees, certifications, or licenses that demonstrate your expertise in relevant areas.
- Volunteer Work: Highlight any volunteer experience that showcases skills and experiences relevant to your desired career path.
- Awards and Honors: List any notable awards or honors that validate your exceptional abilities and dedication.
Step 2: Pick the Perfect Resume Format
There are three standard resume formats, each showcasing your qualifications in a slightly different way. Choose the format that best suits your experience level and career goals:
- Chronological Resume: Ideal for candidates with consistent work experience. It prioritizes your work history, listing jobs in reverse-chronological order (most recent first). This format is perfect if you want to highlight a steady career progression.
- Functional Resume: This format focuses on showcasing your skills and training. It’s suitable for first-time job seekers, career changers, or individuals with significant gaps in their employment history. It puts your skills front and center, demonstrating your value even if your work experience is not traditional.
- Combination Resume: This hybrid format merges the best aspects of both chronological and functional resumes. It highlights your skills while also showcasing your relevant work experience. This format is a strong choice for job seekers with more than 10 years of experience or those seeking upward career moves.
Step 3: Create a Compelling Resume Summary or Objective
- Resume Summary: A concise and impactful overview of your qualifications, skills, and career goals. Tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for, highlighting the most relevant aspects of your experience.
- Resume Objective: This is typically used for first-time job seekers or those re-entering the workforce after a long absence. It emphasizes your career aspirations and how your skills align with the company’s needs.
Step 4: Showcase Your Work History
The work history section is where you demonstrate the value you bring to potential employers. Here’s how to structure it effectively:
- Reverse-Chronological Order: List jobs from most recent to least recent.
- Strong Action Verbs: Use action verbs like “spearheaded,” “oversaw,” or “boosted” to describe your accomplishments.
- Quantifiable Achievements: Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with numbers or percentages. This demonstrates the impact you made in previous roles.
- Bullet Points: Clearly outline your responsibilities and achievements using bullet points for easy readability.
Step 5: Highlight Your Skills
A well-crafted skills section showcases your strengths and makes you a strong candidate for the job.
- Skillset Mix: Include a mix of hard skills (e.g., software proficiency) and soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork).
- Tailored Selection: Choose 6-8 of your top skills, ensuring they are relevant to the specific job requirements.
- Transferable Skills: If you’re changing careers, focus on transferable skills like critical thinking or communication, which are valuable across various job fields.
Step 6: List Your Educational Credentials
- Education Section: This section should accurately reflect your educational background.
- High School Diploma: If you haven’t attended college, include your high school diploma or GED.
- College or Graduate School: If you attended college or graduate school but did not complete a degree, list the institutions and your courses of study.
- Anticipated Graduation Date: Include your anticipated graduation date if you haven’t graduated yet.
