If you are considering starting or changing your career, your resume is likely at the top of your priority list. Every job seeker understands that a resume should include an employment history. To be truly successful in your job search, include the following five items on your resume. Competition for good jobs is always fierce, and breaking a few simple rules will result in you winning the situation without a second thought.
A “perfect resume” might not guarantee you get a job offer. But a poorly written resume may keep you from getting an interview—and without an interview, you will not get the job. There are a few points in a resume that one should not overlook. It is critical to design and format a resume around these few essential guidelines. It not only gives your application an edge, but it also puts you ahead of other applicants.
Tips to Follow While Formatting a Resume
Keep it Brief!
Your resume should be as concise as possible. Two pages are usually the maximum length. One page is preferable if your credentials can be fit on a single page. You need to fit your resume on a single page and make it more compact.
To keep it brief, keep in mind that the goal is not to showcase everything you have ever done. It is to demonstrate that you have the necessary background, skills, and experience for the job at hand. For an entry-level candidate, it should be one page. For experienced candidates, it can be two pages.
Check for Errors
Make sure to proofread your resume before submitting it. Check spelling, grammar, tenses, company, and person names. Check your resume with a friend or a career services counsellor agency as well. Use this proofreading checklist to ensure that your resume is flawless.
Some recruiters will disregard your resume if they notice a spelling or grammar error. Although it may be painful, make sure you not only read over your resume several times. Also, consult your friends and family to check it properly.
This is another common blunder that can cost you credibility with hiring managers. Generally, if something on your resume is from the past, use the past tense (managed, delivered, organised). If you are still actively working in the position, use the present tense (manage, deliver, organise). Also, avoid using first-person pronouns.
It Should be Presentable Enough
Make your resume as clear and easy to read as possible. Each section should be bolded (and possibly capitalized), as should each job title. Use a template to make it more catchy and readable.
Just as you want your verb tenses to be consistent throughout, you also want your formatting to be consistent. If one title is bold, the others should be as well. If one bullet point ends with a period, the other bullet point follows suit.
Mention Relevant Details
Avoid unrelated information. Ensure to make it to the point. Employers are not interested in reading your life story. So state details concisely. State relevant accomplishments and certifications per the job profile. Give examples to justify your skills. Quantifying accomplishments can help to minimize information.
Numbers, percentages, and supporting facts go a long way toward demonstrating your track record of success. For example, avoid stating “successfully met sales”. You should say “successfully met sales of the time and exceeded goals by 30% in the last three months”. Mention it as a bullet point in your resume.
Correct Formatting Style
Avoid using difficult-to-read fonts. The best fonts are Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, or something similar. Although your name and section headings can be a little larger and bolder, your font size should be between 10 and 12 points. Organize the sections of your resume, and make sure each section is consistent. For example, if you put one company’s name in italics, every other company’s name must also be in italics.Â
Key Essentials to Include in Your Resume
Optional Career Objective
Different employers have different perspectives on whether or not you should include your career objective on your resume. Some people recommend it, while others believe it is optional. It is probably best suited for recent college graduates with little or no work experience directly related to their field-chosen career path.
It may also be appropriate for someone making a significant career change. However, it may be more appropriate to address this topic in the cover letter. If used, the career objective should be stated clearly. Mention in as few words as possible, what position you are seeking. Make it as specific as possible, and avoid phrases like “with opportunities for advancement.” A good example would be “an entry-level cost accountant position requiring “analytical and problem-solving abilities”. Another example is “an employment specialist in charge of recruiting and hiring high-level candidates”
Contact Information
Include your name, address, phone number, and email address in the identification section. It should be at the top of your resume or use one of these other resume addressing options. At the top of your resume, include your contact information. Include your phone number and email address so that potential employers can contact you in a variety of ways. You should also include your physical address and website address to help employers learn more about you quickly.
Mention a professional email address. You can also include your LinkedIn profile. Ensure that your LinkedIn profile is updated. Also, improve it before sending it to any potential employer. It is located at the top of your resume. The applicant provides his or her name where position it there. Then comes the contact information, followed by the professional title. A professional title conveys a clear picture of the position you are seeking or have previously held and are thus qualified for.
Educational Qualifications
Include all of your degrees in reverse chronological order (with the most recent degree listed first). Include the name of each institution, its location, and your graduation date (or expected date of graduation). Include your major/minor fields, as well as your GPA and any honours, publications, and projects, as applicable.Â
List the schools you attended, along with the dates of attendance, degrees earned, and any honours you received. In addition to your formal education, you should include any relevant training classes, seminars, or workshops you have attended. List the school you attended, the degree you received, and your major. After your professional experience, your educational experience should be there at the bottom of your resume.
Relevant Experience
It is necessary to discuss the specifics of previous experience. However, to make the mention of your previous job title worthwhile, always quantify your work. Giving the results of your projects and assignments in numbers and percentages demonstrates your experience. This section should include any work experiences (paid and unpaid) that are relevant to the position you are applying for. It is not necessary to include every job position and the company you have worked for. Ensure to include those that show how you have developed and effectively used your skills and abilities in the workplace.
In reverse chronological order, list your work experience. Jobs, internships, and volunteer work can all be included in this section. When applicable, high school students may also include clubs and sports teams. Include the company name, position, and dates of employment. List approximately three significant tasks, accomplishments, or skills gained at each job.
Skillset
Make a list of your skills that are relevant to the job you are looking for. Whether it is hard skills (technical) or soft skills (for example, communication) that are important to employers hiring you. In fact, including the maximum number of skills based on the job description increases the chances of being hired significantly.
Include any computer systems that you are familiar with. It would be beneficial if they are relevant to the position for which you are applying. Include foreign languages with which you are acquainted; specify the language as well as your level of familiarity (beginning, intermediate, proficient, fluent). List any additional skills you have that are relevant to the job but are not listed elsewhere on your resume.
Keywords in Strategic Locations
There are numerous ways to express the same idea. Insert keywords from the job description into your document’s objective or goal section. Investigate the prospective employer’s mission statement and history to tailor your experience. It is not only their published needs but possibly another job that isn’t yet listed. Jobs are there for those who are considered to be a good fit. And if you are not well versed in setting keywords then you can take the help of the best recruitment agency that will help you in all aspects of keyword setting in your resume.
The right keywords are essential for online applications. Then it is screened by computer programs looking for the right keywords. Many professionals have multiple resumes, each highlighting a different set of qualifications. One version may be effective in management, another in sales, and yet another in technical expertise.Â
Conclusion
If you intend to apply for a job, begin by creating a resume that highlights your qualifications for the position. A strong resume combined with a well-written cover letter is essential for getting you in the door for an interview – and an interview is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job.
