A resume is one of the first documents that hiring managers will look at before deciding if you are suitable for a position. It’s the first impression that you will get to imprint on your future employers before even meeting them. As such, it can be quite daunting trying to figure out what goes in it. In fact, some people end up hiring resume writers to do it for them.
But if you want to try doing it yourself, we’ve got some useful pointers. Let’s talk about what you should include in a resume.
1. Professional Header in Your Resume
A professional header is the first thing that a person sees on your resume as it is usually placed at the top. This section starts with your name and professional title, giving others an idea of your job experience and capabilities. It’s the first impression before delving deeper.
2. Professional Summary
Right after your header, is a short summary of what your resume showcases. It is a short description of the professional experience, skills and qualifications that you want to highlight. Usually, you should tailor this to the job that you’re applying for as it increases the chance of your resume getting singled out for an interview.
A professional summary makes it easier for hiring managers to get a quick scan of what you have to offer. It saves their time and yours.
3. Contact Information
A resume without any contact information is as good as a blank sheet of paper. You should provide concise contact information, like your phone number and email in order to get contacted. Furthermore, make sure your email sounds professional, not the one you made when you were 12.
Home addresses and where you live are unnecessary. If anything, you can provide the state of where you’re based and that should be enough.
4. Education
There’s always a minimum education requirement when applying for a job, so be sure to double-check before sending in your resume. When listing out your educational experiences, do it in reverse chronological order with the most recent one at the top. Include the name of the school, the year you graduated, your CGPA (only if it is above 3.4), your minor and any relevant academic recognition.
Additionally, you don’t have to include your high school experiences if you’ve already gotten higher qualifications like a bachelor’s degree or master's. It just takes up valuable space which you will need to highlight your skills and experience.
5. Skills
There are people who decide to forgo this section completely since their work experience and education usually speak for themselves. However, it is a fun inclusion to list down your soft and hard skills in a small section as a way to highlight them. This way, it does not get missed out in the process.
As you go through job requirements and descriptions, try to list down what others are looking for in your skills section as well. You could include the software and tools you’ve worked with, along with soft skills like leadership and creativity.
6. Work Experience
We’ve come to the bulk of your resume, and a lot of people tend to go crazy here and put every single work experience they’ve ever had, which is a big no. Similar to your education section, you should list out your work experience chronologically with your most recent experience at the top. Include your job title, employment period, company name and location.
Moreover, you should only include any relevant working experience. You can risk leaving out your summer jobs in high school from the section if you have a better working experience. Additionally, you can just put in the working experience that relates to the job you’re applying for. If you don’t want to scratch your head thinking about it, hire a writing service to do it for you!
7. Certifications
Certain industries will require certain certifications for you to move forward or even have a chance at applying for a position, so it's great to highlight them. This usually applies to those seeking employment in engineering, food service, education and construction. It’s not mandatory if your field doesn’t require any, but it sure is pretty to have.
If you have certifications, be sure to include the year you acquired them as well as the institution’s name. Makes it easier for your future employers to run a background check if needed.
8. Additional Achievements
This section is not necessary, but it would look nice. It gives an added boost to who you are as a person and your worth as a potential employee. Additional achievements could include any community awards, club memberships or professional associations that you’re tied to. You can add in your volunteer work or the impressive achievements from your hobbies.
If you don't have time to craft a perfect resume of your own, talk to us at wewriteforu.com and we'll get it done in no time! We're here to help you get the job of your dreams after all.
