how to build a killer resume

23 Things You Should Include To Make A Killer Résumé

Put yourself in a recruiter’s shoes.

If you were faced with a stack of résumés what would you want? The ability to download all the info into your brain, the way that Neo from Th e Matrix gets plugged in and learns Kung Fu in about ten seconds?

Unfortunately it doesn’t really work like that. In fact, research shows that recruiters take only six seconds to make their initial judgement on a résumé. If your résumé is screened by a computer first, it may not even get that far.

So, your job, when creating a killer résumé, is to make it really easy for the recruiter to spot the most important benefits you offer the employer.

Do the work, so they don’t have to. Here’s how:

1. Make sure your résumé is tailored to the job you are applying for

Generic résumés may be quick to submit, but far less effective. Better one excellent job application than three shoddy ones.

Researching the cultural norms of the organization is worthwhile. For example, within one industry some will value experience but not care much about education, while others care about your qualifications.

2. Only apply if you meet the job criteria

Don’t waste your time or the recruiter’s applying for jobs if you don’t meet their criteria. If you still want that job, go and expand your skill set before trying again in future.

3. Don’t lie

Even if you get through the first screening, lying about or exaggerating your accomplishments is likely to come back to bite you. Recovering from the loss of trust is hard.

4. Add keywords

After writing the résumé, check it for keywords from the job description.

Keywords are gifts to you from the employer. Add them into the existing text so they flow naturally. This will help your résumé get past screening software, and recruiters who are accustomed to searching quickly for these keywords.

5. Structure your résumé carefully

It is easiest for the recruiter if your key skills and background are summarised at the top. Make sure your current and most recent previous role are on the first page.

Your education and qualifications are generally less important than your professional experience, so put these later.

6. Show how your most recent two jobs are relevant

Recruiters will spend 80% of their time on your name, the company, job title, start and end dates for your current and previous companies, and finally your education.

If you are changing direction in your career, you will need to work even harder to draw out the skills and networks you are bringing from these last two jobs.

7. Keep the résumé short

Remember the recruiter will scan your résumé in seconds. Including your school paper round or even lengthy details of your first job out of college is not something a recruiter will thank you for (unless, of course, you are applying for your second job out of college).

8. Demonstrate progress

Show the recruiter that your career makes sense. Tell a story which shows promotions and additional responsibilities as you delivered value to your employer.

9. Use CAR as a guide

CAR stands for Context, Action, Results. Use them as a mental checklist. Keep the context short: just long enough for the recruiter to know what your job was. Spend longest what you actually achieved as a result of the actions that you took.

10. Provide proof

Qualify your results wherever possible. Beating your targets, raising finance, cutting costs, making great sales all provide convincing and easily digested data which demonstrate your achievements. Social proof such as promotions and customer feedback are also worthwhile.

11. Show you are a rounded person

Include personal projects, sports or voluntary work that you participate in, but be aware if they are activities which might stereotype you or turn an employer off.

12. Include links to other sites and social media

Keep your résumé short while demonstrating your talents by providing links to articles, photos, or websites you’ve designed, or a portfolio. Also, provide the url for your LinkedIn profile and Twitter feed it those reflect your professional abilities.

Clearly, you want to avoid a Facebook page with photos of your drunken exploits. Better still, don’t post these on social media in the first place.

13. Give a good reason for leaving an employer

Recruiters will especially be looking at the reasons you want to leave your current employer and how long you were with them. If you’ve had a series of short-lived positions you’ll need a convincing explanation of why a recruiter should take a risk on you.

14. Explain gaps in your employment history

Leaving a gap on your résumé leaves the recruiter wondering. If you’ve taken time out for parenting or starting your own business, tell them. If you’ve been traveling, show how it has enriched you as a candidate.

15. Exclude irrelevant information

Don’t reveal your age, race, gender, marital status, or whether you have kids. Research shows that even the most self-aware recruiters have unconscious biases.

16. Show your eligibility to work

Make it easy for a recruiter to be confident that you are eligible to work without having to apply for work permits.

17. Make it easy for the recruiter to contact you

Include contact details with your email and one phone number (don’t make the recruiter have to guess which number to use). Don’t bother with your home address.

18. Format for clarity

Make sure your formatting goes hand in hand with the résumé structure to ensure recruiters can spot the key information easily.

Create clear sections with easy-to-read, consistent headlines. Use an attractive font, which is also easy to read. Don’t use Word templates. If your design skills are truly terrible get someone else to do the formatting for you.

19. Stick to a familiar format

In this case, boring is good. Unless you are specifically applying for a graphic design or creative role and want to demonstrate your talent, avoid unusual formats. Remember, the recruiter doesn’t want to be distracted as they scan the page.

Cut anything that seems clever but reduces clarity, including pictures. If you do use something different, make sure it is effective and suits the employer’s own style before you submit it.

20. Submit your résumé in pdf format

Unless you are asked otherwise, send your résumé as a pdf. This will ensure your formatting remains consistent on any device.

21. Spell-check and grammar-check

Obvious, perhaps, but surprisingly often spelling and grammar mistakes are what leads to a résumé being put in the reject pile. Use the past tense and third person, not first person consistently throughout your résumé.

Don’t rely on your computer’s spelling and grammar checkers. They are often wrong. Edit it yourself and then get another person to read your résumé with fresh eyes.

22. Check before you include a cover letter

Most cover letters are a waste of time. Either don’t bother, or, if the recruiter specifically requests one, make sure it says something meaningful.

Cover letters can be used as headlines, picking out the most relevant parts of a résumé. They can deal with issues the recruiter may be concerned about, such as a change of career direction. They can remind a recruiter about an occasion that gave them cause to trust or care about you.

23. Don’t write to the CEO

Unless you are applying to a tiny company, or you know the CEO personally, it is not the CEO who will be doing the initial screening. Don’t waste their time.

Featured photo credit: typing on laptop, picture about education via shutterstock.com

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How to Make a Resume in 2024 | Beginner's Guide

For most job-seekers, a good resume is what stands between a dream job and Choice D. Get your resume right, and you’ll be getting replies from every other company you apply to.

If your resume game is weak, though, you’ll end up sitting around for weeks, maybe even months, before you even get a single response.

So you’re probably wondering how you can write a resume that gets you an interview straight up.

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about how to make a resume, including:

• The 8 Essential Steps to Writing a Resume
• 11+ Exclusive Resume Tips to Up Your Resume Game
• 27+ Real-Life Resume Examples for Different Professions

….and more!

So, let’s dive right in.

How to Make a Resume (The Right Way!)

Before we go into detail about how you should make a resume, here’s a summary of the most important steps and tips to keep in mind:

• Choose a resume format carefully. In 99% of cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format .
• Add the right contact details. Leave your headshot out and make sure to include your job title , a professional email address, and any relevant links. (E.g.: your LinkedIn profile , online portfolio, personal website, etc.).
• Write an impactful resume summary. Unless you’re an entry-level professional, always go for a resume summary. If you do it right, it’s your chance to get the hiring manager to go through the rest of your resume in detail.
• Pay attention to your work experience section. Take your work experience section from OK-ish to exceptional by tailoring it to the job ad, making your achievements quantifiable, and using action verbs and power words.
• Add the right skills for the job. Keep this section relevant by only including the hard and soft skills that are required for the position.
• Keep your education short and to the point. Your most recent and highest degree is more than enough for a strong education section. You only need to add more details here if you’re a recent graduate with barely any work experience.
• Leverage optional resume sections. Optional sections like languages, hobbies, certifications, independent projects, and others can set you apart from other candidates with similar skills and experience.
• Include a cover letter. That’s right, cover letters matter in 2024, and the best way to supplement your resume is by adding an equally well-crafted cover letter to your job application. To make the most of it, check out our detailed guide on how to write a cover letter .

To get the most out of our tips, you can head over to the resume builder and start building your resume on the go as you read this guide.

New to resume-making? Give our ‘7 Resume Tips’ video a watch before diving into the article!

#1. Pick the Right Resume Format

Before you start filling in the contents of your resume, you have to make sure it’s going to look good. 

After all, the first thing hiring managers notice is what your resume looks like, and then they start reading it. So, this is your best chance to make a great first impression.

Start by choosing the right resume format.

There are three types of resume formats out there:

• Reverse-chronological. This is by far the most popular resume format worldwide and, as such, it’s the best format for most job-seekers.
• Functional. This resume format focuses more on skills than work experience. It’s a good choice if you’re just getting started with your career and have little to no experience in the field.
• Combination. The combination resume format is a great choice for experienced job-seekers with a very diverse skill set. It’s useful if you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in several different fields and you want to show all that in your resume.

So, which one should you go for?

In 99% of cases, you want to stick to the reverse-chronological resume format . It’s the most popular format and what hiring managers expect to see. So, in the rest of this guide, we’re going to focus on teaching you how to make a reverse-chronological resume.

Fix Your Resume’s Layout

With formatting out of the way, let’s talk about your resume’s layout , which determines the overall look of your resume. 

Does it look organized or cluttered? Is it too short or too long? Is it boring and easy to ignore, or is it reader-friendly and attention-grabbing?

Here are some of the best practices you should apply:

• Stick to one page. You should only go for a two-page resume if you have decades of experience and you’re sure the extra space will add significant value. Hiring managers in big companies get hundreds of applications per job opening. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
• Add clear section headings. Pick a heading and use it for all the section headers so the hiring manager can easily navigate through your resume.
• Adjust the margins. Without the right amount of white space, your resume will end up looking overcrowded with information. Set your margins to one inch on all sides so your text fits just right on the page.
• Choose a professional font. We’d recommend sticking to a font that’s professional but not overused. For example, Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass. Avoid Times New Roman, and never use Comic Sans.
• Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
• Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there’s a good chance they’ll mess up your resume’s formatting.

Another thing you need to consider in terms of your resume’s layout is whether you’re going for a traditional-looking resume template or something a bit more modern :

If you’re pursuing a career in a more traditional industry, like law , banking , or finance , you might want to stick to the first.

But if you’re applying to a tech company where imagination and innovation are valued, you can pick a more creative resume template .

Want to Save Time? Use a (Free) Resume Template

Anyone who’s ever tried creating a resume from scratch knows how boring the formatting can be.

Before you can even start filling in the contents, you need to tweak the margins, adjust font sizes, and make sure everything fits into one page while still looking good.

What if you could skip past all that and still create a compelling resume?

Try one of our free resume templates . They’re pre-formatted, so all you have to do is fill in the contents.

They’re also created in collaboration with recruiters from around the globe, ensuring that the templates are visually appealing and ATS-friendly!

See for yourself how one of our templates compares to a resume created in a standard text editor:

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that we’ve got all the formatting out of the way, let’s get into what your resume is all about— the information you put on it .

The first thing you want to do when filling out the contents of your resume is to add your contact information .

This section is pretty straightforward but crucial. Your contact details belong at the top of your resume in a designated resume header , so the hiring manager can easily find them.

Even if everything else about your resume is perfect, that all flops if you misspell your email address or have a typo in your phone number. If the hiring manager can’t contact you, it’s a missed opportunity.

So, double-check, and even triple-check your contact information section and make sure everything is factually correct and up-to-date.

Must-Have Information

• Full name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top of your resume.
• Email address. Stick to an address that’s professional and easy to spell, like a combination of your first and last name. (E.g.: [email protected])
• Phone number. Add a reliable number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
• Location. Add your city and state/country. If you plan to relocate for the job or want a remote position, specify it on your resume.

Optional Information

• Job title. Add your professional title underneath. Write it down word for word, whether it’s “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Junior Data Scientist.” Just don’t make up job titles like “Marketing Wizzard” or “Data Manipulator.” They’re not quirky; they’re just unprofessional. 
• LinkedIn profile . We recommend that you include a link to your updated LinkedIn profile since over 77% of hiring managers use the platform when evaluating a candidate. 
• Relevant links. Include links to personal websites or any social media profiles that are relevant to your field. For example, a developer could include a Github profile, while a graphic designer could link their Behance or Driblle account, and so on.
• Date of birth. Unless this is specifically required in the job ad, the hiring manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not important for their decision-making, and at worst, it might lead to age-based discrimination.
• Unprofessional email address. Your quirky, old high school email address doesn’t belong on your resume. Instead of [email protected] , go for a [email protected] type of address.
• Headshot. (USA, UK or Ireland) Depending on the country where you’re applying, it might even be illegal to include a picture of yourself on your resume . While it’s the norm to include a picture in most of Europe and Asia, always check the regulations for each specific country or industry you’re applying to.

All clear? Good! Now, let’s look at what a great example of a resume's contact information section looks like:

#3. Write a Resume Headline (Summary or Objective)

It's no secret that recruiters spend an average of less than seven seconds on a resume .

When you receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications daily, it's physically impossible to spend too much time on each.

So, what the hiring managers do to go through resumes more effectively is to skim through each resume and read it in depth only if it piques their interest.

This is where the resume headline comes in.

Placed right next to (or underneath) your contact information, this brief paragraph is the first thing the hiring manager is going to read on your resume.

Now, depending on how far along in your career you are, your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

So, how do you choose between a resume summary and a resume objective? Here’s all you need to know:

Resume Summary

A resume summary, as the name suggests, is a two to three-sentence summary of your career so far. If done right, it shows that you’re a qualified candidate at a glance and gets the hiring manager to give you a chance.

Here’s what your resume summary should include:

• Your job title and years of experience.
• A couple of your greatest professional achievements or core responsibilities.
• Your most relevant skills for the job.

Here’s an example of a well-written resume summary: 

Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions.

Unless you’re a recent graduate or amid a career change, we recommend you stick to a resume summary. Otherwise, a resume objective might be a better option for you.

Resume Objective

A resume objective is supposed to express your professional goals and aspirations, academic background, and any relevant skills you may have for the job.

It communicates your motivation for getting into a new field, so it’s the go-to headline for recent graduates and those going through a career change. As with a resume summary, a resume objective should be brief—around two to four sentences long.

So, here’s what it would look like if you’re a student:

Hard-working recent graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design from New York State University seeking new opportunities. 3+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, creating illustrations and UX/UI design projects. Looking to grow as a designer and perfect my art at XYZ Design Studio.

Or, on the other hand, if you’re going through a career change, it might look more like this:

IT project manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Managed a team of developers to create products for several industries, such as FinTech and HR tech. Looking to leverage my experience in managing outsourced products as a Product Owner at Company XYZ.

#4. Prioritize Your Work Experience

The most important part of your resume is your work experience.

This is where you get to sell yourself and show off your previous accomplishments and responsibilities.

If you manage to master this section, you’ll know most of what’s there to know about how to make a resume.

There are plenty of good practices for writing your work experience . But before we dive into all the nits and grits, let's start with the basics.

The standard format for each work experience entry is as follows:

• Job title/position. Your job title goes on top of each work experience entry. When the hiring manager looks at your resume, you want them to know, at a glance, that you have relevant work experience for the job.
• Company name/location/description. Mention the name of the employer and the general location, such as the city and state/country where you worked. In some cases, you may also want to briefly describe the company, like when the organization isn’t particularly well-known.
• Dates employed. Add the approximate timeframe of your employment at each company. You don’t need to give exact dates since the standard format for this is mm/yyyy.
• Achievements and responsibilities. This is the core of each work experience entry. Depending on your field, you want to list either your achievements or responsibilities. List them in bullet points instead of paragraphs, so they’ll be easier to read.

Here’s a real-life example:

Your work experience entries should always be listed in reverse chronological order , starting with your most recent job and working your way back into the past.

Now that you know how to list your experience, we’re going to show you how to write about it in a way that makes you stand out from the competition, starting with: 

Are you a student with no work experience? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to writing a resume with no experience here.

Focus on Achievements Whenever Possible

One of the most common resume mistakes is only listing responsibilities in your work experience section.

Here’s the thing—in most cases, the hiring manager knows exactly what your job responsibilities are.

For example, if you’re a sales manager, your responsibilities would be:

• Reach out to potential clients over the phone or email.
• Maintain relationships with existing company clients and upsell relevant products.
• Tracking and reporting on leads in CRM.

Coincidentally, this is also the same list of responsibilities for every sales manager out there. So, 90% of all other resumes probably mention the same thing.

To stand out from the competition, you want to focus on writing achievements in your resume instead. These can be how you helped your previous company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on.

Let’s compare how responsibilities hold up next to achievements for the same job:

• Exceeded sales team KPIs by 30%+ for 3 months straight.
• Generated over $24,000 in sales in 1 month.
• Generated leads through cold-calling
• Managed existing company clients

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there just aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you’re a warehouse worker .

Your day-to-day responsibilities probably include:

• Loading, unloading, and setting up equipment daily.
• Packaging finished products and getting them ready for shipping.
• Assisting in opening and closing the warehouse.

In fields like this, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself through achievements, so it’s okay to stick to responsibilities instead. You can still make them shine by following the rest of our advice about listing your work experience.

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you work in a warehouse. Your day-to-day responsibilities probably involve:

• Loading, unloading and setting up equipment on a daily basis.
• Package finished product and get it ready for shipping.
• Assist in opening and closing the warehouse.

In such fields, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself, so it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities instead.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Tailoring is what sets an amazing resume apart from an okay one.

Hiring managers don’t need to know about every single job you’ve ever worked at or every single skill that you have.

They only want to know about your jobs, experiences, or skills that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job doing Google Ads, you don’t need to talk about your SEO internship from eight years ago.

By focusing your resume on whatever is important for the specific role, you’re a lot more likely to stand out and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s take a look at an example of a job ad:

As you can see, we’ve highlighted the most important requirements.

To tailor your resume accordingly, you just need to mention how you meet each of these requirements in your resume.

You can highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications in different parts of your resume, such as:

• In your resume summary, where you should recap your years of experience.
• Throughout your work experience section, where you should list achievements and responsibilities that reflect your social media marketing experience.
• In your education section, where you can let the hiring manager know you have the degree that they’re looking for.

Include the Right Amount of Work Experience

If you’ve got over a decade’s worth of work experience, you’re probably wondering whether all of it belongs on your resume. In most cases, you’d end up writing a novel if you listed everything you’ve ever done, and that’s not how long a resume should be .

If you’re new to the job market, on the other hand, you probably don’t have any experience, and you’re wondering what you could even add to this section.

So, here’s how much information your resume should include, depending on your level of experience:

• No experience. If you’re looking for your first job , you won’t have any work experience to fill this section with. So, you can either keep it empty and focus on all the other sections or fill it up with any experience gained in student organizations, extracurricular activities, volunteering, and other projects.
• Entry-level. List all your work experience so far. While some of it won’t be relevant, it can still show the hiring manager that you do have some actual work experience.
• Mid-level. Only mention relevant work experience to the position you’re applying for. There’s no need to waste space on jobs that aren’t related to what you’re after.
• Senior-level. List up to 15 years of relevant work experience, tops. If your most recent experience is as a marketing executive , the hiring manager doesn’t care how you started your career as a junior marketing specialist 23 years ago.

Consider Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software

Did you know that over 70% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager ?

Most companies these days use ATS to evaluate hundreds of resumes instantaneously and automatically filter out the ones that don’t meet their criteria.

For example, if a resume doesn’t mention a specific skill or isn’t formatted correctly, the ATS will automatically reject it.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make an ATS-friendly resume .

Here are a couple of tips to help you get past those pesky robots:

• Stick to one page. Sometimes employers set a limit on how long a resume should be. This means that if your resume is longer than one page, it might get automatically disqualified.
• Incorporate keywords. Tailoring your resume to the job helps a ton with beating the ATS. Just carefully read the job description to find hints for what the ATS will be looking for. Then, whenever you find keywords related to your responsibilities and achievements, make sure to include them in your work experience section.
• Use an active voice. Passive voice is too vague and unclear, so make sure to use active voice as much as possible when describing your previous jobs. (E.g.: “Managed a team of ten people,” instead of “ A team of ten people was managed by me.” )
• Leverage powerful action words. Instead of starting each of your sentences with “was responsible for," make your work experience impactful by using words that can grab attention. Saying that you “spearheaded” or “facilitated” something sounds a lot more impressive than “helped.”

Want to make sure your resume formatting passes the ATS test? Choose one of our tried and tested ATS-friendly resume templates , and you’ll be good to go! 

#5. List Your Education

The next section on your resume is dedicated to your academic qualifications. Let’s start with the basics!

Here’s how you should format the education section on your resume :

• Program Name. Your major and degree type should be listed. (E.g.: “B.A. in Business Administration” )
• University Name. Add the name of the institution. (E.g.: “New York State University” )
• Dates Attended. Use a mm/yyyy format for the dates you attended. (E.g.: “08/2008 - 06/2012” )
• Location. If your university is less well-known, you can also add the location. (E.g.: “Stockholm, Sweden” )
• GPA. Use the appropriate grading system for the country you’re applying to work in. (E.g.: In the USA, it would be “3.9 GPA” )
• Honors. Add any honors and distinctions you’ve been given. (E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude )
• Achievements. You can mention interesting papers you’ve written, projects you’ve done, or relevant coursework you’ve excelled in.
• Minor. “Minor in Psychology”

Pretty simple, right? Now let’s see what an education section looks like in practice:

This example includes all the necessary information, plus an eye-catching award and relevant classes this candidate has taken.

Resume Education Tips

Now that you know how to list your education on your resume, let’s take this section to the next level.

Just follow these expert tips:

• If you’re making a resume as a student and don’t have any work experience yet, you can list your education section at the beginning of the page instead of work experience.
• You can add your expected graduation date if you’re still pursuing your degree.
• If you already have relevant work experience, just keep this section short and sweet. Recent graduates can expand on their education more and add optional information like projects, classes, academic achievements, etc.
• Always list your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest degree on top. Your highest and most recent degree is usually enough, so if you have a Master’s degree that’s relevant to the job, there’s no need to mention your earlier degrees.
• Don’t add your high school degree to your resume if you already have a university degree. It doesn’t have as much weight, and you can use the space for something else.
• Only mention your GPA if you had an impressive academic career. Anything below a 3.5 GPA doesn’t need to be on your resume.

Are you in the process of applying for college? Check out our guide to writing a college application resume to wow that admissions officer!

#6. Emphasize Your Know-How in the Skills Section

After your work experience, your skills are the first thing the hiring manager is going to look for. In fact, together, work experience and skills make up 90% of the hiring decision .

So, this is the place where you want to mention all the know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

There are two types of skills you can include when writing your resume:

• Hard Skills. These are measurable abilities. What you can list here can be anything from coding in Python to knowing how to cook Thai cuisine.
• Soft Skills. Also known as personal skills, these are a mix of communication skills , personal traits, career attributes, and more. They can include leadership, critical thinking, and time management , just to name a few.

Your resume should always cover both hard skills and soft skills . Here’s an example in action:

Now, let’s discuss how you should list your most important skills on your resume.

There are a few essential steps you need to follow:

Always List Hard and Soft Skills Separately

Your resume should be easy and neat to navigate. The hiring manager shouldn’t have to waste time looking for a specific skill because you didn’t separate it into the appropriate subsection.

So, just create separate categories for your hard and soft skills.

Depending on your field, you could customize the name of your “hard skills” subsection to something like “technical skills," “marketing skills," or something else related to your field.

Let’s look at an example of what skills look like on a project manager’s resume :

Methodologies & Tools

• Agile Methodology
• SCRUM Framework
• Waterfall Project Management
• Microsoft Project
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Risk Management

Soft Skills

• Team Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Negotiation

Tailor Your Skills to the Job

You might have some awesome skills, but the hiring manager only needs to know about the ones that are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, your gourmet chef skills shouldn’t be on your resume.

Look at the job ad and list at least two to three essential skills you have that are required for the role. Remember—there’s no need to list every skill you have here; just keep it relevant.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design or a related field.
• Tech-savvy, with some background in CMS systems such as WordPress.
• Thrives in a stressful environment and juggles multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Self-reliant, with the ability to manage their own work.
• A can-do attitude and an outside-the-box thinker.
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages.
• Basic understanding of Office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

So, the must-have hard skills here are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages. Other good computer skills to have are WordPress or similar CMS systems.

While you can also mention Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, it’s pretty much assumed that you know how to use them since they’re required for most office jobs.

List Hard Skills with Experience Levels

For each hard skill you list on your resume, you should also mention your proficiency level. This tells employers what they can expect from you and how much training you might need.

• Beginner. You have some experience with the skill, whether it’s from some entry-level practice or classroom education.
• Intermediate. You’ve used the skill in a work environment with good understanding.
• Advanced. You’re the go-to person for this skill in your office. You can coach other employees, and you understand the skill at a high level.
• Expert. You’ve applied this skill to more than a handful of different projects and organizations. You’re the go-to person for advice about the skill, not just in your office but even amongst some of the best professionals in your field.

Just make sure to never lie about your actual skill level. Even if you get the job, once you need those skills you exaggerated, it will be pretty awkward for both you and your employer.

Include Transferable Skills

These are the types of skills that are useful for almost any job out there.

Transferable skills can be both soft skills (e.g.: teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills, and others) and hard skills (MS Office Suite, HTML, writing, etc.)

Whatever job you’re applying to, chances are you have transferable skills from your experience that can come in handy one way or another. So, feel free to include them, even if they’re not specifically required for the position.

Not sure which skills to mention on your resume for your specific field? Check out our list of 101+ essential skills for inspiration!

#7. Leverage Optional Resume Sections

The sections we’ve covered so far are must-haves for any resume. They’re the bread-and-butter for any job application, and if you get them right, you’ll land any job you apply to.

But if you have some leftover space, there are a few optional sections you can choose from to give your resume a boost!

Are you bi-lingual? Or even better  – multi-lingual? You should always mention that on your resume!

Even if the position doesn’t require you to know a specific language, it can still come in handy at some point. At the end of the day, it’s always better to know more languages than less.

To list languages in your resume , just write them down and assign them the appropriate level:

• Intermediate

You can also use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scales.

As a given, you should never lie about your language skills. You never know—your interviewer might turn out to be fluent in the language or even be a native speaker!

Hobbies and Interests

If you want to spice up your resume, hobbies and interests could be just what you need.

While this section isn’t a game-changer, it can help the hiring manager see who you are as an individual.

For example, if you listed “teamwork” as one of your skills, hobbies like team sports can back up your claim.

And who knows? Maybe you and your interviewer have some hobbies or interests in common!

Volunteering Experience

If you’re the type of person who devotes their free time to helping others while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. 

Seeing volunteer experience on your resume tells hiring managers that you’re a loyal employee who’s after something meaningful.

Several studies show that listing your volunteer experience can boost your chances of getting hired, especially if you have little to no work experience.

Certifications

Hiring managers love candidates who invest in themselves, and that’s exactly what they see when you list certifications on your resume .

If you value continuous learning and strive to expand your skill set, that’s always a plus.

Certifications can also show employers how much expertise you have.

For example, if you’re a Microsoft Cloud Engineer and you specialize in Microsoft Technologies, you should definitely include all essential certifications on your resume, such as the Azure Solutions Architect Expert one.

Awards and Recognitions

There’s no harm in showing off a little on your resume. After all, you want to be a candidate that shines above the rest.

So, if you’ve received any awards or recognitions that make you stand out in your field, make sure to add them.

For example, if you’ve been recognized for your contributions to data science or received a hard-to-come-by scholarship , mention it in your resume. Just keep your entries here relevant to the field you’re applying to.

Publications

Whether you’re a freelance writer or a distinguished academic, publications are always impressive.

If you have any published works (online or in an academic journal), you can add them to your resume. Just make sure to include a link so the hiring manager knows where to check your work!

Are you looking for a career in academia? Check out our guide to writing the perfect academic CV to get started!

Working on side projects can show off your passion for your field. Whether they’re university class projects or part-time entrepreneurial endeavors, they’re relevant.

For example, if you worked on a mock software product as part of a university competition, it shows you went through every step of product creation, from ideation to creating a marketing strategy.

This project also shows off your organizational skills , and if you mention it in your resume, you stand a better chance of landing the job you had your sights set on.

But projects can also be personal, not academic. For example, you might manage an Etsy store where you sell hand-made arts and crafts to customers online. This is a great opportunity to highlight your creativity, management, and customer service skills .

Overall, hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time, so projects are always a great section to add to your resume.

Looking to kickstart your career? Check out our guide on how to get an internship for useful tips and real-life examples!

Extracurricular Activities

Every college freshman knows that extracurricular experience can make a difference in their application.

Especially if you don’t have a lot of experience outside of school, extracurricular activities are a great way to show potential employers your skills and give them insight into you as a person. Different clubs and after-school projects can help you gain real-life skills and considerably increase your chances of landing your first job after college.

For example, joining a student government organization can hone your leadership skills and teach you how to work as part of a team.

For example, if you’re part of a student government or public speaking club, these activities can help you hone your leadership and presentation skills.

11+ Expert Resume Tips

You’ve got the gist of how to make a resume. Now, it’s time to make it really stand out from the crowd!

Follow these exclusive resume tips to take your resume game to the next level:

• Match the professional title underneath your name to the job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
• Mention any promotions from your previous jobs. Use the work experience entries for them to focus on the achievements that helped you earn them.
• Describe your achievements using Laszlo Bock’s formula : accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z . This way, your work experience can go the extra mile and show the hiring manager what you can bring to the table.
• Always list your achievements and responsibilities in concise bullet points. This makes your resume more reader-friendly, and it’s more likely that the hiring manager will see your impressive achievements at a glance.
• Don’t use personal pronouns like “I” or “me,” and don’t refer to yourself by name. Stick to a slightly altered third person, like “managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.” instead of “he managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.”
• Name your resume sections correctly, or it might get rejected by the ATS. Swapping out quirky names like “career history” or “expertise” for “work experience” and "skills" makes it easier for the hiring manager to find what they’re looking for, too.
• Prioritize important keywords instead of adding all of them. Make sure the relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences you add all make sense in context, too. Your goal is to get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.
• Focus on transferable skills if you don’t have a lot of relevant work experience. Any extracurricular activities or personal projects can help you stand out here.
• Add a strategic pop of color to headings, bullet points, or key elements you want to highlight. It can help your resume stand out, but don’t overdo it—you want the information to be more impressive than the color palette.
• Don’t include the line “references available upon request.” Hiring managers already know they can request a list of references from you, so there’s no need to waste valuable space on it.
• Make sure your resume is optimized for mobile viewing. Most hiring managers use their mobile phones as often as desktop computers, so save your resume to a PDF file and make sure your formatting stays intact across any device.
• Rename the resume file you plan to send so it includes your name and the name of the position you’re applying for. It’s a small detail that can turn into a crucial mistake if you forget it.
• Read your resume out loud when you’re done. This is a great way to catch awkward phrases or spelling mistakes you might have missed otherwise.
• Use a tool like DocSend to track your resume. You’ll get a notification any time someone opens your resume, and you can see how long they spend reading it.

FREE Resume Checklist

Are you already done with your resume? Let’s see how it holds up!

Go through our checklist for perfecting your resume and see where you stand!

If you missed some points, just go through your resume one more time and perfect it.

And if you ☑’d everything—congrats! You’ve learned all there is to know about writing a resume, and you’re good to go with your job search.

Need to write a CV instead of a resume? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to write a CV with dozens of examples!

9 Resume Templates for Different Industries

Looking to create an effective resume without dealing with the formatting hassle? Just choose one of the templates below.

#1. Traditional Resume Template

Good for traditional industries like finance, banking, law, and manufacturing.

#2. Modern Resume Template

Good for both contemporary and forward-looking industries, including entrepreneurship, medical technology, and engineering.

#3. Creative Resume Template

Good for creative industries, including entertainment, design, and architecture. 

#4. Minimalistic Resume Template

Good for experienced professionals in basically any industry who want to let their achievements do the talking. 

#5. IT Resume Template

Good for any IT-related profession like software development, cyber security, and DevOps engineering.

#6. Tech Resume Template

Good for the tech industry and everything it encompasses.

#7. College Resume Template

Good for college students and recent graduates alike.

#8. General Resume Template

Good for multiple industries, including HR, education, and customer service.

#9. Executive Resume Template

Good for senior professionals across different industries, including hospitality, marketing, and logistics.

17+ Resumes for Different Jobs

Knowing how to write a resume is one thing, but making a resume that stands out is something entirely different. Without inspiration, even top career experts might stumble on a roadblock or two.

Check out the following effective resume examples for specific jobs to get a better sense of what a good resume looks like:

#1. Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a nurse resume here.

#2. Data Scientist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a data scientist resume here.

#3. Business Analyst Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business analyst resume here.

#4. Digital Marketing Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a digital marketing resume here.

#5. Software Engineer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a software engineer resume here.

#6. Construction Project Manager Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a construction project manager resume here.

#7. Customer Service Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a customer service resume here.

#8. High School Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a high school resume here.

#9. Student Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a student resume here.

#10. Server Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a server resume here.

#11. Actor Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an actor resume here.

#12. Web Developer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a web developer resume here.

#13. Engineering Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineering resume here.

#14. Computer Science Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a computer science resume here.

#15. Architect Resume Example 

Check out our full guide to writing a data analyst resume here.

#17. Remote Job Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a remote job resume here.

#18. Sales Associate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales associate resume here.

#19. Receptionist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist resume here.

Want to see more examples? Check out our compilation of 80+ resume examples for different fields .

• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Bartender Resume
• DevOps Engineer Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Flight Attendant Resume
• Graphic Designer Resume
• Paralegal Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Supervisor Resume

Next Steps After Your Resume

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to make a resume, it’s time to talk about the rest of your job application.

After all, your resume is only the first step in your job search. To land the job you deserve, you also need to write a captivating cover letter and ace that upcoming interview. Here’s how:

#1. How to Write a Convincing Cover Letter

The companion piece to every resume is the cover letter.

Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, you’d be applying for a job as a writer !

In reality, though, writing a cover letter is very simple once you know its purpose.

Think of your cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. It’s your chance to briefly explain why you’re such an awesome fit for the position. And with a few cover letter tips to point you in the right direction, you’ll write the perfect cover letter for your job application.

Just follow this structure:

• Add the contact details. Include the same contact information as on your resume, plus additional contact details for the hiring manager, including their name, job title, the company’s name, and location.
• Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by mentioning who you are, what your work experience is, and why you’re interested in the position. Mention a standout achievement or two, relevant skills, and what you’d like to do for the company you’re applying for.
• Explain why you’d excel at the job. Find the requirements in the job ad that you meet, and elaborate on how you fulfill the most important ones. Research the company so you know what you like about it, and mention it in your cover letter. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the job and confidence that you’ll be a great fit for their team.
• Wrap it up politely. Conclude your cover letter by recapping your key selling points and thanking the hiring manager for their time. Then add a call to action, such as “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided phone number so that we can discuss my application in greater detail.” Then, add a closing line and follow it with your full name.

Sounds easy, right? Here’s a real-life example to drive the point home:

Do you need more help perfecting your cover letter? Learn what the most common cover letter mistakes are and check out cover letter examples for all professions here.

#2. How to Ace Your Next Interview

Once you’ve perfected both your resume and cover letter, there’s only one thing left.

It’s time for the final step—the dreaded job interview.

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you probably hate the interviewing process. No matter how experienced you are, it can be nerve-wracking. Sitting there while someone’s prodding into your past experiences and judging you isn’t fun.

But did you know that most interviewers ask the same questions?

That’s right—all you have to do is learn how to answer some of the most common interview questions, and you’ll be an interview away from landing your dream job!

Just check out our complete guide to the 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers and learn how to ace your next interview.

FAQs on How to Make a Resume

Do you still have some questions about making a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below!

#1. What does a good resume look like in 2024?

For your resume to look good in 2024, make sure it’s organized and clean and isn’t longer than one page.

Be sure to include information that adds value to your application—leave out the focus on your relevant work experience and skills that you can back up, and list as many achievements as possible. 

If you’re using a resume template, choose one based on your industry. Conservative industries like law, banking, and business require more traditional resume templates. But if you’re going for an industry like design, architecture, or marketing, you can go for a creative resume template . 

Remote work is also big in 2024, so if that’s what you’re after, tailor your resume to match the job you want.

#2. How do you make a resume in Word?

The best way to create a resume in Word is to use a pre-designed Microsoft Word template. To access them, you should: 

• Open MS Word
• Click “file” from the menu bar 
• Select “new”
• Type “resume templates” in the search bar 

That said, Word resume templates are generic, hard to personalize, and overall not very stylish.

Want a resume that looks good and is extremely easy to make? Check out resume templates to get started!

#3. How do I write a resume for my first job?

If you’re writing your first-ever resume for an entry-level position, the hiring manager won’t expect you to have any work experience.

However, you can make up for your lack of experience with your skills and academic achievements.

For example, you can take advantage of extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, and other non-professional experiences. You can use them to highlight the skills you’ve gained and what you’ve achieved so far.

So, your first job resume should have a resume objective, emphasize your education, and replace your work experience with any internships, volunteering, independent projects, or other experiences.

#4. How to make a resume on Google Docs?

You can make a resume on Google Docs by choosing one of their templates and filling it in on the go.

All you have to do is go to your Google Drive’s template gallery, choose your preferred template, fill in your information, and your Google Docs resume is ready to go! 

That said, Google Docs templates aren’t the most user-friendly choice. You don’t have much flexibility with the layout and formatting isn’t that easy. For example, you tweak a section to the slightest, and the whole resume becomes a mess.

If you want an easier option, check out our resume builder !

#5. What kind of resume do employers prefer?

Typically, employers prefer one-page-long resumes that follow the reverse chronological format. 

Hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes every day, so they don't have the time to read three-page resumes. Try one of our one-page resume templates so you don’t go over the recommended resume length.

Meanwhile, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular because it draws attention to your most recent jobs and professional achievements, which is the #1 most important thing hiring managers look at when evaluating a resume.

#6. How many jobs should you put on your resume? 

You should only include relevant job positions on your resume.

This means that your work experience section should be tailored to the job you are applying for. If you’ve worked five different jobs and they can all add value to your current application, then you should include all five. 

If, on the other hand, you’re applying for, say, a customer service position and some of your past jobs don’t have anything to do with customer service, you should skip them.

#7. Should I put my address on my resume? 

You can put your location (city, state, or country) on your resume, but you don’t need to put your entire physical address.

Putting a physical address on a resume was the norm back when companies would contact you via mail. In today’s world, everyone communicates via email, which is why adding a correct and professional email address to your contact information section is far more important than putting your physical address. 

So, just include your location or-–if you’re a remote worker—specify you prefer to work remotely by writing “working remotely from [location].”

#8. What information should I leave out of my resume?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t include your birthday or your headshot on your resume. This norm varies from country to country but it applies to the USA, Canada, and UK.

If you have plenty of achievements to list under your work experience, then you can leave your basic work responsibilities out of your resume. 

In your education section, you should only include your highest and most recent degree. So, if you hold a Ph.D., you can list that and your Master’s degree and leave your Bachelor’s degree and high school diploma out.

Finally, leave out any skills that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for.

#9. Is a resume a CV?

Depending on where you are, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume might be completely different things.

In most of the world, though, including Europe and Asia, they are used interchangeably for the same document. Both CVs and resumes are one to two pages long, and list skills and experiences relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Sometimes more detailed resumes that go over one page are referred to as CVs. These are typically only used by senior professionals, executives, CEOs, etc.

In the USA, however, a CV is a completely different document. Typically, CVs are detailed and comprehensive documents that highlight your entire academic and professional history. They’re often used for academic, scientific, or research positions, which is why this type of CV can also be referred to as an academic CV.

You can create your CV using one of our CV templates !

#10. Should I write my own resume?

Yes, you should always write your own resume.

Your resume is your opportunity to show the hiring manager your communication, writing, and presentation skills . Employers also evaluate you based on how effectively you can convey information about yourself, and there’s no one that can represent you better than yourself.

Writing your own resume lets you introduce yourself authentically. You have the best understanding of your skills and experiences, and you can personalize them to make your resume stand out.

And, as a bonus, the experience of writing your resume yourself can be reflective and insightful, so it might help you understand your professional journey and career goals better.

#11. Can a resume be two pages?

Generally, we strongly recommend that your resume stick to one page.

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes every day, and keeping your resume to one page increases the odds that they’ll see your qualifications faster.

In some cases, like when you have a lot of relevant experience, your resume can go over two pages. But this exception is reserved for senior professionals with over a decade of relevant experience and tons of skills and achievements that simply can’t fit on one page.

#12. Is a simple resume okay?

Absolutely, a simple resume is often more than okay—it's preferable.

Before your resume even gets to the hiring manager, a complicated layout could get it rejected by the applicant tracking system (ATS). A simple resume template can help get your application straight to the hiring manager.

A clean layout can also make sure that your resume is easily readable and looks professional. This can focus the hiring manager's attention on your work experience and skills without excessive clutter or flashy colors to distract them.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

If you’ve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! You’re probably an expert on how to make a resume.

To recap, let’s go through some of the most important lessons we’ve learned so far...

• Use the right resume builder to make the process as smooth as possible. You don’t want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
• Focus on your achievements over responsibilities. This can help you stand out from all the other applicants, especially if you back your claims up with data.
• Include all the must-have sections, like the resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. Then leverage optional sections if you have leftover space.
• Tailor your resume for the job you’re applying for. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for, and you should write a new resume for every new job application.
• Take the time to perfect your cover letter. It’s just as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!

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6 Tips for a Killer Resume

Your resume says a lot about you. Here's how to compile an impressive one.

Whether you're new to the workforce or are looking to make a change, one of the best things you can do for your career is craft a stellar resume. Even if writing isn't your strong suit, you can still put together a solid resume to entice prospective employers. Here's how to do it.

1. Craft a compelling opening summary

The opening section of your resume sets the tone for the rest of that document -- so it's important to get it right. Your introductory statement should give a brief, snappy overview of who you are and why you're such a valuable asset, so use it to draw in your audience and convince those hiring managers to keep reading. Do not, however, mistake your introduction for an objective. "Seeking a role where I can prosper and grow" doesn't speak to your talents or personality. "Fearless marketer with boundary-pushing tendencies," on the other hand, is a far more captivating way to start.

Image source: Getty Images.

2. List your responsibilities and achievements from most to least significant

The folks who receive your resume may not always read it in its entirety. In fact, there's a good chance they'll merely skim through it at first, and then go back for a more thorough read once interested. That's why it's critical to put your most valuable skills and accomplishments toward the top of each section, where readers' eyes are most likely to land initially, and stick those mundane, less impressive tasks lower down on the list. Even if you spent most of your time at your last job booking conference rooms and making travel arrangements for other people, if you were given several key projects to run with, highlight those first.

3. Use hard numbers

It's one thing to boast of your sales prowess, but it's another to document the extent to which you've actually delivered results. That's why it pays to use hard numbers to highlight your achievements whenever possible. If you increased sales by 20% at your last job, say so -- with a number. 

4. Don't list skills that should be a given

It's 2017, which means that pretty much everyone who works in an office also knows how to use the internet. The same holds true for basic word processing and spreadsheets. Calling out these skills on your resume could be a sign that you're desperate for content -- which might turn prospective employers away. Instead, focus on the skills that make you stand out, and avoid stating what should be the obvious.

5. Show, don't just tell

It's hard to pin down your entire career to a one-page snapshot, but thankfully, you don't have to. If you've developed an online portfolio showcasing your work, include a link to it on your resume so that prospective employers know where to look for further detail. It's one thing to talk about what a wonderful graphic designer you are, but it's much more powerful to let those hiring managers see for themselves.

6. Keep it clean

In the hiring world, there's no greater turnoff than a resume laden with errors. Similarly, if your fonts and italics usage are all over the place on the document, your potential employer is bound to notice that sloppiness. Before you submit your resume, examine it thoroughly for stylistic consistency. This means that if you bold the name of a previous employer in one section, you should do the same in another. And though the following should go without saying, for the love of grammar, run your resume through a spell-checking program to ensure that the words it contains are, well, actual words.

Finally, make certain your contact information is both up-to-date and professional. " [email protected] " may be a perfectly fine email address to share with your friends, but for resume purposes, you're much better off with the classic "first name_last name" format.

Though we're told not to judge books by their covers, there's no question that those reading your resume will use it to determine whether or not you're worth pursuing as a job candidate. The more work you put into that document, the more likely it is to help get you hired .

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This is the Anatomy of a Killer Resume (complete breakdown + 15 examples)

Whether you’re new to the workforce or shifting careers, there’s one thing that remains, decade-after-decade, essential for successful career development.

A killer resume can make or break career opportunities, boost your salary, or expand your options in the job search process.

Crafting a resume isn’t a simple task. Just ask the 20,000+ people who Google “How do I write a resume?” every month. Fitting your career (or lack of career) into one document is daunting—not to mention ATS optimization and constant adjustments for different job applications.

Whether you’re figuring out how to create a resume for your first job or you’re already climbing the career ladder, we’re here to provide all the resume help you need. This guide will demystify the resume-building process by breaking it down, piece-by-piece.

Buckle your seatbelts, because we’re practically giving away trade secrets here.

Let’s take it from the top.

Resume Header

This may be the most simple part of a resume, but it’s also easy to mess up. Mistakes here can prevent an interested recruiter from reaching you.

Here’s what belongs in a resume header—

• Your legal name (we recommend against using your middle name unless your first and last name are very common)
• A professional email address (no [email protected], please)
• A current phone number
• A LinkedIn url, if you have a profile set up.
• Your current city and state

We should also talk about what doesn’t belong. Never put your full mailing address in your resume header. Not only is it unnecessary, but it can actually raise privacy and discrimination concerns, potentially hindering your job search.

Resume Header Checklist:

☐  Does the header contain correct contact info? ☐  Does the resume header have a link to your LinkedIn account? ☐ Are all numbers in the resume header correct? ☐ Are all links in the resume header working?

A resume title is an easy and super-effective way to align your resume with your target job. Match your resume title exactly to the title of the target job. That way, ATS software knows you’re a good match for the position. Adjust the job title for each job application submitted.

Adding a line below your title can allows you extra space for alternative titles, descriptors, or keywords that describe specific expertise within an industry. It’s best to use keywords directly from the job post you’re applying for to maximize ATS optimization. You can also use a mission statement.

Resume Title Checklist:

• Does the resume title match the job description?
• Is the subtitle / keyword list / mission statement optimized with ATS-friendly keywords?

Summary Section

Crafting a compelling resume summary sets a tone for the entire document. It’s the first (and sometimes the last) thing a recruiter reads before passing your resume up the chain or throwing it out completely.

Your summary should quickly address your biggest selling points. Think of it as an advertisement. Essentially it’s a sales pitch to get an interview. It shouldn’t belong or elaborate (5-7 sentences, max). Recruiters will spend only a few seconds reading through a resume summary, so every word should pack a punch.

Resume summary checklist:

• Is the summary section language is tight and accomplishment-driven?
• Does the resume summary contain ATS-friendly keywords, pulled directly from job description?
• Do resume bullets highlight career accomplishments or professional credentials?

Skills Section

Have you ever heard a real estate agent chant location, location, location ?

Keywords in a skills section are the “location” of a resume. Many companies (especially those hiring at a high volume) use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to streamline the hiring process and weed out unqualified candidates. It’s actually a fairly simple process: An ATS program scans incoming resume keywords to see how well they match the job postings.

More resume keywords matches = higher ATS score.

Higher ATS score = resume is passed to a human hiring manager.

Create a skills section in your resume to house some of these juicy keywords. They’re also useful for human readers with a checklist of core skills they’re recruiting for.

Professional Experience

Now, we move on to the real meat of your resume.

The work history portion of your resume should highlight professional experience, including titles, employers, start/end dates, responsibilities, and most importantly job accomplishments .

If you’ve been at your current job for a while, add a brief description of your scope of responsibilities in paragraph form, then bullet points that describe specific accomplishments, KPIs, and goals for each job.

If you’re at the start of a career path, you can always fill gaps in your resume with part-time work and temporary roles — just make sure to tie them into the job you’re aspiring to as much as possible.

Resume job history checklist:

• For each job, do you provide company name, location, job title, and years of employment?
• Do you provide a brief description of your duties and scope for each position?
• Do you provide quantified accomplishments ?
• Do you provide the most detail for your latest jobs, with less detail on older/less relevant jobs?
• Did you omit information that is personal, outdated, or off-target?
• Is work history listed in reverse chronological (newest to oldest) order?

Volunteer Work

This section isn’t mandatory, so include it only if the service is relevant to your target job—maybe by extending your years of experience or demonstrating leadership skills.

Resume Volunteer Section Checklist:

☐ Have you listed committees, leadership roles, and professional associations in chronological order? ☐ If your volunteer experience is extensive, have you limited the section to the 4-5 most notable entries? ☐ Have you listed any major recognitions in your volunteer history?

Unless you’re a recent college graduate with limited experience, education and professional training should go at the bottom of your resume. Keep it clean and simple—no need to list every class you’ve ever taken.

Unless you’re a current student or have graduated in the past year, leave dates out of this section. It often does more harm than good by allowing ageism into the hiring process.

Resume Education Checklist:

☐ Are education entries in order from most recent to oldest? ☐ Are areas of study clearly listed? ☐ Have you listed any relevant certifications and professional development courses?

Final checklist

Last but not least, here’s a handy checklist of the major components of a strong resume. How does your resume measure up?

• Is it in a clear, readable, commonly used font? Arial and Times New Roman are classic stand-bys. Calibri is one of my new faves.
• Does it have ample white space in the margins? (Keep one-inch margins on the sides and at least a half-inch on top and bottom.)
• Is it limited to two pages?
• Is it free from typos and errors?
• Does it convey a clear, unified message about who you are and what you do (aka your personal brand)?
• Is it focused on accomplishments and benefits more than responsibilities and duties?
• Does it speak to the desired qualifications for the type of job you’re seeking?
• Does it replace niche industry jargon or company-specific phrases with better-understood translations? (Imagine a recruiter or HR person who isn’t necessarily familiar with the technical details of your target job.)
• Is it consistent in terms of formatting, verb tense, organization?
• Does it aim toward your next job (not your current job)?

If creating a resume still sounds daunting reach out to the pros at Upword Resume .  Our team of professional resume writers includes experts from every sector, from engineering to communications to healthcare. You can also follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter for monthly career tips and information to help you keep your resume polished and focused!

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Resume Examples & Samples

5 steps to a killer resume summary [with examples].

Dayana Aleksandrova

Create a Resume in Minutes & Get More Job Interviews

Table of Contents

Resume summary basics, where does the summary go, aim for 3 to 6 sentences, perfect your elevator pitch, what is the difference between a resume objective and summary.

• Step by Step Guide to Creating a Killer Resume Summary

Scan the job post carefully

List your accomplishments, use key words, throw in your title, use brand name association.

Your resume summary can be the single reason you get the job or have your resume thrown in the shredder. Recruiters give your average resume only a glance of 6 seconds - and the first thing they see is your summary.

Think of a resume summary as that first impression. A great one can help you stand out from the competition. While it is no easy task to boil down your passion, dreams, and experiences to one short paragraph, there are ways to create a great resume summary.

Find out how to write a killer resume summary in just 5 steps. We'll have a look at the goal of the resume summary as well as what it is that recruiters specifically look for.

Don't have a resume to work with yet? Check out these resume templates .

#resume-summary-basics

What is a resume summary? The resume summary is a short paragraph explaining your professional experience and goals. Your resume summary should answer two simple questions:

1. What is your experience?

2. What do you care about?

You have to clearly state what your experience is focused on. For example, if you’ve worked in hospitality for the past five years, this can be mentioned in your summary as “extensive experience in the hospitality industry.”

This is the place for you to showcase your best achievements and strongest interests. It is also a fantastic opportunity to mention your core values. Do your research on the company beforehand. Find out what their mission statement and values are. Make sure yours align with theirs and place them at the beginning of your resume summary.

• I have experience in hospitality which I’d like to advance and develop at your company.
• Concierge with 4+ years of experience in luxury hotels. Highly sociable, detail-oriented and patient, I am proficient at fostering lasting relationships with guests, working with Amadeus, and have a BA in Hospitality.

Now let’s break down what does and what doesn’t work. In the first example, there isn’t enough information. We don’t know how many years this person has been in the industry and whether they hold a degree in it. Moreover, it makes it seem like the applicant is saying...

The second example, on the other hand, is complete with detailed information. We know that this candidate is an established figure with 4+ years of experience in the field.

He tells us what his strongest suits are, which are specifically tailored to the job. We see that his values are to “foster lasting relationships with guests,” which again, is tailored to the hotel he is applying to. Finally, we see that this candidate holds a degree in the specific field.

Overall, the second summary tells us 90% of what we need to know about the applicant in just a few clear sentences. This is what our goal is.

In your resume summary, you may mention a quick detail about your hobbies and interests provided that it's relevant to the company mission and the job description. You may mention any noteworthy accomplishments as well.

#where-does-the-summary-go

The summary goes at the very top of the page. This makes perfect sense, as it is the first place the recruiter looks at. Having to search the entire document for this tiny fraction does not make sense.

It should be neatly formatted and easy to read. Remember, you are trying to sell your skills to the hiring manager.

As any good salesman would tell you, you have to show your value right away.

Need help? Check out our resume builder .

#aim-for-3-to-6-sentences

You want to keep it short, yet mention all of the important information. The golden number of sentences is about three.

Anywhere from three to six is acceptable.

This, of course, will vary based on how many years of experience you have and whether you have some noteworthy accomplishments you need to mention.

If you use social media, think of your summary as a well-crafted Tweet. It has to:

• Peak interest quickly
• Include numerical values (e.g. years of experience, monetary goals fulfilled)
• Explain your values briefly
• Include a connection to the company (which can be your values)
• Mention your education (unless you’re an industry veteran with over 10 years of experience)
• Be clear - there is no room for ambiguous wording or spelling mistakes

Your resume summary is the first impression of you the hiring manager will get. Not having one or having it badly written can be a disaster.

A great one, on the other hand, will quickly let the recruiter know who you are and why you are a great fit for the job. For some extra inspiration, have a look at these resume templates .

#perfect-your-elevator-pitch

While it is not obligatory to have a resume summary, it is necessary to include one if you really want the job. Not having a summary to the hiring manager means that they will have to go through your experiences one by one.

This takes time which they do not have. Make the recruiter’s life easier by explaining who you are.

Note: elevator pitch doesn’t literally mean pitching an elevator.

If you do not have a great summary, however, the extra work they will have to put in to review the resume will diminish your chances. The resume summary is not necessary for everyone. Those who can benefit the most are:

• Professionals with over a decade of experience
• Those looking to advance their career in the same sphere
• People without long gaps in their career history

What if you’ve had job history gaps or are changing industries? Not to worry. You will benefit from crafting a resume objective .

#what-is-the-difference-between-a-resume-objective-and-summary

The resume objective aims to tell the recruiter two things:

• Who you are
• Why you want the job

It does not need to be as detailed as the summary, as it focuses on what you want to achieve as opposed to what you already have.

example of resume objective

Italian food lover, cheese whisperer, and pizza tossing champion. Dedicated, funny and perpetually hungry, James is seeking to leverage his 8+ years of cooking experience to bring you pasta so good, it will put Mario Batali to shame. Has an MA in wine tasting and has won the pesto-making contest for three years in a row .

In this case, the resume objective gives broader information and focuses heavily on what the candidate aims to accomplish. The resume objective is a good solution for those who:

• Are still in school
• Have work history gaps
• Are looking to change industries
• Have less than 2 years of work experience

STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO CREATING A KILLER RESUME SUMMARY

#step-by-step-guide-to-creating-a-killer-resume-summary, #scan-the-job-post-carefully.

Let’s think about this for a second: perhaps you know that you are the best fit for a social media company, but the hiring manager doesn’t yet. What do you do? You give them what they want.

Does this company need a results-oriented worker who pays a great deal of attention to detail and can work under pressure? Tailor your profile to the needs of the company.

The job post is hands-down the easiest way to see exactly what they need from you. Applying for jobs is no guessing game. This is why ads exist.

Let's look at this example.

Hotel Blossom is 5-star boutique hotel which strives to offer its guests a unique travel experience. We want to pamper our guests at our state of the art spa and healthy restaurant.

We are looking for a Front Desk Receptionist who represents these values. This is a Full-Time position beginning in May.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Welcome guests and give tour of the hotel
• Give sightseeing recommendations
• Plan a trip route if desired
• Perform concierge duties - making restaurant reservations
• Offer Blossom's signature excursions to guests
• It is crucial to be on time and to be dressed elegantly

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA in Hospitality or 3 years of related experience
• Extensive knowledge of boutique hotels
• Easy-going, friendly and with a great attention to detail
• Willing to make an extra effort and leave a great impression
• Previous concierge experience
• Sales experience is a plus

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Be able to lift 25lb boxes
• Have the stamina to stand up for eight hours a day when needed

As you can see, the Front Desk Receptionist needs to be able to plan trips, be on time and act as a concierge. Make sure to mention these aspects in your resume summary, along with your attention to detail and sales experience.

A great summary in this case will read:

Leverage your most relevant skills

Concierge with 3 years of experience in boutique hotels. Easy-going and detail oriented, I always do my best to leave a great impression with guests and help ensure that they have a unique experience. BA in Hospitality and prior sales experience.

#list-your-accomplishments

They say that being humble makes life better, but your resume is not the place to be humble. If you have accomplishments, talk about them. After all, this is the best way to demonstrate confidence and value. Recruiters like those who go out there and get things done.

Being passionate and hard working is great, but not as great as having run 5K races for your company and won for years in a row, or managed to get promoted in a week. How do you know what your biggest accomplishments are.

Think back to the toughest problems you solved, how you got your promotions, why you were elected to lead and why your colleagues came to you for advice. These are all distinguished skills.

Sometimes it can be harder to see your own biggest achievements, so you can go ahead and ask your friends and family as well. Seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes can bring a great new perspective. Include numerical values in this section. More often than not, great accomplishments can be quantified.

We know you're a rockstar. Now show it to the recruiter. Learn How to Mention Accomplishments on Your Resume (10+ Examples)

Successfully lead a team in order to achieve monthly quota

Is not the same as saying:

Successfully lead a team of five in order to reach a $200K sales quota

Numbers are your friends. Use them. Besides, imagine that you are the recruiter, staring at words all day. Processing numbers is quicker and easier. Do them a favor.

#use-key-words

Scanning through the job description is a great way to pick out the keywords. After all, it's most likely that the recruiter wrote it.

Make sure to:

• Use strong verbs - spearheaded, executed, founded, resolved, etc.
• Choose descriptive adjectives - motivated, loyal, organized, patient, etc.
• Pay attention to the tasks they need you to perform
• See any additional requirements

If it comes to physical requirements (e.g. be at least 5’10” tall, lift 25+ lbs), mention that you are capable of performing the tasks without a problem.

Try to mirror the language of the job description. If it says that one of the requirements is to “provide personalized care and attention to guests,” you can directly borrow that line.

In your resume say: “Provided personalized attention to guests at Hotel X.” This will make the recruiter instantly relate to your profile because you are giving them what they need.

#throw-in-your-title

There is a reason we all have titles. Their aim is yes, to make us look important. This is why it’s imperative that you mention yours. While some successful people will simply say “I write” or “I’m a frequent traveler,” you have to actually explain what it is that you do.

Saying “I write” for someone like J.K. Rowling is perfectly nonchalant, but unless you are very well-known in your industry, you should say that you are the “Executive Writer for show X” and have been recognized by the TV Writers’ Guild. Make sure that your title on the resume grabs attention.

Make it bold and place it at the very beginning of your work experience section and in your summary. Your title will be the gateway into your professional chronology. The worst thing you can do is to leave the recruiter wondering what you do.

Your position has to be clear and straightforward. Including all of your titles from previous experiences. It will show the hiring manager your progression in the industry.

#use-brand-name-association

I bet you’ve heard the old saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” This applies in the professional sphere still as strongly today as it did in the past.

Having a big name on your resume can open doors. It’s not the same to say that you’ve worked at a luxury hotel and to mention that you’ve been a Housekeeping Manager for The Four Seasons.

Make your references more concrete. Recruiters like to see who you’ve worked with and if they recognize the name, this can tip the scale to your advantage. The truth is that recruiters aren’t always right about hires and they know that.

No one is infallible, so having the affirmation that a big brand has already trusted you makes hiring managers’ lives easier.

How do you mention brand names in the

resume summary?

Something to bear in mind here is to be casual about it. For example, you can say: "Manage outsourced sales teams for multinational companies including Nike, Asics, and Adidas."

Now let’s take a look at how to leverage your personal connections in the job hunting process.

THE TRUST FACTOR

People are more likely to favor those who have already been deemed appropriate by an acquaintance.

I’ll give you a basic example. If I went to the shoe store to get sneakers, I’d see 20 different pairs. Instead of having to choose, I’d rather ask a runner friend of mine which is best from his experiences and buy based on trust.

Connections can:

• Get you interviews
• Help you get ahead of the competition thanks to the “tried & true” element
• Give you an insight of what skills you should leverage
• Make you seem more important and valuable to the recruiter

How do you find connections?

Some people get intimidated by the idea of seeking connections. There’s nothing scary or awkward about it. You don’t have to sell your soul for a good word. Just go on LinkedIn .

Based on your industry and connections, you will see “suggested contacts.” You can add them, mentioning that you both know "John Smith" or that you both share an interest in virtual reality.

How to start a conversation

First off, choose to write a personalized message when you send a friend request. The sample LinkedIn invite message reads:

I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”

This gets 0/10 points for originality. If you’ve ever worked in cold calling or sales, you know that people get dozens of random invites like this daily. You have to peak their interest right off the bat.

Do a quick research on the person. The fastest ways to do that are through:

• LinkedIn history and shared content
• Their Tweets
• Their personal website/ blog

See what you have in common. Did you both read The 4 Hour Work Week ? Do you both like to sail? Instead of the random invite say this:

For example:

I see that both you and I share an interest in photography. I’m a fan of Canon myself. I see from your blog that you just got the new Mark IV model. What are your thoughts on it so far? Would love to connect and get your insight.”

This message is highly personalized. It shows that you:

• Did your research
• Took the time to read their blog content
• Indeed share the same interest and know what you’re talking about
• Believe that their opinion is expert and want to hear more of it

This will make the person feel important and let’s be honest; everyone likes to feel important.

Another strategy you can utilize with LinkedIn is to ask your contacts to introduce you to the hiring manager. If you see that you went to college with someone who works at Lonely Planet, for example, drop them a message casually saying:

How’s everything going? I thought of you as I’m applying for a position at Lonely Planet’s sales division and was wondering whether you could introduce me to John Smith at HR. It would be much appreciated.”

The trick here is not to seem too selfish. Ask your friend how things are going so that it’s not all about you and the favor you want. Use your Emotional Intelligence.

Don't skip the resume summary. It is a vital element of your profile and having one can increase your chances of landing the job.

Make sure to be specific about your past experience. Use strong verbs and elements from the job description. List any brand names that could add value to your candidacy.

Ease the recruiter's job by clearly defining your title and industry . They have to be able to tell what you do within a second of seeing your resume.

Remember that it's not about you, it's all about the business , so demonstrate clearly the value that you will bring to them. Show that you care and do your research.

When you think about it, businesses want to invest in employees who care . Would you want to train someone and pay them so that they can use you to advance their skills only for their own benefit and not the company's? That's right; you wouldn't.

Your resume summary should explain why and how you want to help the company advance.

Finally, don't be shy when it comes to using contacts. Reaching out to a common connection and asking for an introduction can be a great way to establish a conversation with the hiring manager.

Be genuine in your outreach and don't hold back on bragging about your past accomplishments . Incorporate this advice into your resume summary and be confident that you will do well.

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How to write a killer Software Engineering résumé

An in-depth analysis of the résumé that got me interviews at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and more.

This résumé got me interviews at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple.

I obtained these interviews by sending my résumé to the résumé black hole , also known as applying online.

Applying online is the most common way people go about applying for a job and therefore the least effective way to land an interview due to competition. Yet that is exactly how I obtained all my interviews.

How did I accomplish this?

In this article, I will go through a line-by-line analysis of my résumé for the following purposes:

• explaining the choices that I made in creating my résumé
• why I believe this résumé worked to help me land those interviews, and
• how you can create an even better résumé!

I decided to write this article because I struggled a lot with landing interviews when I first started looking for a job. It would have been extremely helpful for me to have a real-life example résumé to look at.

This article is organized into the following sections:

• The All Too Familiar Way of Not Landing an Interview - a short anecdote of my frustrations when I first started applying for jobs
• Evaluating the Options: Moving Forward - a reflection on different strategies to improve the odds of landing interviews
• Learning How to Write a Killer Résumé By Example - the step-by-step analysis of my résumé with each of the following sections corresponding to my résumé:

The Essentials from a Glance

• Who Are You
• Contact Information
• Personal Projects

The All Too Familiar Way of Not Landing an Interview

Applying online.

You probably know the link that every company provides for online applications. It’s the classic career site that shows you a bunch of job titles which you think you are totally qualified for until you open the job description and read the minimum requirements.

A job description with a bunch of words that you have never heard of, may have heard of, or hoped you had heard of. And it has an innocent-looking “ Apply” button .

Despite the uncertainty you may feel about your qualifications, you apply anyway because you want a job.

So you fill out the application form, press submit — and wait and hope for a positive response.

Your results will be varied:

• Phone Interview ? (yay, a chance at employment!!!)
• Immediate Rejection ? (darn, back to the drawing board)
• No reply  ? (ugh, at least give me the courtesy of having some closure)

Repeat Until Success… Right?

Sadly, this is the typical process that many people go through when looking for a job/internship.

Apply to a couple of companies. Get a couple of rejections or no replies. Apply to a couple more companies. Get a couple more rejections or no replies. Over, and over, and over again.

Why do we do this to ourselves? We spend all this time doing the same repetitive task to obtain the same, disappointing results.

Because this is what everyone does to get an interview, right? Because at least we’re working towards the right direction and have a glimmer of hope, right? How else are you supposed to get an interview?

Evaluating the Options: Moving Forward

“Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” - Dale Carnegie, (author of “How to Win Friends and Influence People”)

We can think of approaching the problem of not getting interviews in two ways:

• Putting your application/ résumé under the microscope
• Questioning the process in which you go about obtaining an interview

This article focuses on the former, because no matter what avenue you end up taking to get an interview, essentially every company utilizes your résumé as a basis for evaluation . Therefore, we will examine my résumé under a microscope and focus on learning how to write a remarkable résumé.

Getting an interview via online application is extremely challenging because your résumé has to pass numerous stages before it gets into the hands of the hiring manager.

It has to bypass online keyword filters , stand out to a recruiter who reviews it for about 6 seconds and meet the expectations of the hiring manager who decides whether you are worth interviewing.

Yet, despite all those hurdles, I obtained all my interviews by applying online. How? Trial and error . I’ve applied to hundreds of different software engineering positions since my sophomore year of college.

When I first started applying, I faced a staggering number of rejections, but over time I learned how to adapt. By the time I was a senior, I was extremely successful in landing interviews from almost every company I applied to.

The résumé that landed me all those interviews is the exact one in this article.

It took me four years of iteration and real-life testing to get to this point. From this experience, I have come up with a list of résumé writing principles to help you write an even better software résumé. These are principles that have helped me land my dream job and are principles that can help you land yours.

While it took me four years of college to figure this all out, you don’t have to go through all the leaps and bounds because you can learn all of it right here, right now.

My goal is to be the one-stop hub for all your questions on how to obtain a software engineering interview. That way, you don’t have to waste countless hours cross-referencing Google search results to find the best answer on how to write a software engineering résumé that gets interviews.

Your valuable time could be better spent on writing your killer résumé.

So start here and now with this article. Reap the benefits from my past experiences and let’s begin the step-by-step walkthrough of my résumé!

Learning How to Write a Killer Résumé — By Example

“As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let’s take another look at this résumé:

One-page résumé

Recruiters do not have all day to read your résumé. On average they view it for less than 6 seconds. Keep it short and concise .

Sections (Header, Education, Employment, Software Projects, Skills)

Place sections in order of importance from top to bottom. The ‘ Personal Projects ’ section is a unique, must-have for people looking for a software engineering position.

Consistent layout + font per section

Make sure each section contains a uniform look. Consistent style is important as it enhances the readability. Readability is essential.

So why does this résumé work? Let’s explore the numbered bullet points.

Who Are You (1)

Target Audience: Anyone writing a résumé

Starting off real easy. Your name. Place your name at the top of your résumé in a large legible font.

No need to be all fancy about it with extravagant colors or fancy fonts. Plain and simple does the trick. You want the recruiter to see this easily from a mile away because you want them to know who you are. A recruiter who has to do minimum work is a happy recruiter. A happy recruiter is one who is more likely to give you an interview.

Recap: Make it ridiculously easy for the recruiter to read and find your name.

Contact Information (2)

Your contact info should be as easy as identifying your name. This is so important. Of all the things in the world, please do not mess this one up because how else on earth will the recruiter contact you?

Recap: Put in the correct contact information or you’ll never be contacted.

Education (3)

Target Audience: Anyone writing a résumé with a degree

If you are attending or attended college, this should be the first section of your résumé, because going to college is a huge accomplishment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only “66.7 percent of 2017 high school graduates age 16 to 24 enrolled in colleges or universities”. So be proud of it and include it!

Right off the bat, this tells the recruiter that you are invested in education and learning, which is crucial because technology is continuously changing. Furthermore, this information serves as an indicator of your successes, so be sure to put it down.

Recap: Put down where you got educated.

Be sure to include relevant coursework corresponding to the position that you are applying for. While a course on the History of Italian Gastronomy sounds exceptionally appetizing, it doesn’t have a place in a résumé that is trying to get you a job in computer science.

This will significantly improve the ability of the recruiter and the hiring manager looking at your résumé in deciding whether you are a good fit for the position. And as previously mentioned, a happy recruiter is more likely to give you an interview.

Recap: Only include relevant coursework.

Okay. GPA. Before we talk about this, let’s remind ourselves of the main purpose of a résumé.

The main purpose of a résumé is to highlight your knowledge, skills, and accomplishments succinctly. You want to include things on your résumé that you are proud of, but also things that will impress. You want to paint a picture of yourself in the best light possible so that recruiters and hiring managers want to interview you.

Now back to your GPA. It should be fairly obvious whether or not your GPA is impressive. If your GPA is below a 3.0, don’t put it on your résumé. There’s nothing wrong with excluding your GPA from your résumé if it only harms your chances.

If you have a GPA between 3.0–3.2, this is a judgment call. From personal experience, I have talked to some companies that require a minimum GPA of 3.2, but these were primarily financial or quantitative companies. Most software companies have little regard for your GPA. If you have anything above a 3.2, I would place it on your résumé.

If you have a low GPA, fear not, as this gives you the opportunity to be creative! My overall GPA was a 3.2 due to poor grades from my freshman engineering prerequisites and humanities classes. But once I finished and started taking courses within my major, my in-major GPA (GPA calculated from courses in my major) was a 3.44, which was significantly higher. So that’s what I put down (but make sure to qualify it as a departmental GPA).

There are many ways of going about presenting yourself in the best light possible, even when it may seem like the odds are stacked against you. I only provided one example of accomplishing this, but there are many more ways waiting to be discovered by you. Fully embrace your failures and accomplishments because they make up who are you. Be honest and truthful, and always focus on highlighting the best parts about yourself.

Recap: Your GPA does not define you. The purpose of your résumé is to present yourself in the best light. Never forget that! Be creative when going about this and DON’T LIE.

Employment (4)

Target Audience: Students with software engineering work experience

If you are a college student without any experience, don’t be afraid! This was my senior year résumé when I was applying for a full-time job. I was fortunate enough to have accumulated relevant work experience from summer internships, but this isn’t absolutely necessary to get an interview. If you find that you don’t have much to put in section, jump down to the ‘ Personal Projects ’ section.

While it is great to have past work experience, not all work experience is treated equally when it comes to looking for a job in software engineering. Focus only on including work experience that has relevance to the job that you are applying for. For instance, if you have experience working as a cashier in retail or a waiter in the food industry, don’t include it! Unfortunately, your abilities to handle money or serve food did not provide any indication that you will succeed as a software engineer.

A recruiter’s goal is to match candidates with jobs that fit the candidates’ skill sets. Therefore it is essential only to include past work experience that has some relation to the position that you are currently applying to, on your résumé.

Part of accomplishing this means creating a collection of various résumés, each tailored specifically for the different job that you are interested in. This is analogous to the college application process, where you had to write separate essays for each university that you applied to. Each college has its own values, culture, and vision, making it nearly impossible to write a generic, one-size-fits-all college essay. Therefore, tailor your résumé to the job that you are applying for.

Lastly, a note on dates. Order your experiences in descending order starting with your most recent experiences. For undergraduates, this means being mindful of including experiences that are both recent and relevant. Sadly, no one cares about whatever accomplishments you had in middle school or high school. If the experience is outdated, leave it out.

Recap: Have various versions of your résumé tailored for each job you are applying for. There is no one-size-fits-all résumé.

The hardest part about résumé writing is having descriptions that fully encapsulate your accomplishments from past work experiences in a meaningful and impressive way.

What does it mean for your descriptions to be meaningful and impressive? It means getting the recruiter to think: “This is someone that has the skill sets we are looking for. This is someone that has made a significant impact in their past jobs. This is someone we would like to interview and potentially hire.”

The primary objective of the Employment section is to show the impact and value that you had while working at an established institution. Your goal is to show recruiters that you are a candidate that can get things done and do them well.

To best showcase my accomplishments in my résumé, I adopted the following powerful formula, created by the Former SVP of People Operations at Google, Laszlo Bock:

“Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” — Laszlo Bock

You can see this very clearly in the very first bullet point of this section on my résumé.

Improved device’s battery lifespan by 8% by integrating a fuel gauge sensor and establishing a battery saving state

Let’s break it down:

Accomplished [X]- Improved device’s battery lifespan

Measured by [Y]- by 8%

By Doing [Z]- integrating a fuel gauge sensor and establishing a battery saving state

I leveraged this formula in some shape or form in almost every sentence in my résumé.

To help you along this process, below is a word bank of excellent verbs you can and should use:

Here are some examples of fill-in the blank sentences that I have come up with for you to get started:

• Reduced _____ by _____ by _____.
• Redesigned _____ for _____.
• Implemented _____ for _____ by _____.
• Improved _____ by _____ through _____.
• Utilized _____ to _____ for _____.
• Increased _____ by _____ through _____.
• Integrated _____ by _____ for _____.
• Incorporated _____ for _____ by _____.

Recap: Use the “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” formula. It’s the most effective and most apparent way of showing recruiters/managers your impact.

Lastly, I end each work experience with a leveraged knowledge bullet point. The utility behind this last bit is it enables the reader to really get a sense of the technology I am familiar with by explicitly stating the technologies that I used for the project.

This also allows me to have a concise, but clean ‘Skills’ section located at the bottom of my résumé. Recruiters can then look at the bottom to immediately obtain a sense of my capabilities by seeing which computer languages I am familiar with. If they are looking to see if I have specific knowledge in a particular tool, framework, or library, then they can find this out by looking at my projects.

Recap: Including technologies that you used in your descriptions will help you bypass online keyword filters when applying online. This will also give recruiters a clearer idea of your experiences and knowledge.

Personal Projects (5)

Target Audience: Students looking for software engineering internships/full-time positions + Unique section for software engineering applicants

Maybe if I say it enough times, you will understand the importance of this section, especially for those that do not have work experience .

Personal projects are integral to piquing recruiters and hiring managers interest as it shows you are passionate about programming.

A personal project can be anything programming related, whether it be a Python script, Java program, web page, mobile application, etc. These projects show that you are genuinely interested in computer science and you have strong desires to work as a software engineer because you are willing to go beyond your schoolwork and create something on your own.

Taking the initiative to build something on your own is extremely impressive. It shows that you are dedicated to expanding your knowledge of computer science and that you are not afraid of putting in the extra work to do so. Ultimately, it is a fantastic way to demonstrate self-initiative and genuine interest in this field.

The other benefit of doing personal projects is that you inevitably gain the skills that apply to work in the real world. Things that you don’t usually do at school, but you will do at work such as using standard frameworks/libraries, understanding full-stack web development, creating mobile applications, setting up a development environment, or programming efficiently with Vim.

Tip: Create a personal website that showcases and documents all of your personal projects. This is a little hack that ‘virtually extends’ your résumé beyond the one-page limit.

To reiterate one last time, personal projects show your passion and dedication towards developing the necessary skills needed for a job that you don’t yet have. This is a must-have on any software engineering resume.

“Build some iPhone apps, web apps, whatever! Honestly it doesn’t matter that much what you’re building as long as you’re building something. You can build a fairly meaty project in one weekend. This means that with about 3–4 weekends of work, you can make your résumé go from so-so to fantastic. Seriously — I’ve seen lots of people do this.” - Gayle McDowell, former Google Engineer and Author of Cracking the Coding Interview

If there is a specific company that you really want to work at, one of the best ways to stand out is doing a personal project that is directly related to the job that you are applying for.

I got my internship at Autodesk by taking a free online interactive computer graphics course on Udacity. The course taught me to use a JavaScript library called three.js , and it just so happened that there was a software engineering internship opening at Autodesk looking for someone with full-stack website and knowledge in three.js (aka ME).

A word of caution on this technique. This strategy is not perfect. This only really works for companies like Autodesk which do not have generalized software engineering internships like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. When starting off early in your career, it is better to generalize and figure out the different disciplines of computer science. Nonetheless, this is an excellent method worth trying if there is a specific company you want.

Recap: Personal projects are imperative. If you haven’t already, start NOW! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Target Audience: Anyone looking for a software engineering job

The title explains it all. Keep this section dumb, simple, and clean. List all the relevant skills that you want the recruiter to know you have. The more skills you have listed here that match key technical words in the qualification section of the job description, the better your chances!

This will allow you to bypass the online keyword scanner easily. However, this is not a fool-proof method of circumventing the scanner. Ultimately it is a recruiter who gets their hands on your résumé that decides, but they will also be more inclined to give you an interview if they see you as a good fit for the job!

A thing to note about the skills section is to NOT simply list all the keywords on the job description just for the sake of showing you’re a good fit. It will come back to bite you as you will be questioned on the skills you claim to know.

Part of giving yourself some leeway in this is including an indication of your proficiency level. Since you are probably not practicing every language you’ve ever encountered on a day to day basis, including a proficiency level can help the recruiter know your strongest languages at a moment in time and other languages that you are familiar with.

I’ve opted to use two tiers:

• Proficient - Languages that I am very familiar with, feel very comfortable using, and can interview with right now.
• Familiar - Languages that I have utilized in the past but may not be as knowledgeable in currently, but can pick back up given time.

Other valid options include:

• Intermediate
• Working Knowledge
• Basic Knowledge

Recap: When applying for a specific job online, cross-reference the job description and add essential technical keywords on your résumé to increase your chance of getting an interview.

Key Takeaways

• Make sure your name and contact information is correct and legible
• Be sure to include your education. If your GPA is low, leave it out or be creative!
• Utilize the “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” formula to effectively show the impact that you had in your past employment
• Do personal projects — especially if you do not have past experience working in tech

Final Thoughts

While this résumé got me interviews at numerous software engineering companies, there is no guarantee that following all the principles and techniques I have explained here will yield the same results for you.

This was my senior year résumé in 2017. It is a showcase of my journey and interest in software engineering. Copying it will do you no good, as technology is constantly evolving and the talent search is an ever-changing process. Instead, use this as a reference.

Use my résumé and this article as a resource to become a better résumé writer and a more effective communicator. Focus on learning how to best convey your skills and achievements to others. This in itself is an invaluable, lifelong skill that you will need wherever you go.

As you write your résumé, please remember — be yourself!

Your résumé is a list of your own accomplishments, achievements, and interests. Your goal is to craft the most polished version of yourself. Lastly, have fun and enjoy the process!

For anyone interested in using this resume template, I obtained it from CareerCup which was founded by Gayle Laakmann McDowell, author of Cracking The Coding Interview .

From personal experience, what’s most important is the content. The resume writing principles discussed above can be applied to any template!

Also, check out my new website, memlayout.com , which helps students learn programming through visualizing their python code line-by-line.

software engineer @tesla. consider donating to https://oeop.mit.edu/. visualize python code line-by-line with https://memlayout.com/

If this article was helpful, share it .

Learn to code for free. freeCodeCamp's open source curriculum has helped more than 40,000 people get jobs as developers. Get started

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How to Write a Killer Resume

Applying for jobs but not getting called back here's how to get on hiring managers' radar..

A resume alone will never help you get hired . It has to be relevant and compelling enough to get your foot in the door. Having reviewed thousands of resumes myself, I've found that most of them read like a cross between an obituary and a museum exhibit timeline. 

First, let's debunk a couple of resume myths. Resumes are not read, at least not at first. They are scanned, scored and sorted. Second, a good resume is not critical to getting you hired. It is only critical in landing an interview. Third, the  real purpose of a resume is to catch someone's eye. HR departments use resumes as a job-matching tool. They are trying to find a fit, and in this way they are solving a problem. 

Most executives agree that you should never start with HR, so if you write your resume to match a job, then you're writing for the wrong audience. Here, then, are four tricks to get the people with hiring power to notice you:

State what problems you'll solve.

Executives are focused on solving challenges of time , money, and risk. When reviewing a resume, they want someone who's overcome challenges in at least one of these areas, if not all three. 

Explain who you helped. 

Many resumes include companies that are not household names so add a short explanation. "Top 10 international provider of heavy construction equipment components," for example, will give your performance some context.

Say what difference you made. 

Here, I'm talking about specific measures you took to solve a problem . Did you increase work flow by 20 percent, decrease waste per manufactured part by six percent, or triple sales year over year? If so, be specific and compare your performance with that of your peers. 

Show how your experience prepared you. 

Your work history is cumulative, leading you on a path to greater opportunities. If you don't say what you are ready to do next and how, then you'll leave the conjecture to the reader, who is at best barely paying attention. 

So what does all this mean? Let's review: Write for a decision-maker using the tips outlined above, putting your experience in the context of problems that you can solve. Second, strip the job-matching language and focus on achievements instead. Finally, aim to get an interview with the resume, because, after all, it won't win you a job. 

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Resume Writing Tips

7 secrets of a killer resume from a hiring manager.

When you’re looking for a job and writing a resume to help you land that dream position, you should not just be asking “How do I write a resume?” You should be asking “How do I write a great resume?” Or, “How do I write a resume that stands out—and stands out for the right reasons?” To get an interview, and to get a job offer, you need to get the attention of a hiring manager or recruiter.

As a hiring manager, I review thousands of resumes a month. There are certain things I look for in a resume that make me pay closer attention, and encourage me to learn more about an applicant’s experience rather than just set it aside and move on to the next one. If you’re struggling with getting a callback, you should consider incorporating some of these elements when you’re writing your resume. These seven secrets of an effective resume that I share below will help you write an effective resume and get your resume to the top of the stack every time.

1. Keywords, Keywords, Keywords . Just like location, location, location in real estate, keywords and key phrases are the base for any great resume and they are how you can create a resume that will get you noticed. This is especially important for an online resume. To use keywords to create your effective resume, start by picking job-specific keywords that are relevant to your prior work experience, achievements, and career goals. When a hiring manager or recruiter does a search in their candidate database or on a job board, the keywords they search for need to be in your resume. Personality descriptors and vague soft skills are not what a recruiter or potential employer searches by. Examples of these words that you should leave out are: effective communicator, self-motivated, amiable. Better keywords to use when writing your resume are technical skills and actual position titles like: cost accountant, contract negotiation, and profit and loss management.

2. Tailor your resume to the position you are trying to pursue. On the work history section of your resume don’t list all your duties at your previous job. This is a common resume mistake—too many job seekers create a resume that tries to impress an employer by saying “look at all the responsibilities I had!” They don’t care about the ones that won’t help them. Instead, for an effective resume, list the duties from your work experience that are MOST APPLICABLE to the position you are trying to obtain. These are your actual qualifications for the position, and this is what an employer cares about. Even better is to choose accomplishments and contributions that are related and list those as well. Which brings me to my next point.

3. List accomplishments and contributions, not just duties. Employers want to see what you can do for them, what value-added service or skill set you are going to bring to the table. When I review a resume, I want to know what you actually accomplished at your last job and how that translates into what my company needs. Pick accomplishments that are specific to the job you are trying to get. To help you write a resume that specifically addresses a company’s needs, look beyond the job description to the company’s website or LinkedIn page to learn more about their culture, goals, and mission. An effective resume is as much about the company you are trying to impress as it is about you.

4. Market your knowledge, skills, and abilities. Resume writing is marketing. I always tell my clients the first one-third of their resume is the most important. If the top third of the page catches my eye, then I will take the time to read the rest. You can make your resume stand out by creating a powerful career summary at the top and then adding a core strengths section right underneath.

5. Create a powerful introductory summary statement. Your introductory statement needs to be related to the position you want to obtain, sell your best attributes, and be POWERFUL. When I read an introductory statement I’m looking for that WOW factor. I want it to grab my attention, tell me you’re the best candidate for my position, and make me want to read the rest of your resume. Don’t make it just a resume objective statement—in case I haven’t been clear enough already, you need to address what the employer wants and needs, not just what you want from them.

6. Highlight your strengths in a core knowledge section. This is a great place for keywords. Use industry-specific keywords in this section. If you put your keywords here and disperse them throughout the resume, your chances of getting through an applicant tracking system—or being first to show in a potential employer’s search on a job board—dramatically increases.

7. Create an eye-catching resume. With the tools available in even basic programs like Microsoft Word, there’s no reason for you to not have a modern resume that is visually appealing. Formatting matters, and you need to design your resume layout to be reader-friendly and attention-grabbing. Pick an easy-to-read font, and use plenty of white space. Don’t try to cram everything into a one-page resume. A two-page resume is perfectly appropriate, and expected even, especially if it is an executive resume. If hiring managers open your resume and it is a crowded, jumbled mess they are not going to spend more of their time searching through it to find the information they need. A messy resume will likely be the end of my interest in hiring you. However, if your resume format, style, and layout are attractive and easy to read I will be more inclined to read through the rest of the document and learn about your work experience, achievements, and skill set.

To see examples of how the Great Resumes Fast team of professional resume writers incorporates these resume writing tips into our work, take a look at our website’s resume sample page . Here, we have sample resumes from a variety of industries. You can also find hundreds more good resume writing tips to help you write your resume, as well as general career advice, on our blog.

The team of professional resume writers at the Great Resumes Fast resume writing service has worked with hundreds of job seekers over the years, helping them achieve their career goals with professional resumes and other career documents. If you’d like to work with a professional resume writer on your resume and cover letter, or even your LinkedIn profile, and jump-start your job search, get in touch with us today .

Are you tired of your resume being rejected by applicant tracking systems? I know how frustrating it is to submit your resume and receive no response. I hate seeing qualified people never break through the screening process. It shouldn’t be that way. That’s why I created this guide and I encourage you to download the FREE PDF so you can start seeing better resume response rates!

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About the author

Jessica hernandez, president, ceo & founder of great resumes fast.

Hi, I’m Jessica. I started this company back in 2008 after more than a decade directing hiring practices at Fortune 500 companies.

What started as a side hustle (before that was even a word!) helping friends of friends with their resumes has now grown into a company that serves hundreds of happy clients a year. But the personal touch? I’ve kept that.

You might have seen me featured as a resume expert in publications like Forbes, Fast Company, and Fortune. And in 2020, I was honored to be named as a LinkedIn Top Voice of the year!

I’m so glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to help you find your next perfect-fit position!

I just learn 7 secrets of writing a killer resume. This secrets will obviously help me to write a perfect resume. Thanks a lot dear Jessica <3

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College Tips · January 16, 2020

How To Create A Killer Resume (With No Experience)

This post is going to be the first in a three part series on professional development . I got the inspiration for this post when I was still in college! This post is all about how to create a killer resume even if you don’t have experience ! I was a Fashion Merchandising/Apparel Design major and was required to have a 12 credit hour internship course in order to graduate.

That was a very daunting thing at the time and I KNEW I needed to work on my resume in order to secure an internship I loved. My internship had to be AFTER I finished all of my fashion classes though so sadly my previous summer internship did not count (because I still had two fashion classes the following semester).

The good news? I was taking a Professional Seminar class that would teach me everything I needed to sell myself to companies! In this class I was able to learn to build my portfolio and how to best prepare myself for jobs in the industry. I hate that many people say “ no experience ” though because you can have experience from various places, you just might not know it yet!

This whole post will help you realize all of your skills and how to add them into a resume. This will help you put your best foot forward when it comes to interviewing and securing the job you want!

How To Create A Killer Resume (Even With No Experience)

Resume Header:

The first, and most important, item on your resume is your header. At the top of your resume, always have your name at the top and in BOLD . I also generally make it at least three sizes larger than the rest of your fonts. I mean you want people to remember you right? Although with a name like “Amanda Johnson” I have to do a little bit more to catch their attention.

Below your name, add your address (also optional but I suggest not to). I said this is optional because have had professionals in the industry tell me they have seen people who have been passed up for interviews because of the county/city they live in. Leaving this detail off of your resume also makes it seem more likely that you’re in the vicinity of the job OR that you’re willing to relocate.

Another option I’ve seen and heard people use is that in place of having an address, to add “Willing to Relocate.” That way they know you’re serious enough to move to their location and you are more likely to be considered! Underneath your address, be sure to add your email and phone number. If you submit your resume online, you want the recruiter to easily locate how to reach out to you for an interview!

Education Section:

A good suggestion is to list your education at the top below your header! That way employers can see where you went to school and what degree you obtained. This is how it should be for anyone who is about to graduate, or has recently graduated. Once you have moved into the workforce and established a career, it’s best to list your education at the bottom below your experience.

As a student, it’s also true that you don’t HAVE to add your GPA to your resume. However, if you’re proud of it, definitely add it on there! I would say to add anything over a 3.0 GPA because that shows you’ve achieved pretty great marks throughout your time in school. The best way to format it is to just have the word “ GPA ” and then whatever your GPA number out of a 4.0 is.

In the section of your education, make sure to add any courses/certifications your received, any internships/co-ops you had, and/or any awards/scholarships you have received during your time in school! If you were the president of a club or sorority, here is the place to put it. Also make sure to highlight certifications because they can show additional skills to potential recruiters.

Here is an example of an education section :

Experience Section:

Job/Industry Experience : You will always want to list your actual job experience first! This shows that you have interviewed before, that you can work on a schedule/budget your time, and that you wanted to gain experience in something (especially if related to your industry).

A big suggestion here is for people who currently are not college seniors is to GET AN INTERNSHIP/JOB IN YOUR INDUSTRY ! This is so so important because a lot of companies want interns who have already been interns elsewhere or at their company. I had an amazing internship the summer of 2018 in New York and even though it didn’t count for credit, I knew it would open so many more doors for me.

Sidenote : Another thing to add here is if you’re in a more creative field, make sure you have a portfolio! A lot of social media/communications/graphic design internships ask for one during the original application process. I made one on Wix that showcases the pages of my portfolio that a recruiter could click through. A fun and modern twist is to add a QR code that links to it on your resume !

Experience that might not seem like it is actual experience :

• Volunteer Experiences
• Clubs/Extracurricular Activities
• Positions you hold/held for your sorority/fraternity
• Certifications/Courses you completed through school

These are all various examples of “ experience ” that might not have immediately come to mind! These are great alternatives to actual jobs/industry experience and can show employers that even if you have not worked before you still spend your time trying to improve yourself, your skills, and/or the world around you.

If you have actual jobs, it’s a good idea to actually add those first; however, if these above are all that you have definitely list them in order from most recent to least recent and only add the ones relevant to the position you’re applying to!

Just because the job title isn’t related to the industry you’re applying to, if the EXPERIENCE and the SKILLS you have gained from this position are relevant list them! For example, I was a Leasing Agent at my apartment complex and I am definitely not applying to jobs in this industry; however, I did a LOT of communicating with residents and a TON of Marketing on campus/social media.

Resume Skills:

So there are two kinds of skills: Hard and Soft ! Both are very important when applying to jobs. What I have learned and also what I’ve been taught in my classes is that you should list HARD skills in their own section and SOFT skills in the descriptions of your jobs/experiences. It’s a good idea to add all of this onto your LinkedIn profile too! To find out more about utilizing LinkedIn, check out my post on How to Get the Most Out of LinkedIn ( here ).

Hard Skills :

• Market research
• Social media strategy
• SEO and/or Google Analytics
• Web content development
• Proficiency in a foreign language
• Microsoft Word/Excel/Powerpoint
• Adobe Creative Cloud/Illustrator/Photoshop

Soft Skills :

• Communication
• Customer Service
• Time Management

I hope this post helps you write a killer resume even if you previously thought you had no experience! Resume’s are the most important part of applying to a job/internship because it’s the first thing a recruiter sees! Making sure that they are correct and have the proper grammar can set you apart from the rest of the workforce.

I do have other professional development posts that you can read! There is one about How to Ace Your Interview and Get the Job which you can read ( here ). If you DO get the interview I also have a post on Where to Shop for Affordable Work Wear too that you can read ( here )!

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to subscribe below! I send out a weekly newsletter every Tuesday with fashion tips, lifestyle hacks, post recaps, and so much more. It’s also where you’ll get exclusive content not featured on my blog or in my social channels. If this sounds interesting to you, sign up below!

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A Guide on creating a "killer" resume

Edit: updated 2 more sites to create a resume: creddle.io and resumake.io

A resume seems like a huge deal if you are hunting for “official” jobs . You know, jobs where you are legally an employee. Jobs where you get employment benefits, health insurance for your family, and perks that make you feel like the company has literally adopted you.

cover: https://imgur.com/xr7YiLd

Having an online job seems to be a pretty chill solution for people with skills. You work as a remote worker for a company, get employment benefits, and you don’t need to constantly scour the internet’s deepest valleys in search of work. Sounds like a win-win.

In fact, companies are hiring more and more remote workers since the pandemic, as a lot of them have realized that you can get the same quality of work done for a lot cheaper. 

It all begins with a resume . Almost all companies/corporations require that you submit your resume first. Even some crowd-working sites (such as Appen , Lionbridge ) require you to submit a resume before you can begin working with them.

what is a resume and why do i need one?

A resume is just a document that contains your educational credentials and a list of your skills/experience .

This ensures that you are the right fit for the job, and they can reject you outright if you are not. This is why your resume needs to stand out among the rest .

what to add in your resume?

People like to put a lot of fluff in their resumes, adding complex keywords and unnecessary hobbies.

But let’s be practical for a minute. No one is out to judge you by a piece of paper . In most scenarios, your resume is just a collection of talking points for the interviewer.

To begin with, you need a designation that you are applying for, that will be the title of your job. For example, “ Digital Marketing Specialist ”, or “ SEO Writer ”, or maybe “ Salesforce Developer ”.

Once that is clear, you basically need to add your contact information, educational qualifications, and your work experience . It is recommended to only add Work Ex that’s relevant to the job you are applying for. 

I mean, how will your work experience as a Delivery executive help you in your coding job? If you don’t have any prior work experience, you can still include projects you did on your own. For example, you can write about growing your Facebook page or Youtube channel if you are applying for a Social Media Marketing position.

how to make your resume stand out (hello visual resume)

Even today, most of the CVs are all black and white . They all follow the same black & white, text-heavy layout, and look very bland and uninteresting. So enters Visual Resume.

Visual Resumes are colorful, minimalistic and use visual cues to communicate (such as star rating in front of your skills). They are instantly recognizable in a stack of black & white papers. 

There are 2 awesome free resources to create a visual resume ( no watermarks or gimmicks ).

Canva Visual Resume Templates

Canva has a tonne of resume templates on its website. You simply need to go to their resume designs page , select any template you find appealing, and click on “ Customize this template ”.

https://imgur.com/Ioq64HF

You will then be taken to the editor where you can edit your resume . If you are familiar with Canva or any image editing software, it will be easy-peasy for you. Even if you are new to this, you just need to edit the text and rearrange some elements .

Start with adding your image (just drag and drop), changing your name and contact info.

https://imgur.com/EyoswpA

Then edit the template according to your requirements. You can add or remove sections as you see fit .

When you are satisfied with your resume, click on the download button and download it as a PDF . There will be no watermark and it will be completely free .

If you get an error asking you to pay, your design is using some kind of premium icon or element. Simply delete that element (usually icons) and replace it with any free icon available on the “Elements” tab on the left menu bar.

Your design will be saved to your account. So whenever you need to make changes to your resume, simply re-open the design, make your edits, and download it again as a PDF.

FlowCV.io: Free & Simple Resume Builder and Editor

https://flowcv.io/start-resume

https://imgur.com/7RDVzDC

FlowCV is one of the few websites that offer you an amazing service/tool completely for free . They have a step-by-step resume builder where you can fill in the fields that are relevant to you, and it will generate a visual resume for you.

https://imgur.com/yik5SWP

You can then customize its design according to your needs , or choose from their templates and edit them accordingly (similar to Canva). They have a lot of options to customize your resume’s design and offer full compatibility with ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). More on ATS below.

https://imgur.com/8VMAhCO

There are 2 more such options available to you, free as well:

resumake.io

how to check if your resume is machine-readable (ats readability)

After you have created a shiny new visual resume, the next step is to make sure it is readable by ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems/Softwares) . Since there are lots of job applicants for any open position, employers use ATS to filter out these submissions (based on several keywords, experience, etc).

You need to make sure your resume gets past the robots, and therefore we need to make our resume ATS-friendly . This basically means that the robots can understand and decipher your resume’s attributes such as Name, Contact Info, Education, Experience, Keywords, etc.

Checking Your Resume’s machine-readability through LinkedIn

There are lots of free resume scanners that you can find with a Google Search. But LinkedIn has gone a step further. 

Go to your LinkedIn profile (click on your profile pic).

Click on the “ More ” button, and select “ Build a resume ”.

Now select “ Upload Resume ” and upload your resume file (preferably PDF).

Click on the “ Review Formatting ” button on the bottom right.

A 5-step window will tell you what the ATS is able to read and what is missing. 

https://imgur.com/6U1ggUU

If there is anything important that the ATS is unable to decipher, make sure to edit it accordingly.

https://imgur.com/s79SGw4

Make sure that your name, contact info, and some job-specific keywords are readable by the ATS. Otherwise, you might get screened out from several bots.

LinkedIn offers a slew of other tools that can help you craft your resume perfectly. It allows you to download your LinkedIn Profile as a resume, build a resume from scratch, and scan its ATS readability.

How to Download Resume from LinkedIn

 If you already have a thoroughly filled profile, you can directly download your resume from LinkedIn . 

Go to your Linkedin profile (click on your profile pic)

Click on the “ More ” button, and select the “ Save as PDF ” option.

How to Build a Resume from Scratch

LinkedIn can help you with a lot of keywords in your resume. Plus it builds an ATS-friendly resume for you.

https://imgur.com/mmI2wAL

Go to your Linkedin profile.

Select “ Create from profile ”.

Follow the steps and create your resume according to your needs.

bonus: how to create a cover letter

Apart from a resume, some companies ask that you submit a cover letter to them as well.

Think of a cover letter as a personal note to the specific company regarding how you would love to work with them, and how your skills and experience can help them.

It is kind of a tedious job to create a different cover letter for each job that you apply for, so here is what I would advise: 

Create a short and simple cover letter. The first one or two lines should be easily customizable , while the next paragraph should be a generic statement regarding your skills and experience.

So every time you need to add a cover letter, simply edit the first one or two-line to change with the Company name and designation, while the rest of the content can remain the same.

Here is a sample cover letter for you:

I am writing to apply for the social media manager position in the Boring Social Media Agency. As requested, I have attached my resume and portfolio website link with this email.

The role is very appealing to me, and I believe that my strong technical experience and education make me a highly competitive candidate for this position. My key strengths in this position include:

I have worked for several B2B clients and delivered marginally positive results for my campaigns .

I have great communication skills and consider myself to be a team player.

I am a quick learner and keep myself up to date with various up and coming marketing strategies.

With a bachelor’s degree in Computer Programming and a specialization course in Cloud Computing, I also have experience in learning and applying new technologies as appropriate. Please see my resume for additional information on my experience.

I can be reached anytime via email at [email protected] or by cell phone, 333-999-1111.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity.

See what I did there? Only the highlighted text is what I need to change every time , the rest is just generic mumbo-jumbo. Since a lot of companies request a cover letter just in text format, or as an email, it’s best to save the copy on a notepad file or similar. 

Just edit the file on the fly and paste your cover letter. You can search for more examples on Google .

A few times, employers requested my cover letter in PDF format . In such a case, Canva has got you covered as well.

Simply go to their cover letter templates page, choose a template and paste your text there. Since your design is saved, you can edit it on the fly as well.

This was all about creating a resume and cover letter. Make sure you have them ready to go as soon I will be writing about how to apply for various skill-based jobs in your field.

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LIM College

The lim college blog, graduate students, how to build a killer resume.

posted Oct 2, 2015 by LIM College

by Caroline Franco

We all know way too well the stress that goes into building a resume. It's a haunting and daunting activity we all dread doing. (Well, at least I dread it.) From the right font, to the right adjectives, spacing, and even header, how can we get it right?

Elle Woods, from Legally Blonde , knew exactly how to build a killer resume and you can too! Aside from having it pink and scented, (Honestly, I tried the scented trick and it didn't work...Just ended up with a stained and soggy resume.), you too can, walk up to any person and be as confident as Elle was when she handed Professor Callahan her resume.

For starters, realize that you won't get it right the first time or the second, but that's okay because practice makes it perfect. Trying to build a resume is extremely time consuming and entails a very significant amount of dedication. When I first began my resume, I must say I thought I was doing pretty well until a second pair of eyes looked at it and showed me that it was just a bunch of nonsense.

Resumes aren't really about how much experience you have, I mean it is , but the content of it is more valuable than a bunch of random positions listed, which doesn't match the position you're searching for. For example: Listing that I was a lifeguard for four years on my resume won't help me find my dream job in a fashion magazine— But hey, at least they'll know I'm certified in CPR . Bonus! Not really. List jobs and experiences that you've had in the past that put you in the spotlight as the perfect candidate.

Lucky for us LIM'ers we can have a professional extra pair of eyes to help build the best resume you'll ever have. If you ever need someone to take a look at your resume to see what needs to be changed, every Monday and Tuesday there are “Express Appointments” for graduate and alumni students who need a resume boost. This only takes about ten minutes and it will sure help you in the long run. 

The dates and times are listed below and don't be afraid of reaching out to an advisor: [email protected] . They're here to guide you in the right direction.

Dates: Monday's and Tuesday's from now through December 4 th

Time: 3 pm – 5 pm

Location: Maxwell Hall, 8 th Floor

Next stop, your dream job!

Topics: fashion careers , fashion internships , Student Advice