There are many who claim to know exactly what goes into a professional resume. Although all of them have a right to their opinion and different experts may have differing opinions on the build of a perfect resume, there are still certain things that are fundamental for professional resume examples.
In this article we will quickly go through the most basic ingredients of a resume to match the bar that professionals’ resume examples set. We will be going through how to research for content, specific skills for a resume, resume formatting etc. So buckle up, this is going to be a short but fast ride.
- Go through Job Listings
First things first, before you apply to a job you need to find a job worth applying for. Go through job listings online, in newspapers and in wanted ads and see which ones interest you and you can see yourself doing. Put these aside and let’s get to keyword research.
- Research keywords
Pick a job that you like and peruse through the job description. Here, you will find the keywords that you’re looking for. Keywords are those words that the HR Manager expects to see on your resume and make your resume eligible for consideration. In this instance, keywords are the specified work hostries and skills for a resume that will be eligible for consideration.
If you have content related to these keywords in your resume be sure to give that priority.
- Go through Professional Resume Examples
Professional resume examples are resume samples taken from actual people who have experience in a certain field. Professional resume examples can be found in numerous sources. For example, online or contacting professionals and asking them to have a look at their resumes.
Go through the professional resume examples of the desired job-related field. This should give you an idea of what your resume should look like. Pay attention to formatting, fonts, section heading, and resume templates. Now you
This goes without saying but the suggestion here is to take inspiration from the professional resume example. Do not copy the whole thing and just put your name on it. It never worked in school, it won’t work now.
- Resume Formatting and Template according to ATS
Picking resume formatting and templates similar to professional resume examples is great. Yet, the rule of thumb when picking out your format and template, is to “keep it simple”. You can pick a resume template that is dynamic but do not use one that is too ornate as ATS might dismiss them. In the same vein keep your formatting traditional, label your headings properly and use a popular yet simple font. This makes it easier for ATS to read your resume.
- Determine Work History
You may have accumulated a bunch of experience throughout your career but your resume should only contain work experience that is relative to the desired job. Add work histories are closely related to the job description, using keyword research. Additionally, give it a priority when listing your work history.
Also, don’t just use words like “Maintained” or “Experienced”. Although there’s nothing wrong with that, instead use action words like “Developed” or “Orchestrated” for a better impression.
- Pick out key Skills for a resume
Along the same line as your work history, you have the skills for a resume that is eligible for consideration via keyword research. Now, put the related skills down in your skills section and give priority to those that are mentioned in the job listing.
You can also take the skills for a resume that is desired and mention instances where the skills were used to achieve something remarkable, along with the skills.
- List your Education
If you have a work history that goes at least a couple of years then the education section of your resume should just be;
[Degree of education] in [Field of Education], [Name of University], [Graduating year].
However, if you’re a newcomer to the professional field emphasize your GPA, relevant coursework and related extracurriculars or skills you may have obtained during the course of your resume.
- Attach Cover Letter
Cover letters are a chance for candidates to personally talk to the Hiring Manager, and highlight their major achievements, awards and honors. It’s also a great opportunity to sell your expertise and personality and show how you would be the perfect fit for the job and how you can bring value to the company.
- Proofread
The only thing remaining is proofreading. Go over your resume and see if it reads properly, that is if it makes sense. Most writing programs offer a spell and grammatical checker, use that to fix any mistakes you may have made.
Lastly, before sending in your resume ask friends or family to impartially review your resume and give critique. Furthermore, take their critique into consideration and make adjustments how you see fit.
And there you have it, the simplest and quickest way to create a resume, that rivals that of the most professional resume examples.
