What To Put On Your Resume

Why The Resume/cv Summary Is Important

You may have heard that recruiters only spend 8-10 seconds looking at your resume. The truth is: they spend that long deciding whether to read more. They do glance that quickly at first and may move on if your background doesnt look like a fit.

However, if you grab their attention, theyll read far more. Recruiters arent deciding to interview you in 8-10 seconds, but they are ruling people out in 8-10 seconds.

And this is why your resume summary is so crucial. It appears high up on your resume and is one of the first sections employers see. So its part of what theyll see in the first 8-10 seconds.

Your resume summary statement is one of your first chances to get the employer to stop skimming through their pile of resumes and focus on YOU.

Top 5 Benefits Of Using Resume Writing Services

Are resume writing services worth the investment? In short, yes! The best resume writers add value to your job search by saving you time and stress, optimizing your resume for your target roles, and delivering a powerful document all while preparing you for interviews and increasing your confidence as a jobseeker.

In this article, we outline the top 5 reasons why working with a resume writer may be the right decision for you.

Write A Resume Summary Statement

You may have heard of a resume summary statement. Theyre not super common, but they can be useful to include near the top of your resume if youre looking to add clarity or context to your resume. If youre a career changer, you might find a summary statement helpful in explaining your leap and tying your experience to your new path. Or if youre a more experienced professional, you can use a summary statement to highlight a theme that brings your career trajectory together.

Overall, you probably wont need a summary statement if your career is pretty linear and your bullet points do a great job of emphasizing what you have to offer in terms of skills and experience. But if you think it makes sense to include one, Take the time to think about what the person reading your summary wants to know before you write it, says McGovern. Good summaries explain why you do what you do and how it can help. For instance: Merging a background in ABC, I help companies improve XYZ through 123. Summaries shouldnt be any more complicated than that.

So, taking McGoverns example, you might say:

Merging a background in social media marketing and PR with seven years in the consumer tech space, I help companies improve their internal and external communication and brand awareness through data-driven, quality content and strategies that align with the modern trends of the space.

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Polish Up Your Grammar And Formatting

Resume writing is a unique style. It can be tricky to remember which tense to use or when to omit pronouns. How can you use language to tell a more compelling story? Which fonts and formats are ATS-friendly? Lets take a look.

Resume Fonts

Its important to use a font that is easy to read on screen, ATS-compatible, and commonly available. A few traditional resume fonts to consider include Helvetica, Garamond, or Georgia. Avoid using script fonts or custom fonts unless you are a designer. Dont use a font size below 10.

Tense and Pronouns

Use past tense when talking about jobs in the past, and present tense when describing the work you are currently doing. Traditional resume writing leaves out personal pronouns and gets right to the action. Ex. Spearheaded a new email marketing initiative that increased revenue by 10 percent.

Resume Action Words

Action verbs help liven up your writing, making your resume more readable for recruiters and hiring managers. Consider beginning each bullet point on your resume with an action verb and replacing generic verbs like managed or led with more engaging words like mentored or accelerated.

Additional Relevant Accomplishments And Volunteer Work

The last section to consider adding to your resume is a shortlist of any other relevant accomplishments or volunteer work. Only include those that are relevant or that may help create a better picture of who you are as an individual as related to the position youre applying for. If youre not sure what information may be a fit for this section, re-read the job descriptions that interest you. Consider if you have any experiences outside of the professional history you already added which may help employers understand your qualifications.

Here is an example of what your accomplishments and volunteer work section could look like:

Volunteer firefighter, 20102012Annual winter food drive volunteer, 2013presentOSHA safety award, May 2018

When you submit an application, your resume is one of the first documents potential employers will use to decide whether or not you are a good fit. A well-developed resume could help you be recognized by employers looking for candidates like you.

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Good Skills To Put On A Resume

When somebody says the word skills to you, what immediately comes to mind?

For most people, the answer is things I am good at.

Typing. Woodworking. Public speaking Cartwheels.

Yes, all of the things listed above can be considered skills, but when it comes to the job hunt, you have to be selective as to which of these to include on your resume. Why?

Because the company you are interviewing with AND the job you are interviewing for both require a very specific set of skills in order for you to get the job done effectively.

Filling up the skills section of your resume with a bunch of skills that have absolutely nothing to do with the job you are applying for is basically just a waste of space.

This is why it is important that you understand how to choose the correct skills to include in your resume for 2021.

Additional Accomplishments Volunteer Work Or Interests

If you have any relevant, additional information that didn’t fit into other sections, you can conclude your resume with it. This includes volunteer work, awards or recognition outside of school, hobbies or interests, and extracurricular activities.

Here’s an example of what this section could look like:

Volunteer at Pure Care Animal Shelter, 2015 – 2020Annual winter food drive volunteer, 2018 – presentTrillium Book Award, 2019

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How To Match Your Resume Skills To The Job Description

Many companies use an applicant tracking system , which acts as an electronic filter, to collect, scan, sort and rank resumes to narrow applicant pools to the most qualified candidates. Thats why you need to customize your resume and cover letter using keywords and phrases that match the job listing .

If an employer is looking for a graphic designer with mastery in Adobe Creative Suite, for example, you wouldnt just claim experience with software for creative professionals. List the software by name, give your expertise level, and if you have it highlight your Adobe Certified Expert certification. Likewise, if an employer is searching for an accountant with experience processing daily invoices and credit, then use similar language in your resume. Simply listing gathering receipts as a duty wont likely score well with an ATS.

Repeat common words and phrases from other postings of the same role, too. But remember, every job description is different. Tailor the keywords and skills on your resume and in your cover letter for each position.

The Best Font Size For A Resume

The size font you use on a resume will depend on how much you have written, as you need your content to fill up one entire page. A good place to start is using 16pt for your name, 12pt for your section headers, and 11pt for the body of your text. Experiment conservatively until your one-page resume looks complete.

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How To Create A Resume Skills Section

When youwrite a resume, its important to organize the content so its succinct and easy to read. A three-column, three-row highlights section near the top of your resume, just above your professional experience, is a helpful way to list the nine soft and technical skills that speak directly to the postings required qualifications. Its also a good place to add keywords youve identified.

You dont need more than a couple words here to show what you bring to the table. This should be a bulleted list a reader can quickly scan. Complete sentences will come in your work history.

Here are some examples of what professionals from different industries could list in this section:

Detail Your Work Experience

The work experience section is the heart of your resume. Employers look at this section closely to determine whether your job history and prior accomplishments make you a promising candidate.

Thats why its important to detail not only your job responsibilities but also your competence in prior roles. The work experience section is your chance to show recruiters and hiring managers how you have added unique value to other companies.

The first things a recruiter looks for on your resume are the job titles youve held and the caliber of companies youve worked with. Make this information easy to find by sticking to a familiar format.

List each job in reverse-chronological order. Each job should have its own subheading that includes the following information:

• Company

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What To Include On A Cv

What to include in a CV? Which CV sections to keep off? This complete guide outlines exactly which things to put on your CV to make it shine.

In 5 minutes you’ll learn what to put on a CV, but first think about this

You have years of skills, goals, work history, and education.

Youve only got an 8×11 piece of paper in front of you .

How can you squeeze all that into such a limited space?

Which CV sections are a must? Which to leave off? Where do you put what?

Well, the first thing to put is your mind at ease.

In this CV guide, youll learn:

• What should be on a CV, where to add it, and what not to include.
• How to structure a CV by using the best CV components.
• Other things to include in a CV and with your CV.

Save hours of work and get a CV like this. Pick a template, fill it in. Quick and easy. Choose from

What users say about ResumeLab:

I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: Wow! I love your CV.PatrickI love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work!Dylan My previous CV was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!George

Expert Hint: When should you use a CV, and when is it better to use a curriculum vitae? It depends. CV and CV actually have a different meaning across languages. Read about the difference between a CV and a Resume.

Volunteer Work And Activities

Lastly, create a section for volunteer activities. This could be formal or informal volunteering, such as serving food at a local homeless shelter or helping your neighbor rake leaves. For each volunteer activity, include who you volunteered with, what your role was, the dates and hours you volunteered and a brief description.

Example of how to list volunteer work and activities in a resume:Coral Springs Soup Kitchen, Coral Springs, Florida 25 Hours Meal Prep and ServingPrepares, serves, and cleans up after meal service at a local homeless shelter on a bi-weekly basis.

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Top Hard Skills For Your Resume

Hard skills tend to be more technical, and each industry or type of job will usually have its own required set. Finding out what range of hard skills youll be expected to have in your field might require some research. Here are hard skills examples that tend to be in-demand across many industries.

Computer Software and Application Knowledge

The list of professions that does not require you to use computers and certain types of software is very short. You could very likely break up computer skills into two or three specific technical proficiencies for your field.

Design

Aside from the obvious professions like graphic or web design, there are jobs in marketing, advertising, branding, engineering, and construction that require some type of design skillseven if its only for drawing up presentations.

Data Analysis

Understand data is very much in vogue right now, and there are a lot of jobs out there where you will be called upon to analyze metrics and extrapolate a practical use from it, making analytical skills extremely valuable to put on your resume.

Negotiation

There are many jobs that involve selling a product or service, purchasing stock or merchandise, brokering deals for production or transportation, establishing partnerships for advertising or investments, and so on.

Mathematics

Project Management

Marketing

Administrative

Writing Skills

Foreign Languages

Why Is It Important To Showcase Strengths In A Resume

Did you know that only about 20% of people that apply for a job get called for an interview? Even if their resume is good, that means 80% of applicants are getting rejected. This is where your resume comes in.

You need to convince the hiring manager that youre an excellent fit for the job by highlighting your strengths. And this isnt just about showing what you can do its also about suggesting what you can become, i.e., how you would grow into that role if given the chance.

That means that when writing a resume, you must avoid focusing on past performance . Instead, emphasize future potential .

If possible, make sure to include some bullet points under each strength demonstrating your desire to learn new things and develop yourself further within the position. Doing so will show the hiring manager that youre a perfect fit for the company.

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Extracurricular Activities Sports And Clubs

After you awards and achievements, create a section for extracurricular activities. List anything you are passionate about that shows your positive attitude and aptitude for the job youre applying for, such as playing a musical instrument, clubs, sports and other activities. In your resume, list the relevant activity and include a brief description.

Example of how to list extracurricular activities, sports and clubs:Piano Has played piano for 8 years and practices, on average, 4 hours per day.Babysitting Babysits neighbors, 8 and 3 years old, twice a week.Swimming Competitive swimmer, having won multiple gold and silver medals in state competitions.

List All The Skills You Know You Have

Create a master list of all the skills you know you have acquired through your life, both hard and soft skills. Think about the things you learned and excelled at in school, the activities you did after school , and the experience you have gained at the various jobs you have done.

Other ways to identify your skills include:

• Considering any awards and achievements you have received and the skills you used to gain them.
• Asking former colleagues and mentors for help.
• Reaching out to professionals in the field for advice.

If you are still learning a particular skill , it is not necessary to list it.

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Top It Off With Some Skills And Interests

The skills section of a resume gets a bad rap, but its just as important as the rest of the stuff you include. Its a quick list a recruiter can scan to see if your skill set aligns with what theyre hiring for. And its super ATS-friendly because it allows you to add in keywords the machine is scanning for.

Usually this section goes at the bottom of your resume, but in special casessuch as a skills-based resume or when someones switching fieldsyou may place it further up.

What exactly do you throw in here? Youll want to list any hard skills and applications youre familiar with , and, if relevant, your level of expertise. Avoid including soft skills here, like time management or public speakingsave those for your bullet points instead.

Be strategic when filling in your skills. Dont list things you actually couldnt do at a high competence level , and maybe nix skills that are completely irrelevant to the job you want. For example, you may not even need to include Excel if youre applying for say, a design position, unless its listed as a job requirement.

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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