How to Write the Perfect Resume
by Natalie Terpstra
Posted on November 21, 2017 at 11:30 AM
Flazingo Photos/Flazingo.com
What is a resume? A resume is a written compilation of your education, work experience, credentials, and accomplishments.
Most professional positions require applicants to submit a resume and cover letter as part of the application process. Your resume is the first document that a hiring manager will look at. It needs to be full of personality because it's your true "first impression." Here we can help you create a standout resume with a step-by-step guide.
A successful resume lays ot a summary of qualifications that makes the employer pick yours over everyone else’s. It should contain your skills, education, and work history. It can be helpful to sit down and write it all out on paper and break down your work history from start to finish. It is important to focus on your most prominent and relevant positions rather than taking a lot of time writing every position out, especially if you've been in the workforce for many years.
When listing your work experience make sure it is in chronological order from most recent to oldest. Make sure to include the name of the company, its location, dates of employment, and several bullet point describing your role and responsibilities. When writing descriptions for the jobs you’ve had, make sure to focus on what you accomplished in each position. It will help your resume stand out when listing quantifiable achievements before listing what you normally did. Make your accomplishments match what the employer is seeking, your resume should reflect experience that is relevant to the job you are applying to.
"You'll never please everyone, but you only have to please a few people to get an offer."
Although your resume should focus on professional work experience, you can also include volunteer or community experience, post-grad coursework, and college education. You would move this to the bottom of the page once you get your first job after college. It is also just as important to know what to keep off of your resume as it is to know what to put on it.
There are some things that just don’t belong on your resume. You want to put experience that is relevant to the job position you're applying for and typically you want it to be no more than ten to fifteen years in the past. If possible, you should make your resume no longer than one or two pages, you may have to take certain items out to meet this. For example, take out jobs where you only stayed a short period of time and if you’ve been out of college for more than five years, it’s generally best to take out internships. The exception to this rule is if your internship has something to do with the position you are going for. Ultimately, you want to try to strike a balance between including experience that is both timely and relevant.
Once you have all the information you need for resume it is time to format it on the computer. It is perfectly acceptable to use a resume template, which you adapt to fit each job description. If you want to look at examples of resumes we’ve linked some templates below. Microsoft Word is another place to find free templates for you to use. You should use consistent spacing throughout, and evenly sized margins on all sides if possible. Stick with a white page, black text, and a readable font, such as Arial, Times New Roman, and Calibri. Make sure to have your font no larger than twelve and no smaller than 10.5. Print out a copy and make sure everything prints out correctly. You should then have trusted friends proofread your resume before you send it in for consideration. After proofreading, give it one final review to make sure it's perfect before sending it into employers.
Source: Doyle, Alison. “How to Write the Perfect Resume for Your Job Hunt.” The Balance, 2 July 2017, www.thebalance.com/job-resumes-4073657