How to Write a Resume (That Will Get You Hired)
Introduction
Job hunting is always a dreaded task, and it begins with a task that is dreadful in and of itself: updating your resume. It can be difficult to know where to start when writing or updating a resume, and it’s discouraging when you’ve sent it out to what feels like dozens of employers without a single call back. What to do? Here are a few tips on how to write a resume that’s professional, snazzy, and, most importantly, eye-catching.
Resume Layout and Format
If you’ve already written a resume before or you only need to update, you can skip this section. If you’re a first-time resume writer, however, you may want to stick around. When writing your resume, there’s a tried and true format that you should stick to. First, list your name in large letters in the header, followed by your contact information in smaller text. This is also the place to include your social media, if you want. Second, get together the information from previous jobs - if you’ve only had one or two jobs, list them all, no matter how relevant. If you’ve had more than that, however, try to keep it down to the past roles and experiences that will be relevant to the position(s) you are applying to. You’ll want to use bullet points or short lines to outline your previous experience - list duties carried out and skills gained after the job title. After your work experience, you’ll list your educational history, followed by relevant awards, skills, and industry experience. You can also list relevant personal projects and additional languages spoken if it’s relevant to the position(s) to which you’re applying!
Resume Presentation
It’s a relatively well-known fact that most employers only look at resumes for an average of six or seven seconds, which is certainly not enough time to read much of the fine print! If you want potential employers to really look at your qualifications, you need to make your resume stand out. You can accomplish this a number of ways: a unique-yet-professional accent text (but make sure it’s readable!), an accent stripe in the header, or use of boxes or buttons to list your skills. These are just a few examples - you can get a bit creative with your resume presentation! However, always make sure that your resume looks professional. Many document apps, like the ones by Microsoft and Google, also have pre-made templates specially for resumes. These work well as a stepping stone, but it’s good to add your own twist if you use them. You can also preview some examples of gorgeous and professional resumes here to give you some ideas for your own.
Tailoring Your Resume
Before sending your resume to potential employers, always remember to look it over to make sure all the information listed is relevant to the job postings. Be sure to keep your resume spare and down to the facts, as it should not be longer than a page, and potential employers are often deterred by extraneous words and fluff. This is not to say that you must entirely change your resume for every job you apply to, but you should certainly keep a few slightly different copies on hand, especially if you are applying within multiple industries. Potential employers want to know that you’ve read the job listing thoroughly. If you limit the information you list to what is most relevant to your chosen industry, you are much more likely to receive a callback!
Conclusion
Applying for jobs can be discouraging and frustrating, but armed with an aesthetically pleasing and professional resume, you will hopefully have a much less trying time of it. Always save your resume in both PDF and .doc/.docx format, since these are the most commonly requested resume formats, and send with confidence. Happy job hunting!
Sources:
Caramela, Sammi. “How to Make and Write a Great Resume.” Business News Daily, 7 Sept. 2023, https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/3207-resume-writing-tips.html. Accessed 11 Oct. 2023.
