This article will share a few tricks and tips that will help you craft a resume with perfection! I’ll be discussing this whole “resume drafting procedure” from scratch. So that in the end, you will be doubt-free, show off your resume to the world!
1. What is a resume?
If you’re a fresher, you might be wondering – what is a resume?
A resume is a formal document made to present his qualifications for a job applicant’s particular position. It contains all the information, including the full name, contact details, qualifications, education, certifications, and past work experiences of the candidate.
CV (curriculum vitae) is different than a resume. A CV mainly consists of your work experience, education, qualification without any time length restriction. On the other hand, a resume covers all this information in the next ten years of your employment.
But note that- a resume is comparatively short and concise compared to a CV, so it needs to be customized according to every job you apply for.
A resume can be submitted along with a cover letter to the employer. But obviously, the recruiters emphasize more on the resume. So let’s know about its types.
NOTE: You might want to read an article written by me on fresher jobs to get a clear picture. Read it here.
2. Types of a resume:
So you’re wondering what type of resume will work for you? Here are the five types of a resume:
A. Chronological Resume: In this type, you make a list of all your previous work experiences chronologically. That is, you write your most recent work in the beginning then going down it backward.
Advantages:
- It lets the recruiter quickly see your progression in your career.
- It puts your most relevant work on the top.
NOTE: You should use a reverse chronological resume if you’ve no significant gaps between your previous work experiences. If you’re a fresher and opt for a chronological resume, I’d advise you to use a reverse-chronological one.
B. Functional Resume: In this type, this main focus is on the relevant skills rather than your work experiences. Instead of writing your jobs, it can be expanded with skills and accomplishments.
Advantages:
- It’s the perfect format for freshers who are new to the workplace.
- People changing industries and sizable gaps in work history.
C. Combination Resume: This type is a mixture of both functional as well as a chronological resume. It focuses on your skill like a functional resume and details your work experience like a chronological resume.
Advantages:
- As it combines both the formats, it gives a detailed view of your career.
- This format allows you to set a great impression on the recruiters.
D. Targeted Resume: It is tailored according to every job you apply for. Write all your skills, experiences relevant to the position you’re applying to.
Advantages:
- You’re more likely to get callbacks if you write a targeted resume.
- Sets a great impression on the recruiter.
Now that you’ve decided what format will suit you let’s proceed further.
3. Structure of a resume:
Header: Firstly, make sure that you include your full name, contact details- (phone number, email address, links to social media). This will make it easier for the recruiter to get the idea of who the resume belongs in a gist.
Professional Summary: It is a brief, 5-6 sentences long summary of work experience. Also, mention why you are suitable for that particular job positions relating to your past experiences.
Skills: Nowadays, the skills section has become more important for recruiters while choosing a candidate. Rather than explaining in full sentences, making it difficult for the recruiters to find your skills, it’s best to write them in bullet points.
Work Experience: In this section, mention all your detailed summary of work experience, company’s name, locations, employment dates, roles, and titles. It should be in bullet points containing action verbs and point data. This is the most crucial portion for the recruiters.
Education: Each job required specific qualifications. Mention your schooling, the degree you have, in short points not taking much space.
Additional Experience: It’s an optional but very valuable section. Highlight your awards, hobbies, qualifications, and volunteer experience. Keep it short, precise, and straightforward.
4. Tips for writing an outstanding resume:
To make a resume that stands out from the others, one must follow these tips:
- Make sure to use professional fonts, like Times New Roman or Arial, keeping the font size 12-14 maximum.
- Add margins of 0.7 inches, at least.
- Make sure that you don’t leave any sufficient white space between the sections.
- Don’t make your resume overly-fancy that might look unprofessional. A little bit touch of color is fine but don’t go over-board.
- Don’t save it as a PDF unless it is strictly mentioned in the email. Keep the Word Document format as it is.
- Don’t exceed 1-2 pages while writing a resume as it might make the recruiter challenging to read it and decrease your chances of selection.
- Find out all the keywords in your job listing and mention them.
- Make it simple and easy to read.
- Proofread and review your resume before submitting it.
- List only the most relevant details and put them first.
- Highlight all the significant achievements.
- Always decide whether you need a different resume for each job.
You can use KillerLaunch.com to make your resume and find jobs. It is a platform that provides you the access to thousands of jobs for free. So visit KillerLaunch right now!
5. Common mistakes people make while making a resume:
Now that you’ve aced the resume making procedure, let’s proceed further to know what common mistakes people often make.
- Giving false employment dates
- Writing a resume full of inconsistencies.
- Writing irrelevant work experience.
- Highlighting the wrong information.
- Making claims without evidence.
- Adding too much information about your job descriptions.
- Including your evident skills- Highlight the skills that help you stand out from others.
- Falling to explain career change: If you’re still skeptical about your career choices, you might want to read an article on choosing a career by me.
- Going too extra with the designs.
- Mentioning your education on the top.
- Choosing weak verbs.
- Not leaving much white space.
- Copying pasting job descriptions.
- Writing personal hobbies.
- Selecting a tiny font.
- Using fancy fonts.
- Saving your resume in an outdated format.
- Ignoring the application instructions.
- Writing an informal file name.
- Attaching your photo.
- Lying on your resume- you never know when the recruiter might cross-check!
6. Websites to build your resume for free!
Nowadays, the internet is flooded with thousands of websites where you can just add your information, and they will customize your resume for free! If you’re someones who is lazy and unsure about making this resume, you can try any of these websites for building your resume:
- KillerLaunch.com: It is a perfect platform where you can find thousands of jobs for free, and they even help you create a resume for free!
So, in conclusion, building a resume is easy. You should follow a proper set of rules. One can make a resume that stands out from the others with ease. I hope that this article solved your query regarding – how to write a resume. Just follow the steps I’ve mentioned above and ace your impression in front of the recruiters, cheers!
