Knowing how to write a resume is a necessary skill in the workplace when it comes to getting hired. With this step-by-step guide, you can learn what information goes where and why on your resume. We’ll start with the basics, and then we’ll move on. Let’s begin!
When creating your resume, keep in mind the type of job you want and what kind of experience you have. The person reading your resume will take a quick look at it to make sure you are qualified for the job, so there can be a difference between a resume used for an internship and a resume used for a full-time position.
Once you know what type of job and experience you have, we can look into the different sections on a resume:
Personal information – this is where you will put your address, phone number, and email. These are needed for companies to contact you. Either use an active email or create one especially for applying for jobs not to get spammed.
Objective – this is where you write down the job you want to apply for or discuss why you’re interested in working for XYZ company. If there is no specific job in mind, write something general like “To find a career where I…”
Example: To find a career where I can gain professional development skills and contribute my optimistic personality
Education – you can put your school name and year of graduation plus the degree you have attained. You can also place an educational summary or quick bio if it’s impressive enough.
Work and experience – this is where you write down your work history in chronological order with the most recent job at the top of the page. Make sure to include company name, position held, location, start/end date, and responsibilities. You can also add skills acquired during the job if you can back them up with specific examples.
Awards – you can list awards attained through participation in any contests or challenges.
Activities – extracurricular activities and volunteer work are good choices for this section. Just make sure to choose things you put a lot of time and effort into and involve specific skills that apply to your work history.
Skills – the most crucial skill in this section is computer proficiency, but if you have any unique talents (such as stenography or knowing more than one language), this would be an excellent place to list them.
References – choose at least two references that can vouch for your work experience, and be sure to include their contact information. Be careful when selecting people as references because if they aren’t able or willing to give you a reference, it will look bad on you.
Before writing a resume
- Think about what your resume should look like. You can refer to resources that provide resume builders and templates.
- Back up your responsibilities with specific examples.
- Place them in order of importance, so the most important skills are listed first.
- Include only relevant information, i.e., no need to mention that you can cross-stitch if you’re applying for an accountant position at a bank.
- Stay away from cliches like “strong work ethic” and “team player.”
- When describing your accomplishments, use action verbs.
After writing a resume
- Proofread the resume several times for spelling and grammatical errors.
- Check that all contact information is correct.
- Ask others to look at the resume – they may catch something you don’t see because it’s too familiar.
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Once you have a resume that you’re happy with, It’s time to start job searching. If you land an interview, please follow up with an email to thank recruiters and hiring managers for their time. Always personalize your messages and avoid sending generic emails!