Do you want an impressive career like the one Dwayne “the Rock” has? Are you at the start of your career, or just wondering why your resume doesn’t work? In any case, the following steps will help you create an ultimate resume for any type of job.
How to Create a Perfect Resume that lands a Job
A resume is a document that contains information about your professional qualities and experience. Employers scroll through hundreds of resumes every day in search of a fitting candidate for hire. The main goal of successful resume writing is to communicate the gist of your professionalism clearly and concisely. And here are 7 universal steps that would help you create a brilliant resume.
How to Make a Resume – Step by step
- Pick the Right Resume Format & Layout
- Mention Your Personal Details & Contact Information
- Use a Resume Summary or Objective
- List Your Work Experience & Achievements
- Mention Your Top Soft & Hard Skills
- (Optional) Include Additional Resume Sections – Languages, Hobbies, etc.
- Tailor Your Information For the Job Ad
- Craft a Convincing Cover Letter
- Proofread Your Resume and Cover Letter
Pick the right format
There are three main types of a resume:
- Functional type – these resumes focus on your skills, rather than your work history. This format is the best for fresh job-seekers who has little experience to tell about.
- Instead, the emphasis is on your qualifications and skills. The downside of this type is that employers may think that you are hiding some unwanted job history.
- Combination type – these resumes combine the above approach with the below format. It is well suited for those who change their career and while having some job experience, they want to tell about their skills too. The downside is that many employers are not familiar with this format.
- Reverse-chronological type – the most traditional resume. It lists your history of employment in a reverse-chronological way. This is a very straightforward resume format that is well known by employers. It is a recommended choice for most job-seekers, but there is a risk of looking uncreative.
Put your personal info in
The most basic information you have to convey to the employer is how to reach you. Here goes your telephone number, your email, and your name. It’s good to include your social media too, especially, LinkedIn. Because your page could serve as a continuation of your resume. But you need to make sure your personal page looks professional and there is no silliness to repel curious employers.
What is counterintuitive though, is that you don’t need to include your photo in your resume. At least in the U.S., it’s common to omit it.
Write a summary
Your heading statement should be both short and captivating, 3-5 sentences long. Tell about your achievements and take advantage of the numbers. Hazy information about general competence makes employers skip such resumes.
If you feel that you lack the skill to write an impressive summary, consider hiring professional resume writing services. Companies, like Resumes Planet, write resumes for decades. And they know what it takes to impress your future employer.
Another great idea for your heading statement is to mention the name of the company you are applying to. This will make your document more personal.
Prioritize hard skills over soft skills
Hard skills include your proficiencies with software, accounting, languages, and other things that are hard to learn. Companies look for candidates with relevant hard skills because it takes time and money to train them.
Create a section for skills and mention everything you have. Any job experience gave you at least some hard skills that put you above many other candidates. But it doesn’t mean you should omit soft skills at all. Such general interpersonal abilities as networking, communication, and conflict resolution could also be relevant to your recruiter.
List your work experiences
If you have chosen the reverse-chronological or combination resume, you have to include a section about your previous employment. It is best to not leave gaps in your career history to avoid looking suspicious. But the truth is, many people have irrelevant job experiences. So, to avoid gaps, mention them only briefly and emphasize jobs that are relevant to your future workplace.
Be shrewd with keywords
You may be professional and very fitting for the recruiter’s demands, but there are technical rules that could put your resume in the trash without opening. These are the algorithms that read keywords in your resume. Keywords are special words that define a job or a skill relevant to it. You have to put these words in your document to make it easier to find. To understand, which keywords you need, read the job description of the company you are going to apply to. Take note of the most prominent words they have in their description of a candidate. And then tailor your professional information with these keywords.
Put your education in
Your education and certificates are not irrelevant, so make sure to mention them in your resume as well. Remember to use numbers and achievements to catch the attention of the reader.
Final words
Writing resumes is an art and there are always things that could be done better if you apply creativity. But every resume has universal rules that define it. Follow this step-by-step guide and you will make the best resume for any job.
Read Also: