Key Elements Of A Resume
Resumes tell the employer about your experiences, skills and work history. Use your resume to highlight items that indicate you are a good worker, are qualified for the position and bring desirable skills to the job. If you are a student and have little or no previous job experiences, enhance information about your school and community activities.
Personal Information
Name Current and Permanent address Telephone number
Objective
In one short sentence summarize your goal for your job search.The goal statement should be related to the specific position for which you are applying. It is also effective to highlight your skills in the goal statement.Examples:Seeking a position as a social worker providing service to the aged.Seeking a position that utilizes my skills in counseling, research, and proposal writing.
Work supervisor Character reference Include the name, relationship to you, organization, contact phone numbers.
Limit your resume to one or two pages.Do not include birth date, health status or social security number.Limit the use of personal pronouns such as “I. Begin sentences with action verbs.Be honest but avoid writing anything negative in your resume.Make your resume error free. Have someone proof read it for you.Use a simple, easy to read font style, 10-14 point.Use high quality paper.
List Your Personal Interests
- This section shows you’re a well-rounded person who people would want to know and work with.
- Employers often use this section at the start of an interview to break the ice.
- Casual interests are better not to list . This is really about highlighting hobbies that have helped you grow as a person.
- This résumé step is considered optional. If you’re having trouble coming up with interests, or feel your résumé is already too long, feel free to leave it off.
Examples:
Highlight Your Relevant Job Skills
Hiring managers are on the lookout for candidates who have relevant, job-specific skills. While listing a heap of skills on your resume doesnt actually prove youre skilled, incorporating your various skills into different sections will catch the eye of whoever is vetting your application.
For instance, you can showcase your hard and soft skills in your introduction and work experience section. And of course, you should also list your most valuable abilities in your resumes skills section.
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Ders Career Series: How To Create An Effective Resume
Many individuals in the workforce have never received proper guidance on how to create an effective résumé, which can make landing employment challenging. There is more to a great résumé than you might think. For starters, résumés, just like today’s workforce, have evolved. Luckily, employment specialists in the Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services are experts in creating a successful résumé, and can help job seekers tailor a résumé in a way that will make them more likely to land that coveted interview.
Since a résumé is a job seeker’s first step in the door for employment, it is crucial it is up to par. Many employers won’t even consider a candidate who has a bad résumé. So let’s start with the basics. There are four different types of résumés: chronological, functional, combination and targeted résumés.
Today, employers prefer a blend of a combination and targeted résumé. This means a job seeker’s résumé should be updated each time it is sent to the employer. The extra legwork up front is worth it to make the right impression.
“Gone are the days of having only one résumé,” explains DES Workforce Supervisor Wendy Palmer.
Instead of beginning a résumé with an objective, Palmer recommends a summary of skills.
“An objective statement is about you, but the employer wants to know what you can do for them,” said Palmer. After a summary of skills, highlight academic accomplishments so they stand out.
Create An Original Resume Template
While it’s helpful to refer to a professional resume template, don’t follow it rigidly, said Claire Bissot, SPHR and managing director of CBIZ HR Services. Employers appreciate originality.
“I often pass over resumes that match Microsoft Office templates,” Bissot said. “The templates are meant to be a guide to get started, but it should be expanded on to make it your own.”
Format your resume in ways that make you look good. For instance, Bissot recommended, if you advanced in a company quickly, draw attention to that growth if you excessively job-hopped, bullet those jobs without providing specifics, and detail more applicable positions. This will play to your assets.
When structuring your resume, make sure the information is presented in a logical order, said Veronica Yao, a former recruiter and current marketing and community manager at #movethedial. “A hiring manager read your resume starting at the top and ending at the bottom. However, if they don’t finish reading the whole thing and they often don’t you still want to ensure your strongest points come across.”
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Resume Length: How Long Should My Resume Be
What is the ideal length for a resume? Professional opinions differ, but they all agree on one thing: relevance is key.
When it comes to resume length, it is important to keep them as brief and to the point as possible. A longer document isnt always better.
Research by Talentworks shows that resumes over 600 words long are on average 43% worse at getting interviews than other, shorter documents.
The most widely accepted length for a resume is one to two A4 page of text and information as well as one A4 page for a cover letter to accompany the application. Any extra information, certificates, or references can be separately attached.
This does not mean that you cannot write a longer resume, especially as you advance through your career. Some applicants have a long list of relevant projects or have attended countless seminars or conferences. It is OK welcome even to include this in your resume as long as the information is suitable for the application.
Remember: you can attach a professional cover letter to your application, which may include additional space to elaborate on specific projects, skills, or experiences.
Components Of A Good Resume
A good resume can become a great resume by improving its readability factor.
A standout resume is one that is easy to read. Resumes that cram too much information in small spaces can be hard for hiring managers to digest. Confusing layouts can force readers to toss your resume in the trash. A good resume has:
- Contact information
- An encompassing list of your current and past employment
- Education history, key skills, and details about your career goals
- A clean, easy-to-read structure
- No grammatical errors or typos
Effective professional resumes, student resumes, graduate, and entry-level resumes are descriptive and intriguing in both format and layout. Keep reading to learn how to structure and write a resume that will help you stand out among the hundreds of other applicants.
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Go Beyond The Resume And Make Networking A Priority
While your resume is an essential tool in the job hunt, networking should also be a priority. According to , 85 percent of all jobs get filled through networking. You have a much better shot of getting an interview thanks to a personal or professional connection.
Rely on your professional and college network to make industry contacts, and make sure you have an outstanding, up-to-date resume to share when you find jobs of interest.
By following these tips on how to make a good resume, youâll be one step closer to scoring an interview for your dream job. For more on career development, learn how to find the right job in 10 steps.
This article originally appeared on Student Loan Hero. It is reprinted with permission.
The Last Word On Building A Resume
Every job, every industry and every candidate will require some adjustments of these resume writing tips. Creative professionals, for example, will want to include links to their portfolios. New college grads wont have much work experience to highlight, but they can still draw from class projects, labs and seminars to talk up their hard and soft skills.
When you consider how to write a resume that leads to a good outcome, the takeaway is this: Employers want to hire people who canmake an impact. Write a tailored resume that shows a distinctive, results-driven professional, and before long you may find yourself preparing for the job interview.
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Start With Your Basic Information
Your contact information should always go at the top of your resume. In this header youll want to include anything that could be helpful for a recruiter to get in touch with you. Usually, this means adding in:
- Your full name
- Your phone number
- Your personal email address
You might also choose to include other basic information, such as your LinkedIn or personal website URL, your GitHub , your social media profiles , or your address. If youre looking to move for a job, you may choose to leave out your address or write open to relocating to better your chances of getting an interview.
The key is to make this part as clear as possible. If a hiring manager cant reach you, theres no point in perfecting the rest of your resume.
What Should I Remove From My Resume
Remember: Not all information is good information.
The following are some of the dos and donts to consider when writing a resume and also the information that should NOT be included on a resume.
- Do not use generic statements or cliché phrases in your resume. Be creative and original to make your resume as personalized as possible.
- Do not include unrelated information or experiences.
- Forgot references on your resume. Instead, create a separate document and send only when requested.
- Do not choose intricate fonts that are difficult to read or unprofessional.
- Do not include GPA below 3.0.
A resume maker might help you decide what to include on a resume.
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How To Write A Convincing Cover Letter
Every job application consists of 2 parts – the resume and the cover letter. Now that weve covered the first, lets briefly explain the latter.
Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, youd be applying for a writing job!
In reality, though, writing a cover letter is pretty simple, if you know its purpose.
You should think of a cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. You get to briefly explain why youre such an awesome fit for the position. When we put it that way, it doesnt sound as hard, does it?
Heres a format you could follow:
- Introduce yourself – As a start, give a brief run-down on your work experience and mention why youre interested in working for the company youre applying for. You can also mention 1-2 of your top professional achievements to leave a good first impression.
- Explain how youd excel at the job – Identify the top 3 requirements in the job ad. Then, dedicate one paragraph to explaining how you fulfil each requirement. So for example, if the requirement is Facebook Advertising Experience, mention how you have done Facebook ads in the past and how youve excelled at it.
- Wrap it up and say thanks – Thank the reader for reading your cover letter and propose the next steps. For example, If youd like to know more about my experience with Project XYZ, Id love to chat!
Focus On Whats Important To The Employer
Before writing your resume, try to consider the employers point of view. What do they want to know? Answering this question will enable you to focus on the information that is going to be relevant to the employer. This, in turn, increases your chances of getting their attention.
When applying to a specific role, carefully read the job description. This will help you understand specifically what the employer is looking for. If you want to gather additional insights, review multiple job descriptions to see what shows up repeatedly. This will help you gain a broader understanding of the role. Another great way to understand the needs of your potential employer is to schedule networking conversations with industry professionals who can share their experiences and insights.
Keep in mind that focusing on whats relevant to the employer might mean omitting details about your skills and experiences that are significant to you but are not directly relevant to the role. Deciding what to not include on your resume can be as important as deciding what to include. Irrelevant information might distract or confuse a reader, potentially making them more likely to discard your resume.
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Review The Purpose Of A Resume
It gives the hiring manager an overview of the qualifications you have for the job for which youre applying.
You should also familiarize yourself with the difference between a resume and a cover letter:
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A resume is typically sent with a cover letter, which is a document that provides additional information on your skills and experience in letter form.
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A resume is a concise, often bulleted summary, while a cover letter highlights and expands on certain traits or accomplishments that would be unique or ideal assets for the particular job.
In order to effectively convey your strengths, you must do a self assessment.
- Begin with a list of your greatest accomplishments and personal qualities.
- Describe your skills and accomplishments with each employer by using action words.
- List only the skills that you would like to use on a new job. If you are writing a resume that can be scanned, then use key words.
- Write a chronological history of your employment, training, volunteer work and extra-curricular activities.
- Analyze the requirements of the new job you want to apply for.
- Compare the skills required with your background and indicate how you have demonstrated these skills.
- Apply for jobs where you have the closest fit and interest.
What Is A Resume
A resume is a summary of your career, whether yours is just getting started or has been going on for years. Coming in at around one page in length , it showcases the jobs youve held and currently hold, the responsibilities youve taken on, the skills youve developed, and the qualities you bring to the table as an employee. Together, those things make it super easy for any hiring manager to see your qualifications and fit for a role.
For all the work you may put into writing one, hiring managers actually spend very little timemere seconds in many caseslooking at your resume. But despite this sad fact, its safe to say that creating a great resume still matters.
If you miss the mark, your resume may never be read. Even worse, you might be removed from the applicant pool by a computer before a human even knows you exist, says Muse career coach Heather Yurovsky, founder of Shatter & Shine. So you want to get it right because, as she explains, isnt the goal to spend less time looking for a job and more time in a role you love?
And although LinkedIn has plenty of benefits, a resume has one clear advantage: While your LinkedIn is usually a broader picture of your career trajectory, your resume gives you the opportunity to tailor your career story to a specific role or company .
Oh, and youve probably heard of something called a CV? Its slightly different from a resume, and usually more common with academics and job seekers outside the U.S.
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The Most Effective Resume Format For 2021
Functional, chronological, or combination which resume format is the right one for you? Your resume format should highlight the most important aspects of your resume and help you open doors to new career opportunities. With that in mind, lets look at some of the crucial guidelines you should adhere to when choosing your resume format.
Align Your Linkedin Profile
Your is just as important as your resume. You want to make sure youre presenting yourself in the same way. But dont just cut and paste from your resume. LinkedIn is a different beast altogether so you want to make the best use of the platforms features. You dont have to use bullet points you can be more narrative, and even more casual, says Heifetz. You also want to tweak the tone. Theres a greater expectation that youll demonstrate personality, she adds. For example, the summary section should be written in the first person. It gives you the opportunity to present yourself as a living, breathing human being. Heres my colleague, , after she got some help revamping it from a professional.
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Write A Matching Cover Letter
Now that you know how to write your dream resume, you might be wondering: is a cover letter necessary? The answer is yes, always include a cover letter if you have the option.
Knowing how to write a good cover letter helps you round out every application you ever send out, and boosts your chances of landing an interview.
Cover letters are a valuable tool in your job-hunting arsenal because they give you an opportunity to provide context to your resume, show off your personality, and express enthusiasm for the job youre applying for.
Heres an example of what a resume paired with a matching cover letter might look like :