For many people, writing a resume can be a frustrating and seemingly endless task. After all, it can seem like there are so many different ways to describe your skills and experiences, how do you decide which ones to include? And how can you make sure that you don’t leave anything out? While writing your resume will take some time and patience, with these six tips of Binyameen (thebinyameen), you’ll be able to write an effective resume that will help you get the job done faster than ever before.
1) Write Effective Title
The most important part of your resume isn’t your name or contact information. It’s your title. Make sure it is tailored to each job application and accurately describes your expertise and experience. If you don’t have a lot of relevant experience, go ahead and make up a title that describes what you are looking to do or learn (e.g., Marketing Assistant). Keep in mind: Avoid using career-specific titles like assistant project manager if you don’t have much experience in that field, as it can raise red flags with employers. Use numbers: Employers love seeing numbers on resumes because they make you look organized and detail-oriented.
2) Summary Statement
Today’s job market is competitive, and although there are plenty of resources to help you in your career search, crafting a resume is still something that most people do on their own. While it’s not difficult to put together a basic resume, it can be challenging to create one that stands out and gets you noticed by hiring managers.
A good resume doesn’t just list your past work experiences; it also shows potential employers what skills you have and how those transferable skills could benefit their company. If you want to maximize your chances of landing a job with an effective resume, consider these tips from Canada’s leading career expert and coaching platform Career365.ca.
3) Work Experience
If you are a recent graduate, don’t list every single job you’ve ever had on your resume. If you’re just starting in your career, try limiting yourself to 2-3 jobs that highlight your most relevant experience. Also, make sure that each of these jobs shows a progression of skill and responsibility – you don’t want to list them in reverse chronological order either. Once you get some experience under your belt and have established accomplishments, then it will be time to talk about all of those other gigs on your resume.
4) Accomplishments
Education is a big deal when you’re writing a resume. Did you get your degree from one of Canada’s most prestigious schools? Are you a high school graduate looking to jump-start your career? Make sure it shows. If education doesn’t apply to your profession, feel free to exclude it; employers will understand that you have other skills that outweigh your educational background.
For those that do go back to school to advance their careers, make sure they know about it! Employers love seeing how driven and motivated potential employees are and if you can show them that you went out of your way for further education, they’ll see just how hardworking and dedicated you are.
5) Education
The best place to start any resume is with your education. If you have a post-secondary degree, list your major as well as your GPA. If you don’t have a degree, it’s okay to leave out high school or college and simply write N/A on your resume in that section. A focus on grades isn’t necessary because recruiters understand that circumstances are different for everyone. They just want to see if you have enough experience in certain areas of study so they can determine if you are qualified enough to move forward with an interview process.
6) Skills
No matter where you’re applying, you should include your top three to five relevant skills on your resume. For example, if you’re applying to a bank, mention that you have experience balancing spreadsheets and accurately analyzing data. If you’re applying to a publishing company, explain that you’ve studied journalism and possess excellent communication skills.
Career experts recommend listing only those that are directly related to positions in which you’re interested. Don’t worry if it feels like some of your skills aren’t worth mentioning—there’s no obligation to list anything on your resume (except education). Most resumes are between 1-2 pages long so it’s more important not to pad than omit.
Conclusion
A good resume is often a key to landing interviews and finding a job. It’s important to remember that your resume isn’t a one-size-fits-all document. Whether you are in college, switching careers, or looking for jobs in multiple fields, keep these tips in mind when you’re writing your next resume. And if you still need help, feel free to reach out to a career coach or service like Measured Career365. They can help make sure you have everything in place before hitting send.