How To Create A Resume
A resume is a document and professional roadmap used and created by an individual to present his or her background, skills, and accomplishments. Primarily, this is used in a professional setting to share with employers to see if a candidate is capable to fill the role they are applying for. Below is a detailed breakdown of how to create the perfect foundation for an eye-catching resume that will definitely grab the attention of a future employer.
Style
First impressions are key whether they are made in person or on a piece of paper. In this case, the style and formatting for a resume should be clean, simple, and professional. Try to avoid loud colors and hard to read fonts. Having a neutral theme throughout will show your professionalism and attention to detail. The best practice is to keep a resume at one page and a max of two if needed. Making sure all the content is concise and to the point will ensure that whoever is reading the resume can get all of the information they need in a short period of time.
Header
The beginning portion of a resume can be looked at as a business card so to speak. This is where the main contact information lives on a resume. Items to include are first name, middle initial, and last name. Next can be your email address. Be sure it’s a professional handle and not an email you created in middle school. i.e. ilovehorses247@aol.com. If you would like to add your current title, go for it. iR suggests you do so only if you are applying to a similar role where that title would relay to the hiring manager.
About Me/Personal Profile
The “About Me” section can be an abridged version of your cover letter. Include three to five sentences about yourself. For example, you can add what makes you stand out from the rest. Or why you are the professional that should be chosen and trusted for the role being applied for.
Education
Adding education, degrees, and accomplishments achieved at that specific establishment is vital. Working in reverse chronological order is a best practice making it easy for the reader to see what you have accomplished from most to the least recent. This goes seemingly well when used throughout the resume and we will touch base on that in the next section.
Work Background
The main goal for the work background section is to include a chronologically ordered list of experience that is applicable to the job being applied for. When writing the descriptions and everyday roles you partook in at each job, think about your major accomplishments and successes. Highlight your strong suits and what made you special at that role. A rule of thumb is to have your most recent experience at the top and then continue your list from there. Similar to what was discussed in the education section.
Items to include:
- Name of the company
- Location
- The timeframe of employment at that establishment
- Bullet points or short sentences of what the role consisted of, accomplishments and awards achieved at that role
A quick tip: Talent Acquisition Specialist at iR, Shelby Searcy, often catches when reviewing resumes that job applicants don’t include/label the proper dates for each previous position. Often, applicants are worried contract positions or short-term roles look bad. “I think its okay and actually best to list contract positions on resumes,” said Searcy. Be detail-oriented when it comes to creating your resume. Don’t leave any question marks on your resume when employers are reviewing them.
Commonly Seen
Executive Administrative Assistant
Capital Staffing Solutions July -December
What to Write
Executive Administrative Assistant (Contract)
Sunteck TTS July 2018-December 2018
Skills, Traits, and Personal Attributes
This section is optional but a big asset when creating a resume. This portion could also double as the “About” section that was discussed at the beginning of this blog. Listing short but powerful adjectives that represent you can give an employer a good look into who you are personality-wise and professionally in an instant. Choose words that are true to you and your work ethic.
Revisions
Once your completed resume is done and all the main elements are on the document, be sure to triple check that everything is grammatically correct and there are no spelling errors. Send it to a friend, colleague, or professor to get another set of eyes looking at it before sending it off to prospective employers.
A resume is always going to be a living document, changing as often as the individual changes in his or her career path. Making subtle tweaks to your resume helps make the process easier when you decide to embark on your next job venture. These additions can be any new skills you acquire, courses, and certifications and awards you achieve as time progresses. Stick with these staple tips and tricks and your resume will be ready to be sent out in no time.
Searching for a job is a fulltime job. That is where iR comes in! Let us help you find the job you love. Be sure to follow us on our social media platforms to stay in touch with new job openings, industry news, and job preparation.
