The best way to Write an excellent Resume

Keeping your resume updated is always a wise idea, ensuring you’re prepared for any potential job search or career transition. Given the competitive nature of the job market, how can you make sure your resume stands out? How do you effectively compose your resume?

Fear not! We’re here to share some invaluable resume writing tips applicable to various job seekers—whether you’re just starting out and crafting your very first resume, or a career shifter aiming to present your experience and skills as valuable assets.

Resume Writing Tips: Considering These 6 Key Factors

If you’re seeking guidance on how to create your job search tool, here are some practical tips to keep in mind when writing a resume.

1. Work Smarter, Not Harder

Prior to composing your resume, determine the position you’re applying for. Instead of sending out countless tailored resumes (or even worse, a generic one-size-fits-all resume), focus on one or two specific roles. By doing this, you’ll save yourself the time and effort of repeatedly customizing your resume.

Furthermore, this approach allows you to reflect on your career trajectory and aspirations. Assess whether the next role you’re pursuing aligns with your career goals.

2. Be Specific and Concise

Being concise is a key resume writing tip, particularly beneficial for individuals with diverse work experience and a wide range of skills. Once you’ve identified a target position, tailor your resume accordingly. Avoid including skills and work history unrelated to the role you’re applying for, as this will unnecessarily lengthen your resume.

Remember that hiring managers are swamped with resumes daily, so ensure that everything you include is directly relevant. If you’re unsure about what to incorporate, especially when transitioning to a different career path, refer to the job description. Additionally, don’t forget to customize your cover letter for the specific job you’re targeting, rather than your current role.

3. Avoid Redundancy

Avoid using pronouns like “I,” “me,” and “my.” It’s implied that you’re referring to yourself, rendering these pronouns unnecessary. This not only saves space, even in small amounts, but also streamlines your content. Every inch of your resume (ideally limited to one page) is prime real estate that should convey impactful information.

4. Prioritize Key Information Above the Fold

Given that most hiring managers quickly scan resumes, it’s essential for job seekers to ensure that crucial information appears above the fold, in the first half of the resume. This approach increases the likelihood that hiring managers will notice the information that sets you apart as a strong candidate.

5. Customize Your Template

While using a template is acceptable, it should be seen as a guide rather than a rigid structure. Not personalizing your template reflects a lack of creativity and originality, signaling inflexibility. Furthermore, sticking to a template might hinder your ability to showcase your strengths effectively. You understand your strengths best, so you should choose which aspects to emphasize. Tailor the template to present yourself in the best light.

6. Stay Current with Trends

Remaining up-to-date with resume writing trends is a crucial piece of advice. Current trends in resume writing focus on incorporating technology and digital elements. Some of these trends include:

• Including Social Media Information: More hiring managers are checking prospective employees’ social media profiles to assess professionalism. Provide links to your profiles if they’re curated and appropriate.
• Incorporating a Digital Portfolio: Especially important for creative fields, sharing a link to your portfolio showcases your skills conveniently to hiring managers.
• Crafting Mobile-Friendly Resumes and Documents: Given the prevalence of mobile job search apps and email checking, ensure your resume is easily readable on mobile devices.
• Prioritizing Visual Appeal: Create an eye-catching header to capture hiring managers’ attention, but don’t sacrifice readability for aesthetics. Use visual elements strategically to highlight key points.
• Removing Outdated Sections: Such as objective statements and personal references. While you should have references available, it’s no longer necessary to include them on your resume as it’s assumed you can provide them if requested.

Resume Writing Tips: Selecting and Utilizing the Best Format

Different resume formats emphasize different aspects, so choose the one that best suits your goals. We’ve outlined various types of resume formats and the scenarios where they excel to help you determine which format is most suitable for your situation.

1. Chronological Resume

Chronological resumes present your work history starting from the most recent and moving backward. They showcase the various roles you’ve held over the years and are particularly advantageous for individuals with substantial work experience. However, this format isn’t ideal for job seekers with gaps in their employment history due to unemployment, breaks, or terminations.

2. Functional Resume

Designed for those with employment gaps, the functional resume format emphasizes skills, responsibilities, and achievements from previous roles. It omits dates, making it beneficial for individuals with work history gaps. It’s also valuable for career changers, as it highlights transferable skills to compensate for any lack of experience.

3. Combination Resume

The combination resume format merges elements of both chronological and functional formats. You list your roles and accomplishments chronologically, beginning with the most recent. This format is suitable for job seekers with diverse work experiences across various roles.

To create a combination resume, start by showcasing your most impressive skills, achievements, and responsibilities. Follow this with a succinct chronological work history.

4. Targeted Resume

Targeted resumes are tailored to situations where a job seeker’s work history includes both relevant and unrelated positions for the target job. To use this format, carefully review your work history and group related experiences, placing them prominently. Non-related positions can be listed but placed in a way that directs attention toward the relevant content.

Resume Writing Tips: Focusing on Content

Once you’ve chosen a resume format, it’s time to write your resume. Here are some tips to guide you through various aspects of the writing process.

1. Style and Appearance

Strive for a balance between visual appeal and readability in your resume, as mentioned in general resume writing advice. To create a professional-looking resume, maximize the use of visual elements to delineate different sections.

Use bullet points to highlight key elements, such as accomplishments. Bullet points are easier to read and efficiently convey information, also providing a break between paragraphs. Additionally, ensure proper spacing to avoid overcrowding or excessive white space.

2. Tell Your Story

One crucial aspect of resume writing is recognizing that you’re crafting a narrative. Thus, apply the storytelling principle of “show, don’t tell.”

Utilize powerful words to convey your qualities and exhibit your personality. Align your skills and responsibilities with the job description. However, merely stating skills without substantiating evidence is ineffective.

Always highlight achievements when describing yourself. Rather than saying you “efficiently checked inventory for three years,” provide specifics such as “reduced inventory checking time by 20% in 2020.” Whenever possible, include quantifiable data and evidence of your achievements.

Additionally, don’t hesitate to take credit for accomplishments in your previous roles. While claiming undue credit is discouraged, acknowledging your individual contributions is important and demonstrates your teamwork abilities.

3. Work Experience

Typically, job seekers should focus on relevant work experience in this section. This is especially important if your work history is extensive and varied. Highlight the most recent and pertinent roles you’ve held, placing them at the forefront of your resume.

However, there’s an exception to this resume writing tip: career changers. Those transitioning to new fields can benefit from including seemingly “irrelevant” positions in their resumes. Certain skills acquired in unrelated roles can transfer effectively across industries, such as soft skills (e.g., communication). Just ensure you can justify how these “unrelated” experiences contribute to business growth.

4. Education

The education section typically appears towards the end of a resume, especially for job seekers with established work histories. However, if you’re a recent graduate from a well-regarded institution, positioning your education near the beginning of your resume could be advantageous. Conversely, if you possess relevant experience in unconventional roles (e.g., volunteering or organizing company events), it’s better to present that before your educational background.

Creating the education section is straightforward. Include your degrees and any honors received. If applicable, provide dates and your GPA. Don’t forget to mention courses or degrees you are currently pursuing. This section can also incorporate relevant training sessions and completed seminars.

Additional Resume Writing Tips to Remember

Before finalizing your resume and sending it out, take a moment to review it while considering these additional aspects.

1. Utilizing Keywords

Many companies now use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes for specific keywords. While companies don’t disclose the exact keywords their ATS scans for, you can reduce the guesswork by analyzing the job description. Align your resume with the keywords used in the job listing to increase your chances of getting noticed.

2. Saving in Appropriate File Formats with Clear Filenames

Storing your files solely in the .docx format is discouraged, as it may compromise formatting. To preserve your resume’s layout, save a copy as a PDF. However, keeping a .docx version can be helpful since some applicant tracking systems struggle with PDFs. Regardless of the format, name your file clearly with your first and last name, along with an identifier like “resume” or “cover letter.”

3. Sending the Resume and Attachments Correctly

Ensure you include all required documents when submitting your application. Follow the instructions outlined in the job listing. If submitting a physical copy of your resume and documents, ensure the print quality is high and the paper is in good condition, projecting professionalism and attention to detail.

4. Crafting an Appropriate Cover Letter

Cover letters can significantly impact your application. A well-crafted cover letter sets you apart from the competition and should align with the job description while explaining why you’re a suitable candidate. It’s an opportunity to showcase your interest not only in the position but also in the company itself. If you’re unsure about writing your own, refer to our article on creating an impressive cover letter.

Resume Composing Tips: Create Your Own or even Consult an expert?

Having gone through our resume writing tips, you should now be equipped to create an impressive resume on your own. However, if you still have doubts about your writing skills or feel that someone else could do a better job, it’s completely understandable to seek assistance. Wanting to increase your chances of securing a job interview is a valid aspiration.

You might consider consulting professional resume writers to help you. But how do you decide whom to approach? Which service offers the best value for your investment? Which resume writing services are reputable and trustworthy? Don’t worry—Best 10 Resume Writers has compiled a list of the top professional resume writing services for the year 2023!

Once you’ve submitted those resumes, it’s crucial to be well-prepared for potential interviews. So, ensure you’ve compiled a to-do list before the interview. Explore our tips and tools for effective interview preparation to shake off any interview jitters. If you’re interested in seeking guidance from professional interview coaches, take a look at our list of the finest interview coaching services. Armed with these insights, you’ll enhance your prospects of acing the interview and landing that dream job!