How to prepare a resume -6 easy steps to create a good resume

How to prepare a resume -6 easy steps to create a good resume

Preparing a resume is very important for job seekers, in today’s competitive job market, a well-written resume is essential. As a job seeker, your resume does not only have to spell out your experiences and background but must be well-optimized and eye catchy.

Your resume speaks a lot to potential employers therefore tiny details even as font size and styling need to be put into consideration when crafting a resume. This article will discuss best practices when preparing a resume. Read on for more insights!

A resume is an official document that highlights your professional qualifications such as your work history, skills, education, and achievements. A resume, along with a cover letter, is a great way to show off your skills and convince potential employers that you’re the best candidate for the job.

It is from the French word for “summary” that our English word resume is derived. A resume’s original intent was and still is to provide a synopsis of your experience and skills to potential employers.

A resume is an absolute minimum requirement for any job application. There are four main types of resumes, we have the Chronological Resume, the functional Resume, the Combination Resume, and the Targeted Resume.

A chronological resume is very common, In a chronological resume, applicants highlight their information in chronological order. Sections like work history and professional experience are normally pronounced. When creating chronological resumes Include dates and duties for each job you’ve held, beginning with your most recent. Don’t drag out your resume by ten years unless it’s necessary for your job search.

Functional resumes are quite different from their chronological counterpart, when preparing a functional it is good practice to focus on skills and how they apply to the job description instead of listing dates and places of employment. When constructing a functional resume, your qualifications and credentials come first, along with examples of their use in the real world and how they might be applied in a paid setting.

A combination resume as the name implies is a combination of chronological and functional resumes, This usually entails including both an extensive list of past jobs and a detailed description of relevant skills in the resume. Combination resumes are easier to write when the applicant has extensive work and academic experience.

In most cases, the positions you’re applying for should be listed as the first items on your resume. Create a detailed professional summary and abilities section, as well as a work history in reverse chronological order. You can list your education and training experience at the bottom of your resume.

Finally, the targeted resume, When applying online, a targeted resume will help you get past or move up in the applicant tracking systems used by modern companies. A targeted resume can be arranged in one of three ways: chronologically, functionally, or in a combination format.

All sections of your resume—experience, skills, and education—should be written with the job description in mind and should include relevant keywords. You will also need to learn about the company’s values and culture from official documents and then act accordingly.

Generally, when writing a resume be it chronological, functional, combination, or targeted, there is a list of things an applicant must bear in mind.

Make Sure Your Resume Looks Professional Include Your Name, Address, and Phone Number

Create a Summary Statement or Career Objective for Your Resume

Give a rundown of your professional background and accomplishments.

List Your Most Valuable Hard and Soft Skills

Additional sections for languages, hobbies, etc., can be included in your resume (but are not required).

Personalize Your Application Based on the Job Posting

Write a Cover Letter That Stands Out

Verify Your Application Materials

We have discussed the types of formats your resume can be presented in, remember to choose a format when creating your resume. When preparing your resume, it is also important to pay attention to the layout. The layout of a resume is the first thing a hiring manager sees.

Is it neat or disorganized? How long does it take to read? What kind of message does it send? Is it dull and easy to ignore, or does it demand to be read?

Some suggestions for a well-designed resume are as follows:

First, It’s only one page long. Only go for 2 pages if you’re confident it will significantly improve the paper. Recruiters at large companies typically receive over a thousand resumes every month. No one cares enough about you to read about your life story!

Second, Section headings that are easy to read. Choose a heading (H2, for instance) and apply it to all of the headings in the paper.

Third, A lot of space, especially at the edges, and a legible font size

Fourth, What stands out should be emphasized, but not to an extreme.

Fifth, use the appropriate font size. Use 11–12 points for regular text and 14–16 points for headings as a general rule.

Save your resume in PDF format as a general rule too. Word is a good option too, but it can easily ruin your resume’s layout.

You also need to decide if you want to use a free resume template that has a classic look or a more contemporary design.

Preparing a resume also requires a prudent consideration of how you present each piece of information. We have discussed the basics and listed the information that must be included in a resume, now let’s discuss the essentials, It’s common practice to include the following on a resume:

Contact information

Summary or Objective for Professional Resume

Career Background (and Achievements)

Education

Skills

Additional Information About Me (Optional) Languages, Publications, Interests, etc.

Finally, endeavour to cross-check every piece of information you put on your resume, your contact information is very important, and verify that your contact information is correct and up-to-date by checking it twice, if not three times.

Align your words expertly when writing your resume objective and summary, In a nutshell, your resume objective expresses your ultimate career goal. It shows that you are serious about entering a new field. A resume objective, much like a resume summary, should be no more than two or three sentences long.

These guidelines will help you in preparing your resume!

6 easy steps to create a good resume

It’s thrilling to go on a job hunt, but there’s a lot of work that goes into it. There is a lot to think about and prepare for when looking for a new job, such as investigating potential employers, gathering references, preparing for interviews, and determining a fair salary. It’s easy to get lazy when writing a resume and end up just copying and pasting the last few years of work history onto an old resume.

Try to hold back. A well-polished, one-of-a-kind document that stands out from the crowd is essential if you want to get that interview for your dream job. The resume you use to apply for jobs does not have to be completely rewritten for each application, but it should be revised to reflect each position for which you are applying. It’s worthwhile because it can demonstrate how seriously you take your pursuit of a particular position and employer.

If you need help creating a resume that stands out from the crowd, you’ve found the right place. To create a good resume, here are 7 easy steps to get you started.

Create a captivating introduction

This space at the top of the page is prime real estate for selling yourself as a job candidate.

A resume’s objective statement used to be located right below the contact information and explain the position the applicant was hoping to land. Many human resources professionals and hiring managers, however, now anticipate a shorter, more profile-like paragraph. Fill out your resume and cover letter with more detail to highlight your experience and skills.

Demonstrate your influence

The experience you’ve gained while employed is what should take up most of your resume. You should list your previous employment in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent position and working backwards to highlight your most recent achievements. Meaningful information about your contributions to a project or the company should be included.

Use action verbs, provide concrete examples, and include measurable outcomes to demonstrate your success in the role.

In addition, please provide numerical examples of your impact. Have you, for instance, contributed to the company’s bottom line by cutting expenses? Did your efforts help increase the company’s revenue? If you don’t have access to that kind of information, report on the solutions your team implemented or other project outcomes instead. The point is to detail the impact you had.

Highlight your soft skills

Keep in mind that your ability to interact with others is crucial to your professional success. Skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, creativity, and effective written and oral communication are in high demand. Your resume and cover letter would benefit from their inclusion.

Also, Extend your technical and software horizons by collaborating with others. Candidates for administrative assistant positions or similar roles, for instance, are expected to have prior experience with Microsoft Office. Candidates who have done their research will include a description of their experience with each application in the suite, as well as details about any relevant training or certification they may have received.

Highlight your distinctive skills and experience

This advice for writing a resume is all about highlighting the skills that will be most valuable to the employer. If the company you’re applying to does business in multiple countries, knowing a second language could help you land an interview. Possessing leadership abilities can be demonstrated by assuming the role of organizer for a professional-focused Meetup group.

Use your skills and experiences related to your area of interest to set yourself apart. Don’t be shy about mentioning some of your extracurricular activities; many employers like to get to know their candidates on a deeper level. Don’t bore us with a long list of your interests and activities. Your resume is an official document that must be treated as such at all times.

Apply keywords

The majority of hiring managers use keyword-scanning software to sort through applications. Include some of the jargon used in the job posting in your cover letter and resume whenever possible. Use the exact language used by the employer in their job posting when describing your relevant experience on your resume.

Edit your work for typos and other errors.

When sifting through a stack of resumes, a single red flag can be enough to get you immediately disqualified. Remove any typos or grammatical errors from your resume by reading it through carefully. Check your document for spelling mistakes by reading it aloud slowly to help you focus on each word. Finally, have a friend check your work for you. Your chances of getting an interview can be completely ruined by even one typo.

These resume guidelines are a good starting point, but they will need to be tailored to fit each job, industry, and applicant. For instance, those seeking creative positions should make sure their resumes include direct access to their online portfolios. Even though recent college grads often lack relevant work experience, they can still highlight the hard and soft skills they developed in the classroom through participation in projects, labs, and seminars.

The lesson to be learned about creating a resume that gets you the job is this: Businesses seek employees who will make a difference in the company. Employers today want to know that they are investing time and energy in a candidate who is truly committed to the position they are offering, especially given the high rate at which professionals are either leaving their current positions or planning to do so shortly.

Create a resume that highlights your experience and accomplishments in a way that is relevant to the position you’re applying for, and you just might find yourself getting ready for an interview.

In conclusion, Investing the time to learn the skill of resume writing can have a profound effect on the results of your job search. Writing a resume that gets you noticed by hiring managers requires you to highlight your relevant expertise and experiences. Keep in mind that each resume you create should be tailored to a particular position.