RESUME WRITING TIPS:
Of a truth, writing a resume is a daunting task. However, if you want to write it on your own, we salute your effort and are here to guide you through the process.
First thing you need to know, a resume isn't a log of your job history, or a summary of skills and neither is it going to automatically get you a job.
Think of it this way: it's an advertisement and you are the product. Your goal is to get hiring managers to buy into what you're selling, in this case giving you an interview.
In order to achieve this, you need to see it as your marketing tool. Without it, you're powerless.
Therefore, to stand out from the ever increasing crowd, it's important that you market your skills in a way that demonstrates that you can successfully perform the duties of the job.
So, to help you do this, we've packaged easy-to-follow steps on how to write a resume. But before that, it should be noted that there's no certified way to write one.
That being said, below are some tips and guidelines to help you write one that best presents your career goals.
STEP 1: CHOOSE FROM 3 FORMATS
There are 3 choices to pick from; reverse- chronological, functional and combination. Each having its merits and demerits.
• Reverse-chronological: This is more a traditional format
You should use if;
> You want to show a vertical career.
> You want to apply to a job in a similar field.
On the other hand, you shouldn't if;
> You change jobs frequently
> You're changing your career path.
• Functional: This centers on your abilities and skills. It emphasizes the applicant's qualifications and therefore is preferable for those with an expert level of experience.
• Combination: Yes, this format merges bits and pieces from both formats mentioned above. It's generally reserved for those with a great deal of experience in a particular field.
STEP 2: THE ORDER OF INFORMATION:
Wait! It's important you remember that the information you include will largely depend on the format you choose.
Below is a guide to what information you should add and the order in which you should add it.
# Contact information: You should follow this order:
> Name
>Mailing address
>Telephone number
> E- mail address( ensure it's appropriate, don't use bootylicious_diva99@gmail.com account)
> Link to online portfolio( optional)
# choose a resume introduction: There are also 3 choices for resume introduction;
1) Qualification summary: It's a bullet point list( ranging from 4-6 points) of your most outstanding career achievements.
2) Career objective: It's a 2-3 sentence statement that provides a summary of your skills. It's best for entry level candidates
3) Professional profile: it's the merging of both career objectives and qualifications summary.
# Professional experience: This section is the nucleus of your resume, where you are faced with proving the skills you have listed.
Don't forget to list your work experience in reverse chronological order and only itemize experience that's relevant to the job you are applying for.
# Education: A solid education section helps to display the foundation of your knowledge and expertise.
Here are the main points to include in your education section:
√ Names of your community college or technical school.
√ Location of the school
√ Date of graduation
√ Degree(s).
# Additional sections: As at this point, you've already added the nuts and bolts to your resume.
However, below are a few sections you may want to consider adding to help strengthen it.
° Certification
° Awards/honours
° publication( if you have any)
STEP 3: HOW TO STYLE YOUR RESUME:
Now, the difficult part is over. You're feeling confident about getting that interview. To add some finishing touches, you can as well give it some class.
¶ Fonts and sizing Dos and Don'ts:
You can't be sure what the hiring personnel prefers so you have to go with your gut.
However, there are Dos and Don'ts;
Dos
- Choose easy-to-read fonts
- use the same fonts all through
Don'ts
- Don't choose small sizes to fit everything on one page.
- Don't have one uniform text size throughout
¶ Margins: Margins are the first thing a potential employer will notice about your resume, so it's important that they're appropriately set.
Finally! You made it. Hopefully by now, you're on the right course to writing an outstanding resume.
Of a truth, writing a resume is a daunting task. However, if you want to write it on your own, we salute your effort and are here to guide you through the process.
First thing you need to know, a resume isn't a log of your job history, or a summary of skills and neither is it going to automatically get you a job.
Think of it this way: it's an advertisement and you are the product. Your goal is to get hiring managers to buy into what you're selling, in this case giving you an interview.
In order to achieve this, you need to see it as your marketing tool. Without it, you're powerless.
Therefore, to stand out from the ever increasing crowd, it's important that you market your skills in a way that demonstrates that you can successfully perform the duties of the job.
So, to help you do this, we've packaged easy-to-follow steps on how to write a resume. But before that, it should be noted that there's no certified way to write one.
That being said, below are some tips and guidelines to help you write one that best presents your career goals.
STEP 1: CHOOSE FROM 3 FORMATS
There are 3 choices to pick from; reverse- chronological, functional and combination. Each having its merits and demerits.
• Reverse-chronological: This is more a traditional format
You should use if;
> You want to show a vertical career.
> You want to apply to a job in a similar field.
On the other hand, you shouldn't if;
> You change jobs frequently
> You're changing your career path.
• Functional: This centers on your abilities and skills. It emphasizes the applicant's qualifications and therefore is preferable for those with an expert level of experience.
• Combination: Yes, this format merges bits and pieces from both formats mentioned above. It's generally reserved for those with a great deal of experience in a particular field.
STEP 2: THE ORDER OF INFORMATION:
Wait! It's important you remember that the information you include will largely depend on the format you choose.
Below is a guide to what information you should add and the order in which you should add it.
# Contact information: You should follow this order:
> Name
>Mailing address
>Telephone number
> E- mail address( ensure it's appropriate, don't use bootylicious_diva99@gmail.com account)
> Link to online portfolio( optional)
# choose a resume introduction: There are also 3 choices for resume introduction;
1) Qualification summary: It's a bullet point list( ranging from 4-6 points) of your most outstanding career achievements.
2) Career objective: It's a 2-3 sentence statement that provides a summary of your skills. It's best for entry level candidates
3) Professional profile: it's the merging of both career objectives and qualifications summary.
# Professional experience: This section is the nucleus of your resume, where you are faced with proving the skills you have listed.
Don't forget to list your work experience in reverse chronological order and only itemize experience that's relevant to the job you are applying for.
# Education: A solid education section helps to display the foundation of your knowledge and expertise.
Here are the main points to include in your education section:
√ Names of your community college or technical school.
√ Location of the school
√ Date of graduation
√ Degree(s).
# Additional sections: As at this point, you've already added the nuts and bolts to your resume.
However, below are a few sections you may want to consider adding to help strengthen it.
° Certification
° Awards/honours
° publication( if you have any)
STEP 3: HOW TO STYLE YOUR RESUME:
Now, the difficult part is over. You're feeling confident about getting that interview. To add some finishing touches, you can as well give it some class.
¶ Fonts and sizing Dos and Don'ts:
You can't be sure what the hiring personnel prefers so you have to go with your gut.
However, there are Dos and Don'ts;
Dos
- Choose easy-to-read fonts
- use the same fonts all through
Don'ts
- Don't choose small sizes to fit everything on one page.
- Don't have one uniform text size throughout
¶ Margins: Margins are the first thing a potential employer will notice about your resume, so it's important that they're appropriately set.
Finally! You made it. Hopefully by now, you're on the right course to writing an outstanding resume.
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