How To Write A Resume

Writing a resume is sometimes thought of as a difficult task. With so many sections and information to include, one might think that landing a job is only for the lucky. In this post, we share and prove that creating a resume and getting hired is not a one-in-a-million type of thing.

Keep on reading to learn how to write a resume in easy and effective steps, as well as some excellent resume writing tips you must have in mind.

Decide Which Resume Format You’ll Be Using

There are many different resume templates you can find online, which will display your information differently in terms of how they visually appear.

Depending on the job listing you're interested in, you might be drawn to choose a more classic or a more creative template. For example, if you’re applying for a creative design position, you can have more flexibility with your resume format and add a few colors or shapes. Rather for an accounting position, perhaps choosing a minimalistic template will be best.

To effectively make this decision, take a look at the company’s profile to get an idea of the style, colors, and resources they use to communicate their ideas. Some accounting firms are focused on creative small businesses, so using a fun template will benefit you, and some creative design positions only look for minimalistic templates.

If you explored the company’s profile and social media accounts and can’t decipher their style, or you’re not sure whether to take the risk, you can always go for a classic template with three or four neutral colors.

Within this last selection, you can still give your template a twist and select specific colors that are not purely black or white. Find a color palette generator online and play around with the combination until you’ve found the perfect set of colors for your template.

Add Quality Sections

After selecting your template, it is time to decide what to include in your resume to highlight your abilities, schooling, and more.

There are default sections that you’re recommended to include, such as your most recent education, work experience, skills, personal statement, awards, and certifications. If you don’t have work experience yet or don’t have any awards and certifications, don’t worry, you can still write an outstanding resume.

Focus on how you write your information rather than how much information you can include. After all, resumes are all about quality rather than quantity. Write short but cohesive sentences that are relevant to the job listing you’re applying to.

Here’s how to easily write a resume with some resume writing tips that will come in handy:

• Title. Your full name in capital letters or a bold font that can be easily distinguished from the rest of the document. Make sure your name is bigger in size than your sentences.

• Contact information. Below your name, include your contact information in another font or without the bold feature. Also, decrease the size to match the rest of your sentences. Include your professional email address, city, state, postal code, and the area you’re located. You don’t need to write your house address if you don’t want.

• Personal statement. Here’s where you’ll write a brief paragraph /4-5 sentences) telling who you are, the skills or abilities you have, and basically, anything that will show that you’re a qualified candidate.

  Something like this: Skilled assistant with over 5 years of experience looking for new challenges and opportunities to broaden knowledge in the technology industry.

• Previous work experience. Write the most relevant work experience you have, from the most recent to the oldest (if they’re related to the job position you’re applying to).

  Include the job position as the title, followed by the name and location of the company, years you worked in that position, and two or three tasks you had to do or accomplishments you helped obtain.

  If you don’t have work experience, simply omit this section.

• Skills/abilities. Include your soft and hard skills. These are natural traits you have (being a good listener, rapid learner, teamwork-oriented person), and things you learned on a previous job or experience (programming language, using specific software, sales techniques).

• Education. If you went to college or are currently in college, add it. Include the degree you’re studying for, the name of the university, when you began studying, and when you graduated (if you haven’t graduated yet, simply add when you began studying followed by “- present”).

  For those who did not go to college, add the name of your high school and if you obtained any award or certification.

Feel free to add more sections to showcase your knowledge and expertise only if you have room in your resume. Remember that it should be a simple one-page document.

Tips For Writing The Best Resume

This wouldn’t be a great post if we didn’t include some tips for writing an outstanding resume. Check out the following resume tips for nailing your application process every time.