A Resume (CV, Live-Career Profile) is the Holy Grail of getting your next job. It should be THE only document you need to have to get a job.
For professionals in many industries, whether you are fresh out of college or just taking a career change, resume writing is an essential part of networking and job searching. Resumes are an opportunity for you to market yourself to prospective employers, so it's vital that you take the time to prepare a resume that best represents your relevant experience and skills.
However, most resumes get passed on to the trash bin or straight into the trash. Here are 10 tips to ensure that your resume success
Keywords
When preparing your resume, always pay attention to the job description for specific keywords to tailor your resume to the position. Job descriptions for the same type of job often use different wording from one posting to another.
Fonts
You want your resume to be impressive but not too flashy. You also want to make sure you choose a clean font and is very easy to read. Choose a professional, clean font. For example, Helvetica, Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, and Garamond are great choices.
Order
For most jobs, the reverse chronological resume (most recent job first) is going to be your best bet. Not only does it offer up relevant details right off the bat, but it stands out from other applicants' resumes because it emphasizes recent experience first.
Length
The trick to writing a concise resume is to eliminate any qualifications or experiences not relevant to the job you're applying for. You'll need only one or two pages to communicate your relevant skills and background. For an entry-level position, a one-page resume is usually the perfect length.
Skill list
A skills section is one of the first things employers usually look at, and they want to see that you have specific skills related to the positions they are screening for.
You may choose to list your skills in the summary section or at the bottom of your resume. Include basic and advanced skills (such as Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
Save your resume as a PDF. Unlike a word document that might look weird if it's opened on the wrong computer, PDFs will always appear the same no matter what computer or device they might be using.
Contact Details
Make sure your personal information and your contact details up to date. Your cellphone number, personal email, and in some cases, online portfolios are the best and only way a company can contact you.
File Name
We recommend that you name your resume file either your full name or a keyword that makes sense for the position that you're applying for, such as "[Firstname] [Lastname] Resume" (for example, "John Doe Resume").
Experience first
Experience comes first. Have you had any job that would show that you know how the company system works? If so, include it in your resume. Include what you did and why you did it ... even if it was an internship at a grocery store, toss that on there. However, if you haven't had any professional experience, then skip it and move straight to your education.
Proofread
Good spelling is essential in your resume. When it comes to job opportunities, every second count, and recruiters do not have time to decipher words that should be spelled correctly.