Colors And Design Of Your Work History On A Resume
The first rule to follow when you write your employment history is to keep it simple in terms of style and formatting.
If youre not a professional designer, your resume format should not have fancy graphics and colors.
Thats true of every section of your resume.
Pick one accent color at most , one or two fonts total, and one or two heading sizes.
Youll notice all three resume employment history samples above keep colors to a minimum and focus on the content itself. Thats what you should do as well.
You want the employers focus to be on your past work experience, not on the styling and colors of your resume, so dont distract them too much.
Resume Work Experience Example #:
This is another employment history sample showing a great balance between attractive styling, but not going overboard and making it too busy or distracting.
Only one color is being used: blue . And the styling is simple enough to keep the readers attention on your accomplishments.
Contributed by: Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes and Forbes contributor
List Your Skills In A Separate Skills Section
If you want to support your professional experience with skills that are required by or relevant to the employer, you could include a separate skills section that highlights keywords from the job description. If you have extensive professional experience, your job history section should be highlighted as the first thing employers see. You can list additional skills in a separate section at or near the bottom of your resume.
Here is an example skills section for a payroll specialist:
Relevant skills: Mastery of Quicken and Quickbooks, employee benefits administration, new hire onboarding, multistate payroll, employee relations.
Don’t Miss: Does Indeed Charge To View Resumes
How To Get Started
Before you begin writing your job application letter, do some groundwork. Consider what information you want to include .
Remember, this letter is making a case for your candidacy for the position. But you can do better than just regurgitating your resumeinstead, highlight your most relevant skills, experiences, and abilities.
Why Shouldnt I Use A Resume Template
Some job seekers believe that employers frown upon the use of templates, but its not true. Resume templates are just an easy way to give your application an attractive design and help you organize your information.
However, many people still prefer not to use a template. If, for example, you have a knack for graphic design and want to create your own one-of-a-kind resume, then using a template isnt for you.
If thats the case, you can make a resume in Microsoft Word or Google Docs without a template. But to help you do this, we suggest learning how to write a resume properly first, and using a resume outline to help guide you through the process just so you make sure to include all the essential information.
Recommended Reading: What Resume Builder Is Actually Free
Microsoft Resume Templates Give You The Edge You Need To Land The Perfect Job
Free and premium resume templates and cover letter examples give you the ability to shine in any application process and relieve you of the stress of building a resume or cover letter from scratch. Whether you’re looking for a traditional or modern cover letter template or resume example, this collection of resume templates contains the right option for you. With a traditional resume template format, you can leave the layout and design to Microsoft and focus on putting your best foot forward. If you’re looking for a way to bring your application to life, put a face to your name with a headshot resume template and cover letter combo. If that’s not your style, you can choose from hundreds of other fully customizable and printable resume templates. All resume and CV templates are professionally designed, so you can focus on getting the job and not worry about what font looks best. Just download your favorite template and fill in your information, and you’ll be ready to land your dream job.
Healthcare Sales Executive Resume Summary Example:
Turnaround & Ground Up Leadership
- Concept-to-execution strategies for untapped products, markets + solutions that yield 110% revenue growth
- Negotiates partnerships with leading distributors + hospitalsMedline to Centara + Novant Health to Mayo Clinic
- Revitalizes underperforming sales organizations via scalable, sustainable infrastructures emulated as best practice
- C-Level networks of clinical + supply chain leadership acquired during tenures with XXX, XXX and XXX
Why this resume summary is good:
This resumes summary examples strength lies in the detailed, unique information that has been included. By including revenue stats, names of past employers and partners, the reader right away sees that this person will bring to the role a strong networking ability with key players in his industry, and more importantly can build, grow and revitalize a sales organization, market or product.
By: Virginia Franco, Founder of Virginia Franco Resumes and Forbes contributor.
Don’t Miss: How To Email Your Resume
Match Skills And Experiences With Your Dream Job
You shouldnt submit the same resume to every job. Generic resumes will look cookie-cutter and be less attractive to a hiring manager. To get the most out of your resume, tailor it with the right qualifications for the specific position youre applying for. Just follow the lead of our resume examples, which show how you can build a unique resume no matter what position you want.
Resume Examples To Browse By Jobs
If you are still stuck and overwhelmed with writing your document, heres your shortcut to cracking out your resume in no time. All of these samples created by our pro team come with a set of bonus resume design tips, job hunting advice and guidance on formatting and wording.
Below youll find the best resume examples with additional step-by-step instructions. We have included examples for different niches, experience levels and resume styles.
Recommended Reading: Is It Worth It To Have Your Resume Professionally Written
How Do I Write A Resume That Works
The first step is to develop a good resume objective.
Your resume objective
Each of the free resume samples provide examples of well written objectives and profile statements that you can individualize. A profile statement makes optimal use of the initial 20-30 seconds you have to persuade the reader to continue with your resume.
The first few lines should capture the reader’s attention and make him or her want to learn more about you.
Your objective or profile statement
Your profile statement focuses on how you can meet a potential employer’s needs. Consider the requirements for the job and highlight how you can meet these.
Find out what the key requirements are by reviewing relevant job postings, job descriptions and company information.
Go here to find comprehensive Sample Job Descriptions that can help you.
Your core information
This is presented in a straightforward style that is easy to use and easy to read. The content of your resume should be organized in a focused, factual way that highlights your skills and strengths.
A technical writing style that uses bullet points helps the reader to concentrate on important facts quickly and effortlessly.
Your qualifications and education
Make sure your qualification and education details support the credentials you presented in the profile statement. This is where you provide the evidence of what you can do.
The length of your resume
Your resume presentation
Proofread and recheck so that there are absolutely no errors.
What Are The Best Job Skills On A Resume
Its no secret that many hiring managers spend only a short amount of time looking at a resume before deciding whether to pass on a job candidate or add them to the shortlist. What you may not know is, employers today are looking for both hard and soft skills for a job. Read any job posting, for example, and you might see the following requests:
- Computer proficiency
- Collaboration talent
- Problem-solving abilities
These skills and attributes, and others we discuss in this post, are essential for todays workplace. Hard skills are the technical skills required to accomplish the tasks and responsibilities associated with the job. Theyre acquired through practice, education and training. Theyre measurable and easy to advertise: You either have the desired technical skills and experience, or you dont. Your work history and certifications will speak to them.
Soft skills, or interpersonal skills, reflect ones personality and personal attributes. They can relate to an ability to fit into a companys work culture, handle stress, communicate clearly or play well with others, for example. They may be soft, but theyre important skills for a resume: When job candidates possess comparable experience levels and technical skills, soft skills can tip the balance.
See later sections for tips on how to showcase soft and hard skills on your resume. But lets talk first about which job skills employers are looking for.
Don’t Miss: How To Print A 2 Page Resume
Address The Hiring Manager By Name
Addressing the hiring manager by name proves that you took the initiative to research the company. However, avoid informal greetings like Hi Bill or Hey Mrs. Lopez that make you seem unprofessional, especially if youve never met the hiring manager.
Begin with a standard greeting, like Dear Mr. Chen. If you dont know their name and youre unable to find it on LinkedIn or the company website, go with one of these options:
- Dear Sir/Madam
Addressing your email to the department you want to work in is also acceptable.
Avoid using the greeting To Whom It May Concern, as its considered old fashioned.
Can I Use Any Of These Examples To Help Write My Own Resume
Yes, we have plenty of examples you can use. Select any resume example from the list on this page, and youll find the following:
- A professional template with job-specific bullet points and information
- Sections to present your skills, experience, education, and professional accomplishments
- A free download in Microsoft Word format for you to personalize
- All resume information provided in text format ready for you to copy and paste
- Writing tips for creating a resume in that particular industry
We also have guides on how to write your own resume introduction, how to use resume action verbs, and articles outlining every other part of resume writing and formatting imaginable. Theyre all accessible on our resume help blog.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Resume 1 Page
What Should I Include In My Resume
Almost all resumes will consist of the same five parts: contact information, a summary or objective statement, skills, work experience and education sections.
In addition, some candidates choose to add optional sections such as: awards and honors, certifications or training.
A good way to know what specifics to include is to look at a resume sample for the job title to which youre applying. That way, you will better understand what kind of information, statistics and approach your job competition is taking.
Its also crucial to make sure everything you include in your resume is relevant to the job youre applying for. If it doesnt help make a case for why youd be good at the job you want, remove it!
Looking For More Information On Resume Accomplishments
You May Like: What Should The Objective In A Resume Contain
Writing Guidelines For Job Application Letters
Writing a job application letter is very different from a quick email to a friend or a thank-you note to a relative. Hiring managers and potential interviewers have certain expectations when it comes to the letter’s presentation and appearance, from length to font size and style to letter spacing:
Length: A letter of application should be no more than one page long. Three to four paragraphs is typical.
Format and Page Margins: A letter of application should be single-spaced with a space between each paragraph. Use about 1″ margins and align your text to the left, which is the standard alignment for most documents.
Font: Use a traditional font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. The font size should be between 10 and 12 points.
How Do I Format My Resume
The ideal format for your resume depends on your educational background and work history.
The majority of job-seekers will use one of these three standard resume formats:
Also Check: How Should My Resume Look Like
Example : Reverse Chronological Format Finance Manager
Teresa Nakashian
843-285-7485
Strategic-minded, goal-oriented industry leader with a strong history in financial management, risk management and the development and implementation of change management projects. Highly skilled in driving strategic business growth and managing stakeholder relationships.
Employment History
National Finance Director, Chroma Financial, June 2014âPresent
Key Responsibilities:
-
Conceptualize, develop and implement business improvement plans
-
Oversee budget forecasting & reporting, internal and external auditing processes and strategic planning
-
Work alongside regional management team to ensure delivery of desired decisions and outcomes
-
Present executive and management reports to C-suite executive team and board of directors
Achievements:
-
Developed financial tracking dashboards to streamline existing reporting systems
Senior Finance Manager, Nest Financial Systems, May 2008âJune 2014
Key Responsibilities:
-
Supervised a seven-person team of business analysts, accountants and database administrators
-
Prepared budgets, forecasts and audits, financial reports and business improvement plans
-
Presented budgeting reports to C-suite executives and board of directors
-
Oversaw financial business operations and reporting processes
Achievements:
Wealth Manager, Hoover & Wise Wealth Management, March 2006âMay 2008
Key Responsibilities:
Achievements:
Education
Find The Hiring Managers Contact Details
First, you need to find out who to reach:
Emailing a Resume: How to Find the Hiring Managers Contact Details
Once you get the right contact details, you have the gold opportunity.
Hi there Carrie!
When I was a little girl and my mom used to be a subscriber of Cosmo, every month, as soon as she got her copy, Id sit down next to her, marvelling at the pictures on those magical pages. Ever since, Ive dreamed of becoming a member of your team.
Get this:
The email you send with your resume might reach the hiring manager in a hurry. Be prepared for that. Make your point clear from the beginning.
The good example above? This ones going to be saved for later reading.
The bad one? Already deleted.
Theres personalized message and then theres creepy oversharing.
Alright. You got their attention. Now…
Read Also: How To Write A Resume As A 16 Year Old
List Your Professional History With Keywords
Write your professional history section in reverse-chronological order. Start with your most recent job and provide a short description, including the company name, time period in which you were employed, your job title and a few key achievements during your time at the company. You might also include relevant learnings or growth opportunities you experienced while employed there.
When listing your professional history, you should keep a few best practices in mind:
-
Use numbers to measure your impact, when possible. Including specific numerical achievements can help employers understand your direct potential value to their company.
Example: Developed new process for requesting supplies, reducing fulfillment time by 10%.
-
Use keywords from the job description. Similar to your skills section, you should also include information from the job description in your job history bullets. For example, if the job description mentions the importance of meeting sales quotas, you could include information about how youve met or exceeded quotas in past roles.
Example: Achieved goal of reaching 250% annual sales quota, winning sales MVP two quarters in a row.
-
Be brief. Employers have mere seconds to review your resume, so you should keep your descriptions as concise and relevant as possible. Try removing filler words like and, and the. You should also only list
-
action verbs to describe your professional achievements. Some examples include developed, saved, drove and managed.
After You Start Getting Interviews Make Sure To Take Advantage
If you follow the advice above, youll have a great professional resume summary to make your qualifications stand out to employers.
But landing the interview is only half the battle So make sure you go into every interview ready to convince employers that they should hire you, too!
If you write a great resume summary example that gets employers excited to interview you, theyre going to ask you questions like, tell me about yourself early in the interview to learn more about your background. So make sure youre prepared with an answer.
I also recommend you review the top 20 interview questions and answers here.
Your resume caught their interest, so naturally, theyre going to follow up with a variety of questions to learn more about your professional background.
The bottom line is: A strong professional resume summary, followed up by other well-written resume sections will get you the interview, but your interview performance is what determines whether you get the job offer!
Read Also: How To Add Soft Skills In Resume