Writing a resume is the key to getting an interview and potentially landing your dream job. It’s the most crucial part of your job search process. Your resume is competing against hundreds of other resumes, which means that it is important that your resume catches the hiring manager’s eye. Therefore, take your time learning the skill of writing a good resume so it stands out from the crowd. Below are six easy steps that can help you write a stellar resume, which will put your resume at the top of the list.
Step 1: Determine the right resume format
Choosing the right resume format is as crucial to landing an interview as writing a resume. The format you choose will determine if the hiring manager will even be interested in reading your resume.
Here is a quick breakdown of how to choose a resume format. There are three main formats.
- Chronological, or standard resume format.
- Functional or skills-based resume format.
- Combination or hybrid resume format.
Chronological resume is ideal for candidates who are applying for an executive level position, who have same industry experience, or who want to show off an impressive career growth. The structure of this resume is Header, Professional summary, Work history, Skills and Education.
Functional resume is ideal for candidates who have little to no work experience, who want to emphasize on their skills/education, or who have a gap in their employment history. The structure of the resume is Header, Summary statement, Skills, Professional skills, Work history, and Education.
Combination resume is ideal for candidates who want to showcase both their skills and experience or who are entry workforce after a long-extended leave. The structure of the resume is Header, Professional summary, Summary of qualifications, Skills, Work history, and Education.
Once you have picked your format, start writing out the resume. But before diving into each of the sections, make sure that your format also includes the following.
- Once inch margins
- 11 or 12 point font size
- Bullet Points
- Professional font
- Bolded section titles
Step 2: Create your Header
Your header should include your name, phone number, professional email address and links to your LinkedIn profile, website or portfolios, if applicable.
Step 3: Write your Summary Statement
Have a two to four sentence introduction summary of your experience and professional accomplishments. The difference between summary statement, professional summary and qualification summary is dependent on your job experience. Remember, summary statement is good if you have little to no work experience, professional summary is good if you have lots of similar experience and qualification summary is good if you have been out of workforce for a while.
Step 4: List your Skills
List your skills that are relevant and/or useable to the job that you are applying for. Have a mix of hard, soft, and technical skills. Also, include any software that you have used.
Step 5: Display your Work History
This section is perhaps the most important section and the one the hiring manager will glance over first. So, make sure that you present your work history in a manner that is easy and concise to read. The most popular way is to list employer name, city/state, job title, start/end date and then followed by a brief summary of your responsibilities and accomplishments. You can break down the summary into bullet points for easy display. Also, mention how you have contributed to making a change or added value to the organization by giving dollar amounts or percentages.
Step 6: Showcase your Education
List the full name of each school you’ve attended, date (or anticipated date) of graduation, and degree title. You can also list licenses, certificates, and awards here.
Conclusion
Writing a resume is work, but once you have mastered the basics and created a professional resume, you can always tweak it to the role you are applying for. You can also enhance the look of your resume by using word document and online applications. You can add your picture, change the format, add colors and much more. You can even hire a professional resume writer. However, if you follow the basic format and make your resume sound professional, you do not have to do all that. Just make sure it looks clean, organized, and sounds professional. You got this!