When To Use A Combination Resume
A combination resume may be best for you if you’re making a slight career transition or if you have a diverse employment history where relevancy to the role youre applying for may not be immediately clear. For example, you might use a combination resume if youre applying for a people manager position and you have extensive experience managing teams but youve never officially had a manager job title. This format can help showcase your leadership accomplishments and transferable
Why Its Called The Taj Mahal
Nothing quite comes close to the splendor and beauty of the Taj Mahal.
The uniqueness of this layout stands out among the generic resume formats that HR managers are tired of seeing. When the Taj Mahal comes across a hiring managers desk, youll be sure to get their attention. Like the actual structure, this template is strategically separated into numerous sections.
Include A Selected Achievements Section At The Top Of Your Executive Resume
If you’re a senior-level professional, you likely have a list of accomplishments to choose from. But this doesn’t mean you should list everything you’ve ever done! In Jake’s executive resume, for example, he chose accolades and achievements that highlight the specific results and impact he made. His Selected Achievements section, sometimes called Career Highlights, allows for quick skimming to understand his performance highlights. While a section like this isn’t mandatory, it’s a great way to show recruiters or hiring managers what you’re most proud of.
Read Also: How To Write A Resume
Customizing These Work Experience Examples
Now, you could just copy and use one of the formats above, from the three previous work experience examples that I just gave you.
However, I also recommend adjusting it to fit your situation. Ill explain
Depending on how often youve changed jobs and how long youve been working, you may want to list months and years, or only years for your dates of employment.
Be strategic and decide whats best for you. If you held a job for only a few months, it might be better just to list everything in terms of years, and not include months.
And you can also leave a job off of your resume entirely. This is not a work history section of a job application where youre required to list all previous jobs. Its entirely up to you what goes on your resume).
Whatever you do, stay consistent with the same formatting for every job. Thats very important. Remember, you want this to be EASY to read for the hiring manager.
So use the work experience examples above to create your own, but also make sure youre doing what fits your career and experience!
Dont Worry Too Much About Gaps
One of the questions that Lees and Heifetz get asked regularly is how to account for gaps in a resume, perhaps when you werent working or took time off to care for a family member. If you were doing something during that time that might be relevant to the job, you can include it. Or you might consider explaining the gap in your cover letter, as long as you have a brief, positive explanation. However, the good news is that in todays job market, hiring professionals are much more forgiving of gaps. In a recent survey, 87% of hiring managers said that they no longer see candidates being unemployed or having an employment gap as a red flag.
Also Check: Where Do You Put Certifications On A Resume
How To Format The Experience Section On A Resume
You may do everything in your power to write a work experience section that wows, but if it is not formatted correctly, your resume could end up in the no pile. Consistency throughout your resume is key for allowing readers to digest your information quickly.
Here are a few tips to ensure the work experience section in your resume is formatted properly.
- Format each work entry the same. List the details: job title, company name, location, dates of employment, and list of responsibilities.
- Use the same font throughout the resume and no more than two styles (i.e. one font for job titles and another font for the contextual information.
- Align each section equally in a consistent manner
- Align each section header the same using one font and a consistent method for implementing bold, italics, and underline effects. This will ensure the highest level of readability.
Using an online resume creator or downloading a resume example could save you lots of formatting time, as these resources usually have a preset document structure already in place.
ResumeCoach offers a range of resume samples and an online resume maker filled with guides, advice, and extra resume help when you need it most.
Who Should Use It
We recommend that experienced career professionals use this resume template, or anyone working in a white-collar office setting. If youre a student that is particularly hard-working, you could also potentially use this template to highlight your relevant volunteer experience or academic projects.
Beyond that, this template is for those of you with Spartan taste you just want the bare essentials.
Read Also: Is It Bad For Resume To Be 2 Pages
Why Its Called The Executive
The Executive template is the Bentley of the professional resumes. No other resume comes close to the refined and stylish format of the executive. Other templates cant stand up to the exclusive feel that the Executive template gives off. The sophistication of the alignments and the use of vertical and horizontal line breaks have no equal in the resume world.
The 3 Best Resumes I’ve Ever Seen’
Korn Ferry CEO Gary Burnison has been interviewing candidates for 20 years. These are the best types of resumes he’s seen, based on experience level.
Gary Burnisonis CEO of Korn Ferry. He is the author of Advance: The Ultimate How-To Guide for Your Career and Lose the Resume, Land the Job. For more information, see KFAdvance.com.
There is no one-size-fits-all template for a resume that will guarantee a job interview or offer. But there is one major message that every resume should illustrate: This is how I made things better for my employers.
The secret to making that point as clear and compelling as possible depends on how many years youve been working. Here are solid resumes examples from candidates across three common experience levels: mid-level, junior, and recently graduated:
*Note: These are hypothetical examples the people, experiences and companies are not real. Numbers and percentages represented by X are meant to show style and format.
1. The mid-level professional resume
Mid-level professionals typically have a strong background in managing teams or directing departments. Since they have anywhere from seven to 15 years of experience, their resumes can be longer than one page.
Essential tips:
2. The junior-level professional resume
Essential tips:
3. The recent college graduate resume
Essential tips:
A version of this article appears on cnbc.com.
Read Also: How To Put On The Job Training In Resume
Top 10 Tips For Picking A Resume Template
If there was one resume template that worked for everyone well, our website would be much, much smaller. But the truth is, a variety of templates are important to help capture the uniqueness of each candidate. And as beautiful as each resume template might be, a hiring manager doesnt want to see the same one 100 times in a row. At the end of the day, the choice comes down to you. Its important to evaluate the level of professionalism in your industry and at the company youre applying to and decide if a modern, stylish resume or a more traditional one would be in line with those standards.
Beyond that, its about highlighting the experiences and abilities that make you unique. In some industries, a pop of color or a friendly photo can do the trick. In others, youll have to rely on your expert writing to sell yourself as a top candidate
Free To Download And Use In Microsoft Word As A Pdf Or In Google Docs
Choosing the right template is the first step in crafting your perfect resume. Try out our easy-to-use builder tool to add your work history, work experience, education section, soft skills and hard skills and achievements and show an employer what makes you truly unique. Our builder tool has already been tested by thousands of satisfied customers who have found their dream jobs hassle-free. A professional template calls for a professional file resume format. Luckily, Resume.io has got you covered. Within our builder tool, you can download your resume as a MS Word or Google Doc version completely free. You can also download your resume as a PDF.
So what are you waiting for? Its time to find your perfect template, add your personal touches and land your dream position in a few easy clicks! Don’t forget to create a matching cover letter after you have written the perfect resume. Using our Resume.io builder you can create a perfect resume that will impress hiring managers. Thats why more than 14 million jobseekers use our free resume templates.
Get access to winning resume examples that will inspire you during the writing process. Our Resume Writing tool will even help to organize and manage your job search more efficiently.
Recommended Reading: Can Your Resume Be 2 Pages
Professional Experience Section Examples
Here are a few work history examples for various job titles using the above tips. Use these for inspiration as you write your resume:
Example 1: Warehouse supervisor
River TechWarehouse associate | Dec. 2013June 2017
-
Responsible for the construction of sturdy, balanced pallet loads for shipping
-
Developed backup training on computerized inventory system resulting in 25% decrease in onboarding time
Example 2: School counselor
Assistant counselor | Jan. 2015Dec. 2018
-
Developed comprehensive guidance and counseling programs in collaboration with faculty and staff for 1,200+ students
-
Conducted career awareness sessions and meet individually with parents and students to explore education options based on career goals
-
Pioneered and coordinated Career & College Day, introducing 800 students and parents to 60 universities, colleges, and companies
Example 3: Restaurant manager
The Salt BrineHead restaurant manager | June 2013Dec. 2018
-
Performed 25 store audits in compliance with safety and sanitation regulations to ensure the quickest and most effective modes of service
-
Developed training program for 400 employees in compliance with company and government requirements, reducing training time by 10%
-
Performed review of scheduling for three departments and reduced labor needs by 5%
When To Pick A Professional Resume Template
Lets say youre not sure whether a professional resume template is right for you. One way to decide is to really get a feel for the image of the company. Check out their website and social media. Even just the logo can give you a sense of what type of workplace you might be dealing with. Does the company strike you as prim and proper and more conservative than flashy?
These are good indicators that a professional resume template is in line. Professional templates are most often in use in the administration, law and medicalfields. If the position requires an advanced degree, its a good bet that youll need a professional resume template. However, there are other situations that call for these templates as well. For example, a recent grad applying as a receptionist for a large accounting firm may also benefit from a professional resume template.
If youre still not sure, its best to err on the side of caution and pick a more formal resume template. Unless you are applying to a highly creative company, a professional template with its clean color scheme and streamlined design will virtually never be out of place. A hiring manager or recruiter will thank you for keeping the focus on your skills and achievements.
Don’t Miss: How To List Computer Skills On Resume
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.
+ Professional Resume Summary Examples
Whether you have no work experience or are applying for an executive role, we have resume summary examples that can help you as you write your resume.
Childcare Resume Summary
Passionate childcare professional with over a year of babysitting experience. Skilled at creating engaging, educational activities for children and fostering a safe, caring environment. Employed unique tutoring methods to help the child I was babysitting improve her speech impediment. CPR certified and an experienced vegetarian home cook.
Related resume samples:
College Student Resume Summary
Committed English major with exceptional research and writing abilities. Awarded multiple honors based on merits and expected to graduate from UCLA in June of 2019. Tutored freshmen and improved writing scores by 40%.
Related resume samples:
Computer Science Resume Summary
Recent Computer Science graduate seeking to use my backend development experience in an entry-level position. Possess 4 months of internship experience building and testing applications for Android, iOS, and Windows. Skilled with C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, and Swift. Independently built a note-taking application that was recently approved by the Apple App Store.
Related resume samples:
Digital Marketing Resume Summary
Related resume samples:
Food Service Resume Summary
Related resume samples:
High School Resume Summary
Related resume samples:
Don’t Miss: Best Resume Design 2021
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.
Write Strong Action Verbs
Strong action verbs highlight what you have done to achieve your goals with previous employers. The use of strong action verbs also allows you to sell yourself in a way that shows you’re capable of independently addressing challenges you’ve encountered and why those experiences can be transferable to your future employer.
A few examples of strong action verbs include:
-
Established
Also Check: Where Do You Put Your Skills On A Resume
Write A Standout Resume Headline
A resume headline is a concise, one-line description of who you are as a candidate. A well-written headline can grab a recruiters attention and encourage them to take a more detailed look at your qualifications.
Your headline is a short but powerful addition to your resume, often the first thing a recruiter reads. Take advantage of the opportunity to make a strong first impression. Its also another opportunity to include a specific job title or keyword that might be used to sort your resume in the ATS.
Select The Best Type Of Cv
There are 3 different styles of professional CV formats including the Chronological CV, the Functional or sometimes known as Skills-based CV and the Combination CV. Each distinct type has different advantages and disadvantages and is more suited to a specific type of job-seeker profile.
- Chronological CV This is the most common of the three CV layouts and the most recommended for professional CVs due to the clear and concise construction which allows potential employers to find the information they require quickly and easily.
The reverse chronological CV layout offers the candidates work experience as the pivotal section of the application, describing each previous relevant role in order of most recent to oldest.
- Skills-based or Functional CV This type is not recommended for professional jobseekers as it has a bad reputation among employers as a way of hiding any periods of unemployment, however, it is still a strong CV format for career changers and even student CVs because it focuses on the skills that a candidate possesses and can therefore transfer from one job to another.
- Combination CV The most modern of the three CV structures is the combination CV which combines the chronological and functional styles to include a heavy focus on skills with a brief description of previous job roles in a reverse chronological order.
Read Also: What Should Go On A Resume
List Your Social Media Profiles
Many hiring managers today screen candidates on social networks. Save them a step by providing your profile links on your resume. Seasoned applicants with a professional social presence would do well to include URLs for their LinkedIn profile, Twitter account and blog, if applicable.
If, and only if, your social media accounts are filled with professional posts pertaining to your industry, listing them on your resume can be advantageous, said Richie Frieman, author of REPLY ALL and Other Ways to Tank Your Career. They can show you have a strong network and are up to speed with modern-day marketing and communications practices. The hiring manager will see that you like to keep up with whats happening and that you care about learning more.
Your social profiles can be a powerful recruitment tool to supplement your experience and position as an expert in your field, but only if they are leveraged correctly.
Tip: If your social profiles are not professionally applicable, do not list them on your resume, and make sure they are set to private.