It’s no secret that job seekers need a great resume to land an interview. However, many don’t realize that writing a resume can be learned and perfected. With the right advice and some practice, you can write a resume that will help you stand out from the competition and get interviews. This article will provide you with everything you need to know about writing a resume to impress employers.
Contents
Header
The first thing employers will see is your resume’s header. This part of the resume contains your name, address, and contact information. Since this outline section will usually be printed in black ink on white paper, make sure to use a professional-looking font, such as Times New Roman with size 12 pt.
Keep your contact information clear and easy to read. Also, make sure that you are consistent with your formatting and that your information is accurate and up to date. If it is difficult for an employer to read your phone number or email address, they may decide not to reach out.
Objective Statement
The objective statement is a standard part of many resumes. It gives employers an idea of what you are looking for in a position and why you would be a good fit for the job. The statement itself should not include any personal information, such as your name or address.
Many people find the objective statement unnecessary on a resume because it provides employers with very little new information. If you decide to include an accurate account, make sure it is short and to the point. You can have an objective statement at the top of your resume, or you can put it at the bottom.
Resume Summary
The resume summary is a brief overview of your qualifications for the job you are applying for. This section should be more detailed than your objective statement, but it shouldn’t go into too much detail. It should highlight your core strengths and how they relate to the position you are applying for.
A resume summary can be an excellent way to stand out from the competition because it is the only section of your resume that includes why you are perfect for the job. You can also have one or two sentences about yourself to give the employer an idea of who you are.
Employment History
This section should include a detailed list of your past work experience. If you have been out of school for several years, the first part of this section should be devoted to your jobs from before college. Each job should be listed with the company name, your position, and start date, as well as a description of your responsibilities. You can either write a single paragraph about each position that says what you did and which skills it improved, or else format the list as bullet points.
Education Section
The education section is where you list all of the schools that you attended and any degrees or diplomas that you earned. This section can be organized in different ways depending on what information you think looks the most professional. If you have a college degree, the name of your school and year of graduation can be listed at the top. You can put in bold any academic honors or achievements that you received while attending college. If you didn’t attend college, list all of your high school credentials instead.
Skills And Abilities
This section lists any skills that are relevant to the position in which you are applying. The section should be written as a bulleted list, and each skill should be formatted with its own bullet point. If you have experiences that aren’t directly related to what you are applying for, such as office management skills or computer knowledge, you can still list them. However, be sure to include them underneath all relevant skills pertaining to the job you are applying for.
Awards, Honors, And Achievements
If you have been recognized for any special accomplishments, such as being the valedictorian or winning a scholarship, then this information should be included in your resume. This section provides an opportunity to list the information that isn’t necessarily related to your work experiences. If you have won any awards for leadership, academics, or community service, then it is important that you include this information.
References
The references section is one of the standard sections on a resume and is often included at the bottom of each page. This section does not include any information about your actual work experience; it is simply a list of professionals that you have worked with in the past and who can be contacted to give their opinion on your skills and work ethic.
The references section should be formatted as a bulleted list with each reference having their own bullet point that includes their work title and contact information. You should never include a family member or anyone else other than former employers in the references section because the hiring manager may contact them for information. The references section should be formatted as a bulleted list with each reference having their own bullet point that includes their work title and contact information.
Keywords
A resume’s content is often read by machines before it is ever seen by human eyes. This means that you can improve your chances of being chosen for an interview by including certain keywords in your resume because the computer will recognize them and flag your resume for the hiring manager.
There are certain keywords that are already known to appear on resumes, like “attention to detail” or “organized”, but you should do some research to make sure that these words aren’t overused. Also, be aware of any technical or industry-specific jargon that may be included in the job description and alter your resume so that it includes those keywords as well.
Conclusion
Your resume can be one of the most important pieces of information in helping you get a job. So it is important that you take time to craft a resume that highlights your skills and experiences. Use the information above to help determine what should be included in each section of your resume. One final note, make sure to proofread the final draft multiple times before sending it to potential employers. The last thing you want is to send a resume full of grammatical errors!
