How To Set Up A Resume

October 25, 2021

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Proofread And Print The Final Version

How to Use Microsoft Word to Set Up a Resume : Tech Niche

Before your resume is finalized, its important to carefully proofread it. Then print a copy to make sure whats on the printed page lines up with whats on your computer.

Once its set, print extra copies to bring to interviews with you. If you dont have a printer you can use, check with your local library or an office supply store to see if you can access a printer there.

Making Your Content Shine

1Lead with groups of skills for a functional resume. A functional resume puts emphasis on what you can do, rather than on what you’ve done. Brainstorm a list of 4 to 5 categories of skills that you have experience or education in. Then include a brief description of the skill and bullet points with specific examples of when you put that skill to use.XResearch source

For example, if you’re creating a resume for an online writing job, you might include “editing” as one of your skills. One of your bullet points might state the number of articles you’ve edited on wikiHow and any accolades you were given for that work. Even if it’s volunteer work, it’s still experience as an editor.

You can also include relatively soft skills. For example, you might list “team leader” as one of your skills. You could then include bullet points detailing your work in student government, organizing a rally for a nonprofit organization, or working as a camp counselor.

2List work experience, including relevant volunteer work. For a chronological resume, add specific jobs and other work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent job you’ve had. Use specific, descriptive job titles that tell potential employers exactly what you did through that experience.XResearch source

Generally, you should include the month and year you started and ended the job in a chronological resume. However, if you worked there for several years, just the years are typically fine.

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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How To List References

Before you begin your job hunt, gather your references onto a Professional Reference Page. Include each references name, title, organization, phone number, and email address.

List your references starting with your most impressive or important reference.

Dont annotate your application with resume references available upon request. This outdated practice only uses up valuable space and restates something that every hiring manager already knows.

Instead, create a dedicated references page separate from your resume, and attach it to your application.

Next, list each reference like this:

Proper professional references format

Company / University your reference works atFull address of your references company / universityPhone numberEmail address

Never include the personal address of your reference on your reference page, because hiring managers dont contact references via snail mail. Plus your reference may not want you to share their personal information with strangers either.

Underneath each entry on your resumes reference page, you should also make a note clarifying your relationship with the reference, and how long youve known or worked with them.

Finally, if you want to save time formatting your reference page, download our resume references template and fill it in yourself:

How Many Pages Should A Resume Be

The short answer is that one page is the ideal resume length for most candidates. However, if you have a lot of relevant work experience, it can be two or even three pages.

Just note that unless youre applying for an upper-management position or an academic post, one page will be enough for hiring managers. Even Elon Musks resume could be tightened into one page.

If youre applying for an academic position, youll need to send a CV instead of a resume. Keep in mind that CV templates are often several pages long, and contain more information to show the progression of your academic career.

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How To Fit A Resume On One Single Page

Lets get real.

An entry-level applicant can insert all relevant information under one page because he/she doesnt have much relevant experience. The alternative is appearing like theyre not making a serious enough effort to write a concise application.

For folks with more experience, however, this can be a bit trickier.

Here are some tips on how to turn your resume into a concise one-pager:

How To Edit Your Resume

Youve written your resume, and read it twice, but thats not enough. A good editing job will take a little longer and some specific tactics meant to catch resume errors.

First, dont attempt to edit your resume until its done. Yes, it can be difficult to leave a glaring error while you move on to write your skills section, but force yourself to finish your resume before you edit it. Why? Youll save yourself time, and letting go of errors now could help you write a better first draft because youre focusing on the writing itself. Youll be glad you decided to go back and make all the edits at once.

Next, never try to edit your resume right after youve written it. In fact, you should give yourself a 24-hour break before editing your resume. With time away, youll see your resume with fresh eyes and for what it really isnot what you meant it to be.

When you give your resume a read, try reading your resume backward. It sounds odd and its not always easy but reading backward forces you to focus on each word, and helps you better catch both spelling and grammatical errors in the text.

Ask a friend or family member to read your resume, too. They may spot errors that you missed, or have suggestions for how to show yourself in an even better light.

And lastly, be sure to look for common resume pitfalls before you press send.

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The Last Word On How To Make A Good 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 make an amazing resume, 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.

Components Of A Good Resume

How to set up a resume template in Word 2013

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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Choose A Word Processor

Before you start to work on your resume, youll need a word processor. If you dont have word processing software installed on your computer, here are free online word processors, like Google Docs, you can use. One of the benefits of working online is that you can update, send, and share your resume from any computer or device youre using. That makes the application process much simpler because youll be able to easily apply for jobs from anywhere that may be convenient for you.

First Resume Example With No Work Experience Example

Writing your first-ever resume can be a challenge. How do you sell yourself to an employer when youre a student who doesnt have any experience in your targeted field?

When writing your first resume with no formal work experience, its appropriate to include casual jobs like babysitting, pet sitting, lawn mowing, and shoveling snow. You can also include volunteering, internships, and school and community activities.

All experience counts, and the best way you present yourself, your skills, and your assets to a hiring manager is to provide them with a strong resume that showcases your own unique talents.

Heres how to write your first resume, what to include, how to show employers the skills you have, a sample resume to review, and a template you can use to get started writing your resume.

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Who To Use As A Reference

Many people struggle to decide who to list as their references on their resume.

To help break it down, here are the best people to include on your reference page in order of importance:

Bosses

Professors

Advisors

If possible, list your current or former boss at the top of your references list. Most employers view supervisors or bosses as the most valuable references, because they have the greatest insight into your work ethic, skills, and professional strengths.

Additionally, consider the following details when choosing the other references on your resume:

Which of my references are most relevant to the job Im applying for?
Do I have references that work in the industry Im applying to?
Which potential reference would best highlight my relevant skills?
Who is not suited to give me a reference for this particular job?

Can you use a friend as a personal reference?

Generally, you shouldnt include friends as a reference on your resume. The exception is if theyre former colleagues, are currently employed at the company youre applying to, or are a former supervisor. In these cases, listing your friend as a reference is acceptable.

Who to use as a reference if its your first job

For a student or recent graduate, finding an appropriate set of professional references is difficult. So if you lack work experience and have no references, you can list a:

Teacher
Guidance counselor
Family member or friend youve done work for

How To Build A Resume

What You Know About How To Set Up A Resume And What You ...

To build a resume in USAJOBS:

Sign into USAJOBS.

Go to your Documents.

Make sure youre in the Resumes section and select the Upload or build resume button.

Click Build resume.

Name your new resume and click Next.

Click Add Work Experience, enter the required information and click Save Work Experience. To add additional work experience repeat this step or click Next to continue with your education information.

Click Add Education, enter the required information and click Save Education. Repeat this step to add additional education or click Next to continue with your references. You may also click Finish if you dont want to add more information.

Click Add Reference, enter the required information and click Save Reference. Repeat this step to add an additional reference or click Next to continue to the next step.

You can enter additional information on your resume such as job related training, language skills, organizations/affiliations, professional publications, and other information. Click the corresponding button under each section to add your information, enter your information and click Add or Save for each section once completed.

Click Finish to save your resume. Your new resume will appear in your Documents list.

Click View on the resume icon to preview your resume. To edit your resume click Edit on the resume icon and it will bring you to the first page of your resume in the resume builder tool.

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Consider Adding Optional Sections

If you have significant white space on your resume, consider adding an achievements or interests section. This can help supplement a shorter resume, especially for those with limited work and educational experience. Makes sure that the achievements and interests you list support your career goals and are relevant to potential employers.

Add Your Education Certifications And Any Other Relevant Information

There are other resume sections that may be worth adding, depending on both the job and your unique experience. These sections include things like education, awards and accolades, volunteer experience, and certifications. Keep in mind that your resume should always be showcasing your skills for that particular job, so anything in your history that doesnt support the image of you being a perfect candidate for the role doesnt need to be included.

Education

Its common to include your education on your resume, especially if you are applying to a job that requires a degree. If youre a few years into your career, your resumes education section can be minimized at the bottom of your resume. Unless youre applying in a career that puts extra emphasis on education , most job seekers can get away with providing only the following information on their resume:

Name of Institution

Awards, Accolades, & Certifications

All three of the aforementioned things can be embedded in the work experience and skills sections of your resume. However, if you would like to highlight them, they could warrant a section of their own. Either way, relevant certifications, and honors will increase your credibility.

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Dont Forget Your Education

If youre still in school or just graduated, your education can go at the top of your resume, but for pretty much everyone else, this goes near the bottom. Most people include their school, graduation year , major, and degree. Brand-new grads might also write in their GPA, honors and awards, study abroad, thesis, or other notable achievements. But keep this section super simple, as you dont want it to take up too much space over your work experience.

Its possible you have unique education experience, such as taking an online course or certification. If you did this specifically as a way to boost yourself within your industry, definitely include it. Again, list everything more or less reverse chronologicallyso a grad school degree would go above an undergrad degree, and a more recent relevant online course would go above that.

Learn more about the ins and outs of listing your education on your resume:

How to List Online Courses on Your Resume the Right Way

Compile Your Personal And Employment Information

HOW TO SET UP A TECH RESUME IF YOU HAVE NO WORK EXPERIENCE

Collect all the information you need to include before you start writing your resume. Its much easier to write, edit, and format a document when you have all the details you need in front of you.

Before you get started, make a list of the contact information you want to use, all your jobs, your education, training, certifications, skills, and other credentials.

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Updating A Resume After Your First Job

When you apply for your first job right out of school, your resume will inevitably be thin, as youve likely had very little job experience to that point. Once youve landed your first job and are looking to find a second, however, it will be necessary to update your resume to reflect the new skill set youve acquired after holding this position. What follows are some tips for what to include on your updated resume.

Review A Resume Example

This is a professional resume example. or read the example below.

Production TechnicianStrong and able-bodied Production Assistant with 8 years experience in assembly of components and sub-components for automotive and aviation parts manufacturers.

Process-oriented, ensuring safe and quality assembly line production within hazardous factory settings.
Skilled in use of weld guns, air-actuated tools, forklifts, manual tools, and automated machinery.
Diligent in completing daily production reports and timesheets.
Outstanding work ethic and team building skills willing to work overtime and flexible shifts.

Professional Experience

Hughes Automotive Company, Canton, MSProduction Technician, July 2017-PresentWeld automotive components as technician on fast-paced assembly line. Operate welding tools and automated machinery perform quality control and pack parts for shipping.

Maintained perfect attendance record throughout tenure.

Pine Hills Avionics Manufacturing, Jackson, MSAssembly Technician, June 2014-June 2017Skillfully set up and operated assembly department test stands. Interpreted schematics utilized hand tools and testing instruments including micrometers and venire calipers.

Earned Employee of the Month awards at least twice each year.
Selected by supervisor to train summer workers in assembly line, packing, and cleaning tasks.

Willingly worked overtime and weekend shifts as requested.
Earned top scores on quarterly performance reports.