What Not To Include In A Resume
Use your common sense when writing your resume. If you have been employed for many years and your career has evolved over time, knowing how to write a resume well means you will not include every role youve ever held, such as the casual retail position you had in high school or the captaincy of your social sporting team. Rather, use the limited space on your resume strategically by ensuring every line shows how you are relevant to the particular job youre applying for.
Similarly, if you have an advanced degree, few people are going to be concerned about the exams you took when you were 16 years old. Instead, only include training that is relevant to the position you are applying for.
Unless otherwise stated, you dont need to attach copies of certificates, qualifications or references. You should instead bring these to a job interview.
We also advise candidates to avoid listing their hobbies or interests. Focus instead on the experience and skills that make you suitable for the job youre applying for. The exceptions occur when you have limited relevant experience or if the employer specifically asks applicants to list hobbies. In these cases, keep it brief. Avoid anything that could be contentious, such as political affiliations, and instead show how your personality is suited to that of the organisation. For example, consider listing a hobby that requires expertise relevant to the role, such as organisational or communication skills.
How To Write A Product Owner Resume
A product owner is an information technology professional responsible for setting, evaluating and prioritising work done by an Agile or Scrum team. Writing an effective resume that shows your skills and professional experience may increase your chances of getting an interview and becoming a product owner. Learning about product owners may help you decide if this is the right path for you. In this article, we explain what a product owner is, discover how to write a product owner resume, learn how to highlight skills on your resume and provide a template and example to help you create your own.
How Do I Add Different Sections To A Resume On Microsoft Word
The way to create different sections on your resume comes in two parts:
- Use an H2 header to create the section titles
- Use the Normal style to create the body of text below the H2 header
Here is a breakdown of how to use the H1, H2, H3, and Normal styles within your resume:
Select the Styles window from the Home tab.
From here, you will have options to create headers.
Your heading options are as follows:
- âHeading 1: Use this heading as your largest title. This is what you will use to write your name at the top of the page. Use a bolded font between 16 to 20 pt in size. Use 1.5 to 2.0 line spacing to help the title heading stand out.â
- Heading 2: Use this heading to create your section titles. Use a bolded font size between 14 to 16 pt. in size. Make sure these headings are smaller than your title heading. Use 1.5 to 2.0 line spacing to help these headings stand out from the rest of the text.â
- Heading 3: Use this heading to create your job titles. Your job titles should be only slightly bigger than the rest of the text. Use a bolded font between 12 to 14 pt. in size. Use between 1.15 to 1.5 line spacing.â
- Normal: Use the Normal style to create the body text underneath the heading. Use a regular font between 11 â 12 pt. in size. Use between 1.15 to 1.5 line spacing.
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Are There Any Good Resume Examples That I Can Look At
Yes, we offer an extensive library of free resume examples, covering all industries and 250+ job titles. Our experts, overseen by our resident CPRWs, meticulously worked on each resume sample to demonstrate what an ideal resume looks like in every industry. If you arent sure what to include in your resume, or simply need some inspiration to get started, we highly encourage you get ideas from samples related to the job you want.
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!
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Which Resume Type Is Right For You
Which resume type should you use for your job search? That depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. The goal of any resume is to show a hiring manager the applicant’s strengths, skills, and experience in as short a time as possible. According to one study, recruiters spend as little as seven seconds reviewing a resume before moving on to the next, so it’s in your best interests to put your finest qualities and accomplishments in a prominent position on the page.
In addition, functional or combination resumes may also be useful if you’re trying to draw the reader’s attention away from somethingnamely, large gaps in your work history or detours into unrelated fields.
How To List Education On Your Resume
The next section were going to cover is your Education. Lets start with the basics – how to format the education section & what to mention there. Then, well move on to tips & tricks thatll help you stand out
- Program Name. E.g.: B.A. in Business Administration
- University Name. E.g.: New York State University
- Years Attended. E.g.: 08/2008 – 06/2012
- GPA. E.g.: 3.9 GPA
- Honors. E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude.
- Academic achievements. Any interesting papers youve written, courses youve excelled in, etc.
- Minor. Minor in Psychology
Here’s an example:
Tips on perfecting your education section:
- If you dont have any work experience, mention your education section first.
- Mention your latest educational entry on top.
- If you have a university degree, dont mention your high school at all.
- ONLY mention GPA if you had a very impressive academic career .
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How To Save Your Resume
Remember, once youve finished personalizing your resume, youre not ready to submit an application yet. To ensure your resumes format stays the same for everyone who receives it, save the document as a PDF. Best case scenario? Even the hiring manager wont believe your resume came from Word.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in 2018 but was updated in May 2020 for comprehensiveness.
Make A Resume In Microsoft Word In 7 Easy Steps
First, letâs make sure you can navigate the Microsoft Word ribbon!
The ribbon is the toolbar found at the top of the screen.
It should look something like this:
The main parts of the ribbon you should familiarize yourself with on the Home tab are Font, Paragraph, and Styles.
These are how you will edit the appearance of your text and headers.
You should also familiarize yourself with the Layout tab.
This tab is where you will adjust your margins and add columns!
Once you have taken your time to figure out where all of your tools are, itâs time to begin building your resume!
Important Note: These steps detail how to create a resume in Microsoft Word from scratch. By using one of the programâs pre-made templates, you can bypass many of these steps and simply fill in the pre-made format.
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Choose The Right Resume Format
The most common resume format is the chronological resume, and its the best option for a general resume.
Thats because chronological resumes list your jobs from most recent to least recent, giving you a clear overview of your work experience. Regardless of what position youre targeting, a chronological resume will do the trick.
Bold Serif Resume Template
Speaking of serif font, this resume puts forward an element of grace and formality with its font choices. It’s perfect for individuals who are looking for more organic color than the ones more typically found in resumes, and the colors are also easily changed in Microsoft Word’s theme settings. It also includes a skill-level bar, adding a nice visual touch to the template.
Download this template here.
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Take Advantage Of White Spaces
When we talk about white space, we refer to the space between the elements in a composition. If you want to create a striking resume, you need to take advantage of the white spaces. The main benefit is that your design appears less crowded. Text also looks less dense, increasing its chances of being read.
Keep white space in mind when looking for resume templates that stand out.
Make A Professional Resume With Creativity On Your Side
A visually-appealing resume distinguishes you from the competition and attracts the attention of job recruiters. Adobe Sparks creative online tools equip you with everything you need to design the perfect resume. Add the fonts, graphics, text, colors, and images of your choice to the fully-customizable resume templates. Youll find limitless ways to create eye-catching resumes.
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Provide Relevant Work Experience
Experiences relevant to the application process include internships and volunteer activities or work in academic institutions. For example, if you developed a website for your college and are proficient in front-end development, you can include this on your resume. You may also include any interesting projects you worked on while in college. This helps the employer understand your areas of expertise and gauge your technical and soft skills. Include only relevant details and keep this section concise.
Modern Resume / Ms Word Apple Pages Cv Template
This resume template for the Pages Mac program shows splashes of color can go a long way. They immediately pop out without taking over your content. The rest of the layout has neatly organized sections for easy scanning. It also includes a cover letter and templates for resumes of up to three pages.
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Black And White Resume Template
The Black and White resume template below suits professionals who prefer using color and shading to add structure to their resume.
The black banner at the top contrasts the applicant’s name nicely to help make him/her more memorable to recruiters. The gray banner just below the header is perfect for a summary or career objective it makes one’s goals known but doesn’t overpower the experience listed below it.
Download this template here.
Examples Of Highlighting Skills On Your Resume
On your resume, you want to show how you used your skills instead of just listing them. When showcasing your duties, describe how you used your skills in certain situations. Here are some examples that are a great way to describe your duties and skills simultaneously:
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Delegation:In my previous role, I created an informal team to help me out with a number of responsibilities to stay on track and meet deadlines.
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Problem-solving:I have the capability to take care of things when they get difficult. I was a mediator in various situations.
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Communication:I communicate effectively and clearly with stakeholders, developers, Scrum masters and others.
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Analytical:I often use research, data analysis and critical thinking skills to come up with efficient and feasible solutions. In a previous job, I created an Excel expense report and added different payment methods that were helpful.
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Focus:Having many responsibilities needs focus. I often aligned the product vision with the company’s vision and needs.
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And Lets Wrap It All Up
If youve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! Youre probably an expert on how to make a resume.
To wrap it all up, lets brush up on some of the most important lessons weve learned so far…
- Use the rightresume builder. You dont want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
- Focus on achievements. Mention your achievements instead of responsibilities, so that you stand out from all the other applicants.
- Include the must-have sections. That is, resume summary, work experience, education, and skills.
- Tailor for the job. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant for the job youre applying for.
- Perfect your cover letter. Its as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!
At Novorésumé, were committed to helping you get the job you deserve, every step of the way! Follow our career blog to stay up to date with industry-leading advice. Or, check out some of our top guides:
Andrei Kurtuy
Free Resume Templates That Download In Word
Of course, if youre already employed full-time, its hard to find the time to apply to a new job opportunity, let alone update your resume to reflect your qualifications. Luckily, there are numerous publishers out there who’ve created incredible resume templates for quick editing and formatting in Word.
To keep you from hunting the internet for the resume templates that are both free and compatible with MS Word, weve listed 19 more options below for you to customize with your own information right now. Some of them come with variations so you can pick your favorite design. Four of them cater specifically to marketers.
Theyre so nice, you wont believe they open up in Microsoft Word once you download them.
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Create A Compelling Summary
Below your contact details, you can add a short professional summary. This two to three sentence paragraph enables you to describe your past infantry experience and can help you show employers how this experience can relate to the role they advertised. Consider adding details from the job description in this section because it can show employers why you’re an ideal fit for the role. It can also improve your resume’s compatibility with applicant tracking system software.
Review The Job Description
Make sure to review the job description carefully to understand the employer’s requirements. This includes noting the skills required and reviewing the educational requirements, along with any additional information, such as relocation or travel requirements. Include specific keywords on your resume that an employer may prefer. For example, if an employer is looking for a graduate who can work in the cyber security space as a junior analyst and you have completed an internship or have relevant certifications in the same field, try to include it.
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Use Word’s Available Features
There’s a reason Word is such a popular program. It comes fully loaded with several useful features, many of which will be a major help as you work on your next resume. Here are six features you should consider taking advantage of if you want your document to look its best.