Tips of writing a Good Resume for job

Daily writing prompt
What makes you nervous?

Creating a compelling resume is crucial in the job application process, as it’s often your first opportunity to make a good impression on potential employers. A well-crafted resume can help you stand out from the competition and secure an interview. Here are some practical tips for writing an effective resume:

Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com

1. Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Customize your resume for each job you apply to. Highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job description. Use keywords from the job listing to improve the chances of your resume passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

2. Keep It Concise

Limit your resume to one or two pages depending on your experience. Be concise and to the point. Employers often skim resumes quickly, so make sure your most relevant accomplishments are easy to find.

3. Use a Professional Format

Choose a clean, professional layout. Stick to traditional fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri, and keep the font size between 10 and 12 points. Use bullet points to organize information and make it easily digestible.

4. Start with a Strong Summary

Include a brief summary at the top of your resume that outlines your qualifications and career goals. This should be tailored to align with the job you’re applying for, showing how your goals and skills match the needs of the employer.

5. Highlight Your Achievements

Focus on your achievements rather than just your duties. Use action verbs such as “developed,” “led,” and “enhanced” to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments. Where possible, quantify your achievements with figures and facts to show the impact of your work.

6. Include Relevant Skills

List skills that are relevant to the job. Include both hard skills (like software proficiency or languages) and soft skills (like communication or leadership). This section can help you stand out if you possess skills that are highly desirable for the position.

7. Education and Certifications

Include your education and any relevant certifications or training. List the degree, the institution where you obtained it, and the graduation year if it’s within the last five years. For recent graduates, education can be listed above professional experience.

8. Professional Experience

List your professional experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. Include your title, the name of the company, and the dates of your employment. For each position, provide a brief list of your responsibilities and achievements.

9. Use a Cover Letter to Add Context

Always include a cover letter unless specifically instructed not to. This is your chance to explain your resume in more detail and personalize your application. The cover letter can address points that your resume doesn’t, such as employment gaps or major career shifts.

10. Proofread

Errors can make you look careless. Thoroughly proofread your resume for spelling and grammar mistakes. Consider having a friend or a professional review it to catch errors you might have missed.

11. Include Volunteer Work or Side Projects

If relevant, include volunteer work, side projects, or hobbies that demonstrate skills applicable to the job. This can be particularly useful for candidates who lack formal work experience but have relevant skills developed elsewhere.

By following these tips, you can create a resume that not only showcases your skills and experiences but also aligns closely with the job you are applying for, increasing your chances of landing your next job interview.

How to write a good resume

Your resume must clearly, concisely and strategically present your qualifications to get a recruiter interested in meeting you. It should convey your skills, work experience and assets. The resume is used to describe what you can accomplish professionally in a manner that also illustrates what you can do for an employer. Job opportunities can arise unexpectedly. An updated modern resume is the key to a successful job search. Here are some do’s and don’ts of how to write a good resume and what to include.

This guide will show you: 

  • How to write a resume that recruiters will love, with plenty of examples. 
  • How to write a resume summary, work experience, and other sections, step-by-step. 
  • Ways to highlight your skills and achievements on your professional resume. 
Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com

Resume Writing Do’s

Keep your resume clear and concise

An employer takes an average of 30 seconds to skim a resume. You want them to see right away that you are qualified for the position. Proofread your resume numerous times

Be sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Have someone else read it over as well. A simple spelling mistake on a resume can give a negative impression to the employer. It can even prevent you from getting the job.Limit your resume to two pages

Place the emphasis of your resume on your most recent experience. Older jobs and experience that are more than 15 years old should either be cut out or minimized. This way, the employer can focus on more relevant information.Tailor your resume to suit the position you are applying for

Specify work experience or achievements that are related to the position you are applying to. This can be done by reviewing the job description or the employer website.Highlight what you have accomplished

You want to be able to identify the best examples of where you demonstrated your skills. These examples should speak to what you achieved in your role, and should demonstrate what kind of employee you are. It is best to include this information in the “Work experience” section of the resume.Be honest

Lying on your resume is never a good idea. You don’t want to overstate your skills or results as it will mislead the employer. Have confidence in what you have to offer. Quantify your achievements 

Use firm numbers that the employer will understand and be impressed by. For example, how many people you supervised, how many products you sold, by what percentage you increased sales, etc.Use simple words and action verbs

The person reading your resume might not always be the employer. Resumes can be reviewed by recruiters or Human Resources specialists who may not be familiar with your specific field. Use simple and plain language, but also persuasive verbs such as handled, managed, led, developed, increased, accomplished, leveraged, etc.Include unpaid work that show off your skills

If you have volunteered with a well-known organization or worked for an important cause, put it in your resume. You should include these experiences under the “Work experience” or the “Volunteer work” section, especially if they are related to the position you are applying for. Double check and include your contact information

Your resume should list your name, address, email and phone number. This information should be placed at the top of the first page. Also, make sure this information is accurate. Otherwise, the employer won’t be able to contact you. For more sample, you can see Seattle Resume.

1. Start with Proper Resume Formatting

Would you believe that the looks of your resume are just as important as its contents? 

It’s true—

It all starts with the right presentation. Your resume could be filled with mind-blowing achievements, but no one will see them if the layout is off-putting or difficult to read. 

2. Write an Eye-Catching Resume Summary or Objective

Recruiters spend just a few seconds scanning a resume and deciding whether to actually read it properly. A strong, compelling resume introduction can be your golden ticket to the “read” pile. 

If you have some relevant work experience, combine your biggest professional achievements into a resume summary. It’ll show off your biggest selling points straight away! 

3. Show Off Your Achievements in Your Resume Work History

Here it is—

The most important part of your resume. 

If the recruiter decides to give your job application a chance based on your formatting and profile, this is the section they’ll focus on the most. 

4. Use Your Education to Your Advantage

The importance of your education section depends on your level of experience—

If you’ve worked in relevant positions for several years, you can stick to the basics. Provide your highest level of schooling, including the name of the institution and the years of attendance. Add your CGPA if it was >90%. 

5. List the Most Relevant Professional Skills on Your Resume

There are hundreds of soft and hard skills you could list on your resume—

6. Include Additional Sections on Your Resume

You have a good resume on your hands—

Time to make it great. 

Take your job application from merely correct to outstanding by including some of these extra sections: 

  • Certifications: list any additional certs and diplomas you obtained in your field. As always, make sure they’re actually relevant to the job you’re applying for! 
  • Memberships: are you a member of a professional association? Perhaps you’ve organized a workshop, mentored a junior colleague, or given a lecture as part of your membership? All of these will make your resume stand out! 
  • Volunteering: helping out at non-profits shows you’re an empathetic team player and adds personality to your resume. 
  • Languages: the ability to speak a foreign language is always a plus. You don’t have to be fluent in a language to mention it on your resume, either: just specify your level of proficiency, e.g. French (intermediate); German (minimum working proficiency)
  • Hobbies and interests: believe it or not, these can go on your resume. Just make sure to list hobbies that show your skills or personality in a positive light. 

Depending on your experience and profession, you can also include other categories, such as publicationsprojects, or awards

7. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Resume

Congrats! 

Looks like your resume is all done and ready to win you a job. 

But a resume alone is not enough: 

Send it out with a cover letter to boost its effectiveness and maximize your chances of landing the job. 

8. Add your contact information and personal details

This is one of the most important sections of your resume. If hiring managers can’t contact you, it doesn’t matter how great the rest of your resume is. So you need to make sure that your contact info is accurate and up-to-date.

The following information should appear at the top of your resume:

  • Name
  • Phone number
  • Location (City, State, Zip Code)
  • Email Address
  • LinkedIn profile URL

Resume writing for freshers

What is a resume?

A resume is a formal document that serves to show a person’s career background and skills.

Pick the right resume template

The reverse chronological resume format includes employment history beginning with the most recent and then going backwards. Reverse chronological resumes show dates, as well as employers and educational institutions. It is the most common format in the resume.

Write down your contact information
  • First and last name
  • Mobile number
  • Email: Make sure it’s a professional email address (e.g. first.lastname@gmail.com) and that it’s not something like biker70@gmail.com!
  • Location
  • LinkedIn profile: Recruiters often want an easy way to see your online profile. Make sure it matches your resume (in terms of job titles, dates, roles) and it is overall impressive.

Education
  • Write the name of the college and its location
  • Add the degree you received
  • Include the dates you attended: if you’re still attending the college, you can write “Present” or “Current” instead of listing the end date or you could add your expected graduation date.
  • List notable achievements
  • Include your GPA is 3.0 above

Experience

As a recent graduate, the recruiters knows you don’t have work experience. As long as you’re applying for a junior or entry-level position, the experience isn’t something expected from you.

Instead, the recruiter will be looking for other experiences that enrich you profile like,

  • Internships
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Projects

Skills

The two types of skills you can mention on your resume are soft skills and hard skills.

Soft skills are attributes that help you adapt to work environments, work in a team and apply your hard skills effectively. They are related to your personality, social skills, communication, attitude, etc.

Hard skills refer to technical knowledge and specific tools. They are skills that one learns and applies directly to the job. Some examples of hard skills include microsoft word, adobe photoshop, etc.

Language

If you know another language, you should always include it on your resume as it indicates to a recruiter that you’ve invested in yourself. It can also qualify you for a multitude of positions that require someone bilingual or multi-lingual.

Mention the proficiency levels like,

  • Basic / Average / Good
  • Intermediate / Very good
  • Advanced / Excellent
  • Mother tongue / Native / Bilingual

Mention optional sections
  • Volunteering: If you have some volunteering experience, make sure to include it in your first job resume. Such a section shows commitment, dedication and a sense of purpose, something most recruiters will appreciate.
  • Hobbies: You can show your genuine interest in the industry or field by listing some relevant hobbies / interests.
  • Awards and certifications: Whether it’s an award from an essay competition in college or a certificate from an online course, anything that flatters your profile should be added.

Should not include your photo on YOUR resume

Adding a picture to your resume could hurt your chances of getting the job.

  • Recruiters are careful to avoid discrimination and unconscious bias
  • Some hiring managers may consider resume photos unprofessional
  • A resume picture could distract from your skills and experience
  • Images are not ATS friendly

What is an ATS compatible resume?

An Application Tracking System is a software application that enables the electronic handling of recruitment and hiring needs. Click the below links to check your resume score!

https://resumeworded.com/

How long resume length?

A concise, targeted resume shows recruiters your ability to synthesize, prioritize and convey your most important achievements. As an entry-level candidate, your resume should be no more than one page long.

Top student resumes are between 450 and 650 words long.

Total bullet points

For context, top resumes at your career level use between 12-20 bullet points to describe their accomplishments in core sections (e.g. your work experience).

Other sections like your summary, skills or education are not counted in this check.

Unnecessary sections

While you can include a short summary on your resume, do not include an objective in your resume. It is clear to hiring managers that you are looking for a job – there’s no need to restate it at the top of your resume.

You shouldn’t include a references section in your resume. Employers will ask you directly if they ever need to contact your reference.

Repetition

Avoid repeating action verbs and phrases on your resume.

Unique action verbs and language show hiring managers that you have held different roles and skill sets. They also help your accomplishments stand out and make them more impactful.

Even when describing similar skills, try to always unique language in terms of verbs and phrases. This makes your resume less monotonous and helps you stand out.

Important tips

Use a single-column layout: A single-column resume layout allows recruiters to read it easily.

Pick a common font, size: We recommend to use readable font like times new roman or arial and set the font size to 13-14 for headings and size 12 for contents.

Resume templates

If you’re a high school student or a college student, don’t have much work experience yet or looking for entry-level jobs, these student resume templates are perfect for you. They prioritize your education by listing it first, and show you how to list your university projects and extracurricular activities on your resume. These resume templates are downloadable in Word (.doc) format or editable directly via Google Docs.

https://resumeworded.com/resume-templates

Reference

How to Make a Presentable Resume

Job selection depends on many things like education, experience, body language and a good resume. Most people do not know how to make a strong resume. So here is an article explaining this.

A resume is a document created and used by a person to present their background, skills, and accomplishments. It is a documentary record of your contact details, educational qualifications, skills and employment history in a nutshell. As it establishes your details, it should be appealing and convincing. A good resume increases your chances to get employed in a company.  To build an attractive resume, you need to find out the best resume format. Resume format plays a vital role while creating a job-winning resume. You should be well-versed about the kind of resume format that suits your current situation. 

Importance of a resume

Employers use resumes to get a deeper understanding of candidate skills, strengths and experience. Your resume should reflect achievements, awards, education, experience and any other outstanding accomplishments that align with your career path and goals. Here are some reasons why you need a resume to get your next job. An effective resume:  

  • Outlines your relevant skills and experience. A well-structured resume clearly highlights your most attractive skills and experience to potential employers. 
  • Displays the benefits you offer employers. More importantly, it should tell employers what you bring to the company along with skills and experience.
  • Grabs the attention of employers. Usually the top quarter of the resume is considered the most attention-grabbing. Make sure to include important summarized information in this part.
  • Matches your skills to the position’s need. One way to do this is by making sure your resume contains the same keywords found in the job description.
  • Can lead to an interview with the employer You’ll likely need to conduct at least one interview to be offered a position, so having a resume is essential.

What does a Resume Contain?

  • Name with contact Information- Your postal address, email and mobile number.
  • Objective: It appears just below the contact information. It briefly describes the type of job you want and also skills that make you the best candidate for the job. The skill related keywords should be present in this section e.g. – Software languages known etc.
  • Education- All your educational qualifications, the most recent first.
  • Work Experience-the company, job title and responsibilities etc. with most current experience on top.
  • Achievements, Training & Certifications if any
  • Other Skills, Interests and Hobbies.

Tips for Writing a Resume:

  • First write down all the details that you want to include in your resume.
  • Select a format
  • Be simple, brief and straight
  • Do not lie about your qualifications and experience
  • Sometimes resumes are filtered by keywords, so see that the words associated with the job are included.
  • Don’t leave unexplained gaps in the timeline. (a year off etc. )
  • Do not copy someone else’s Resume
  • Ask your friend or a teacher to review the content. Revise and Edit.
  • Avoid fancy fonts and colours
  • Print it on one side of the sheet only. Limit it to one page if possible, else 4 pages should be the maximum.
  • Use A4 size paper to write the resume.