A resume is a document that consists of an individual’s work experience, education, skills, and achievements. It serves as is a way for a person to market themselves in order to get a job offer. Moreover, a resume is a reflection of the applicant’s professionalism and commitment towards any task in which they are involved. A resume acts as an individual’s primary tool when applying for jobs. It is considered to be one of the most important parts of securing employment.
In order to have a good resume, it must be well written and will need to highlight the individual’s skills.
There are many different types of resumes, including chronological and functional, but there is no perfect format. It all depends on what you’re applying for and how much experience you have.
However, there are certain common elements that can be found in all resumes such as your name and contact information, work experience (past and present), education, skills, and accomplishments.
It is important to remember that for a resume to be effective it also needs to be dynamic. It needs to change with your experience, and it should also match the job for which you are applying.
For example, if you’re applying for a public relations position it will include all sorts of social media and communications skills but if you’re looking for an industrial engineering position then your resume is going to need lots of technical skills and education in that field.
The following elements are some of the more important and common parts of a resume. It is advised to include as much information as possible:
- Contact Information — This includes your personal information, such as your name, address, phone number, and email address.
- Work Experience — A resume should list all past work experience, both paid and unpaid. However, if you have less than 3 years of work experience it’s better to focus on volunteer work or internships instead of adding irrelevant jobs from high school.
- Education — This section should reflect all post-secondary education that is relevant for the job; no need to list every diploma or degree that you have obtained throughout your life (if it’s not relevant).
- Skills — Are you a pro in Microsoft Office? Are you fluent in another language? Trying to highlight your skills can help employers see how you can benefit their company.
- Achievements — No one wants to hire someone who is perfect, but rather they want to hire people who have made mistakes and have been able to learn from them. Include all relevant achievements from work or school.
In order for a resume to be effective, it needs to stand out from the crowd by highlighting your areas of expertise and qualifications. Make sure that when applying for jobs that you tailor your resume specifically for the job in question. This will show that you are committed and truly interested in the position and it could mean getting an interview.
Part of having a good resume is having good grammar and spelling. Make sure that everything is spelled correctly, there are no typos, and your sentences are properly structured before you submit it to potential employers. The first impression always counts and if you can’t write a proper resume then it will not only reflect poorly upon yourself but also upon those that wrote it for you as well as those that employed you in the past.
Make sure to keep it concise and clear; employers do not want to read an essay about yourself so try to stick to relevant information such as what your goals are and how can you contribute to their company.
To fill out a Resume, you must provide the following information:
Full Name
Enter your full legal name.
Objective
Enter your career objective.
Education
Enter your most recent or highest educational attainment or education in progress and educational accomplishments.
Skills
Enter any relevant working skills you have. You may list up to four skills in this form.
Expertise Level
Enter your level of expertise for that particular skill. You may enter one of the following levels:
- Expert
- Advance
- Skill
- Knowledgeable
Facts or Support
Enter all facts or evidence to support your claim of this particular expertise.
Experience
Enter all of the work experience you have had.
Affiliations
Enter all of the professional groups or organizations you have joined or are part of.
Personal Background
Enter all of the necessary information about yourself. You may list the following details:
- Your contact information
- Your street address
- Your email address
- Your phone numbers
Applicant Signature
Affix your signature.
By affixing your signature, you are affirming that all of the information you have provided in this document is true to the best of your knowledge and belief.
Can I make my own resume?
Yes, you can make your own resume as long as it contains all of your necessary information.
There are different kinds of resumes, but generally, you can make your own resume by choosing an appropriate format and layout for your resume and by listing the following information provided below:
- Your full legal name
- Your contact information
- Your street address
- Your email address
- Your phone numbers
- An objective statement
- A summary statement
- Achievements
- Working skills
- Employment History or Work Experience
- Education
- Your most recent or highest degree
- Educational accomplishments
- Name of the schools or institutions you have attended
- Other important information
What kind of resume should I submit?
The type of resume you plan on submitting should match the one required by your prospective employer.
What are the different kinds of resumes?
The different kinds of resumes are the following:
- Chronological resume
- A chronological resume must contain all of your work experience and achievements starting from the most recent one down to the previous ones you have had. In all of the sections of your resume, your most recent or current experience must be placed first. A chronological resume usually follows the structure shown below:
- Your contact information
- Your street address
- Your email address
- Your phone numbers
- Your professional title and resume objective
- Your work experience, achievements, and awards
- Education
- Your relevant working skills
- Optional sections like your affiliations, certificates, and the like
- Functional Resume
- A functional resume, also referred to as a skills-based resume, is a document that focuses on your soft and hard skills and different kinds of abilities. Unlike a chronological resume, the sections of a functional resume do not have to follow a certain structure. In essence, a functional resume has longer and more in-depth explanations of an individual’s working skills and abilities.
- Targeted Resume
- A targeted resume is a resume that focuses on the job opening or position you are eyeing. This type of resume is made to highlight any highly relevant skills, abilities, and experience you have that the company you want to be in is looking for.
- Combination Resume
- A combination resume, also referred to as a hybrid resume, is a document that merges two different types of resumes. This resume is a combination of a chronological resume and a functional resume. Essentially, this document’s focus is emphasizing both your work experience and skills. A combination resume creates leverage for both of these aspects equally.
- Mini Resume
- A mini resume must consist of a short summary of your working history along with other necessary information people in the workforce may want to know. This type of resume must be short and concise and always straight to the point.
What is the difference between a resume and a CV?
A CV, Curriculum Vitae, is a document that emphasizes an individual’s educational accomplishments, achievements, and awards. This document is normally used when you want to apply for a position in academia or if you want to apply for a fellowship or a grant.
The length of a Curriculum Vitae heavily depends on a person’s experiences. Usually, this document does not include a person’s hobbies or interests.
On the other hand, a resume is a document that emphasizes an individual’s hard and soft skills and his or her work experience. A resume is used by people who would like to apply for positions in different kinds of industries or companies.
A resume should be no longer than two pages and generally, it must include the following information:
- Your full legal name
- Your contact information
- Your street address
- Your email address
- Your phone numbers
- An objective statement
- A summary statement
- Achievements
- Working skills
- Employment History or Work Experience
- Education
- Your most recent or highest degree
- Educational accomplishments
- Name of the schools or institutions you have attended
- Other important information
What is the purpose of a resume?
A resume is a document used by individuals to introduce their working skills, work experience, educational attainment, and other necessary information needed for them to get the job they want.
A resume can be used as your introduction to your prospective employers and it can also be used for recordkeeping, both for you (the applicant) and your potential employer.
This document’s primary function is to land an applicant an interview from their prospective employers.
Why are resumes important?
Resumes are important for applicants who wish to get their desired jobs. Without a resume, you cannot compete with other applicants. A properly made resume will help distinguish you from others and it will also help your prospective employers know if you are fit for the job.
How do I make a job resume?
Make a standout professional resume by following these guidelines:
- Be sure to include your contact information (mailing address, phone number, and email address) both at the top of your resume and in the header/footer of each page. Some resumes will also benefit by including social media links (such as LinkedIn) but remember that what you post on these sites is fair game for potential employers, so make sure you've got nothing to hide.
- In some cases, your resume may benefit from a cover letter. If it's been some time since you've applied for a job, the company may have outsourced its application process to another company that requires a cover letter as part of its onboarding process. Check the job posting carefully to see if a cover letter is required.
- Highlight the most relevant parts of your resume first: your education and work experience, skills and qualifications, and other credentials such as licensures or certifications you've achieved. If you have multiple pieces of information that should be viewed as an equal priority (for example, multiple degrees), consider grouping them together under a subhead such as "Education", or list secondary education first, followed by primary education.
- List your most recent job first, and work your way back through previous employment. For each position held, include the company name, city/town, state (if applicable), your title/role, and the dates of employment.
- Be concise, but include enough information that a potential employer can get a clear picture of your qualifications for the position. Do not write long blocks of text, however; try to bullet-point key points related to your work history or skills/qualifications instead. You may also want to consider listing your work experience in order of relevance to the job for which you're applying.
- When listing your responsibilities for each role, try grouping similar items together so everything is easy to locate and read. For example, if you were employed as a desk clerk at an inn, you might list your primary duties under the "General Duties" subhead, and then list secondary duties under a subhead such as "Required Duties".
- How much information should you include on your resume? As a general rule of thumb: the more relevant and applicable to the job for which you're applying, the better. You may wish to include hobbies or interests (such as sports teams you're a fan of, volunteer work, or political affiliations) but keep in mind that these types of information should be included only if it's directly related to the job for which you're applying.
What is the correct word CV or resume?
A CV and a resume are two similar but different documents.
A resume is a history of your employment, education, and other skills. It's an advertisement to invite employers to review your qualifications to determine if you are the right fit for their job vacancy.
A CV is generally much longer than a resume because it provides more detailed information that includes everything from personal traits to educational background. A curriculum vitae is used in academic circles and among people in the medical field.
Here are four key differences between CVs and resumes:
- Length: The CV is longer than a resume because it's more detailed.
- Information: While a resume provides information that highlights your work experience, education, and other achievements, a curriculum vitae goes into much greater detail.
- Structure: Resumes are usually one page, but CVs can be longer depending on your work experience and other qualifications.
- Users: A resume is used when you're looking for a job in the business world while a CV is used mostly by academics and people in the medical field.
What are the formats of a resume?
The most common formats of a resume are the following:
- Chronological resume — It focuses on work history, starting with the most recent experience. It is best suited for someone who has a stable career history.
- Functional resume — It highlights skills related to specific jobs, rather than including duties from each position held, which are often irrelevant to other openings. Someone looking for an entry-level job or a career change would benefit most from this type of resume.
- Combination resume — It is a mix of the chronological and functional style, with relevant skills or accomplishments listed first and then relevant work history below it. This one is good for those who have strong skills that can be emphasized but also want to show experience in related fields and expand their marketability.
How do I write “about me” on a resume?
To write an effective "about me" on your resume, follow these guidelines:
- Keep it brief, about 5 lines long. 2-3 paragraphs are good enough.
- Keep it relevant. This section should be strictly based on what you have done or can do for the company, not your personal beliefs or interests - of which there are many variables that companies will probably not care to know about (though they might).
- Make sure your writing is clear and easy to read. If you use cliches, slang, or big words that people won't understand, you're already hurting yourself. This is not the place for showing off (and thereby making things difficult) - it's the place for letting your work speak for itself.
- You can put your GPA if you wish, but it shouldn't be the focus of the section. The GPA should either be at the end of this section or not included at all - no need to draw extra attention to it.
- This is not a place for mistakes - do everything you can to make sure you don't have any spelling errors.
Can I use a resume instead of a CV?
Yes, you can use a resume instead of a CV when applying for jobs.
An increasing number of applicants are turning to resumes instead of or in addition to CVs when applying for jobs, but many job seekers find themselves unsure about the difference between these two. However, there is no need for confusion as both do more or less the same thing.
Despite some similarities between the two documents, which both list work experience and education, resumes and CVs are used for different purposes at different times. A resume is typically given more weight than a CV when applying for entry-level positions or fellowships, while CVs tend toward greater importance when applying for jobs outside of an undergraduate setting or those that require extensive research experience.
A resume is typically used for applying to shorter-term positions or fellowships, while a CV is more likely to be used for jobs that entail advanced research experience.
What is the best order for a resume?
When writing a resume, the best order to follow is the following list:
- Contact information
- Education
- Work Experience
- Skills
- Interests
- References (Optional)
The information that is most important to a hiring manager is your work experience, education, and potentially your references.
What are tips to make a good resume?
The purpose of a resume is to draw the attention of a prospective employer and entice them into reading further. Unfortunately, the majority of resumes are rather bland and fail to live up to this task. If you want your resume to stand out from the crowd, use these tips on how to make a good resume.
- Add Personality. The best resumes are unique — they show off what sets the applicant apart from other candidates. To do this, add personality. You can do this by including a cover letter or a 'one-page story'.
- Carefully choose the presentation format. The resume format should reflect what you are trying to convey. If you want your qualifications and experience to speak for themselves, remove personal information such as an address, contact details, and pictures from the document. In other cases, when you want to show off your personality and creativity, consider sending a resume in a different format such as an infographic or resume video.
- Customize the content for every job application. Clearly state how your qualifications and experience match what they are looking for (be specific). If you have examples of work or achievements that can prove your claims, use these.
- Make sure the content has strong keywords. Many companies now search for resumes using text-mining technology. To make it easier for them to find your resume, include relevant skills and keywords throughout the document. Also, take advantage of your 'Summary' section to highlight relevant skills (don't just repeat what's already in your CV).
- Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you are unsure how to best present yourself on paper or lack appropriate material, ask someone who knows how to write a good resume. An expert can also edit your existing resume so that it stands out from the crowd. Another option is to hire a professional writing service.
- Before sending your resume off, proofread it and check for errors. Once it's out of your hands, you can't get it back. It is crucial that your resume is clear and well-written.
Can a resume be 2 pages?
Yes, a resume can be two-pages long.
But if there's not enough information to fill it up, it can be a problem. There are two ways to avoid this — either provide full-blown comprehensive answers or just stop at one page. Since most people don't want to do the first, here is how you can easily stick within the one-page limit without cutting down your content too much:
By making some smart choices from the very beginning, of course. Here are two tips:
- Make a list of everything that goes into a good resume and make sure every point fits somewhere on yours. A bullet point for each entry, no more. If it doesn't fit in a single line, cut it out! Fewer details mean a shorter resume. But that's not a bad thing - it just means that you have a concise document that succinctly tells your story.
- Go easy on the action verbs. Action verbs do make you sound more competent and dynamic but they will only end up wasting precious space. Plus most hiring managers are so sick of seeing these words by now that it's unlikely to impress them anymore. A descriptive sentence works better than an action verb with too many syllables in most cases, so go for it if you must.
What is the difference between a resume and a cover letter?
A resume and a cover letter are two different documents. A resume is a professional marketing document that includes your qualifications, training, and work experience as they relate to the job you are applying for. A cover letter provides more information about those qualifications and experience as well as explaining what you think makes you uniquely qualified for the position and why you want to do this particular job. A successful resume and cover letter must be convincing. For a more detailed explanation, here are the key differences between a resume and a cover letter:
A resume's objective is to get an interview, while a cover letter's goal is to get the job. A resume contains specific details on your work history and achievements, whereas a cover letter should include more general information about yourself. The tone of a resume needs to be factual and professional, while a cover letter can have a more personal tone. You would send a resume in response to an ad listed in the newspaper or online, while you would send your cover letter with your resume via email or through regular mail if applying for a job that isn't advertised. In some cases when there hasn't been any pre-screening of applicants, companies may ask that you include just your cover letter on your initial application rather than both documents. When in doubt, follow the instructions listed in the job posting carefully.
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