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How do you make the perfect resume? That’s a tricky question, as resumes come in so many shapes and size that there really isn’t one perfect version of it. However, there are some basic guidelines to follow if you want to craft an impressive resume that will land you interviews time and time again. If you’re looking for some resume writing tips from an expert, this guide on 10 tips for making the perfect resume has everything you need to know about crafting a winning resume for any career path.
10 Tips for Making the Perfect Resume
1) Use Keywords in Your Cover Letter
Even if a job posting doesn’t explicitly request keywords, make sure you include them in your cover letter. A cover letter is an opportunity to highlight how your skills and experience match up with what a hiring manager is looking for. Use keywords from both the job posting and from other positions you’ve applied to in order to stand out from other applicants. When it comes to resume writing tips, don’t forget about emphasizing keywords! Check out our guide here for more details.
Grammarly can help with all those misspelt words on your resume. That way, instead of overlooking that great applicant because she accidentally wrote work experience when she meant work experience, you could use Grammarly to help pick up on errors like that one and call her back for an interview! Chances are she might even get an offer letter from you because of her resume writing skills after Grammarly fixes her spelling errors! It may not be magic, but hopefully, these tools will give students the boost they need to apply for jobs online successfully.
2) Get Experiences, Not Just Job Duties
Be sure to include specific, related work experience on your resume and steer clear of listing job duties alone. Employers are looking for candidates who bring more than just a job title to their company. There’s nothing wrong with having multiple positions listed, as long as they’re relevant to each other. What employers don’t want to see is a laundry list of unrelated jobs from 10 years ago. Keep your resume focused and up-to-date; if you have an old job that doesn’t look like it fits in line with where you’re headed now, cut it out! No one will fault you for leaving out information, but be careful not to pad or stretch dates so that everything fits nicely together.
3) List All Accomplishments
A resume is not an autobiography, and it’s definitely not a listing of all your accomplishments. We know you’re an awesome person, but that’s not why we want to hire you—we want to hire you because you can do a specific job better than anyone else. Make sure every line item on your resume reflects either direct responsibility for completing something, or proof that you can execute against goals by working with others; if it doesn’t fit in one of those two categories, then don’t include it. Omit unrelated details such as hobbies and interests that don’t relate to what you’re applying for.
4) Use Templates or Apps
There are a ton of apps that can help you build a resume from scratch, but some templates and tools are still more effective than others. For example, Visme lets you create an impactful resume or another design project quickly with little-to-no design experience. In fact, you don’t even need to know how to use graphic programs like Photoshop or Illustrator—it has customizable templates that layout everything step by step. Another tool that’s perfect for students is Canva, which makes it easy to make simple infographics in minutes instead of hours. It also has customizable templates so creating great resumes and cover letters won’t be as much work as it used to be! (If all else fails, you can always visit an online resume maker website.)
5) Get Professional Assistance
If you’re in college, one of your classmates probably has a killer resume. Instead of re-inventing the wheel, ask them to share it with you and use their work as a template. Another option is looking online; there are plenty of resume templates and writing guides out there that are designed specifically for students. These tools will help make sure you’re using appropriate language while also getting to know what employers want to see when they look at your resume. So do your research, learn what’s important and hire someone if necessary. A professional resume makes all of the difference!
6) Don’t Forget Social Media Profiles
In addition to your resume, you’ll also need a complete set of social media profiles. Your resume may be static, but you should update your social media pages often and regularly post helpful, interesting links that relate to your field. Having an active presence on social media is essential because recruiters and companies are increasingly using social networks to get a better idea of who you are and what you can do for them. A LinkedIn profile is also helpful because it helps people understand how many hours you’ve been working in that field—and it gives them quick access to a comprehensive list of previous jobs and responsibilities. In addition, recruiters and hiring managers often like to call past co-workers or bosses to verify credentials; having everyone listed on LinkedIn makes that easy.
7) Make it Easy to Read and Find What Matters
Take some time to reorganize your resume so that it’s easier to read and includes relevant keywords. Chances are you’re using a word processor, so you can easily bold or italicize headings and subheadings to make them stand out. Include any awards or accomplishments on their own line below your employment history section; if they don’t fit, put them at the end of your resume. It may seem counterintuitive, but try removing irrelevant information like GPA (unless it’s a job requirement) and focusing on results-oriented skills like leadership, communication and self-motivation. A hiring manager might not care how well you did in school; they just want to know how competent you are now.
8) Provide Proof of Achievements
One of most important components of a resume is your work history—and not just experience you’ve gained from internships and student jobs. In fact, it’s crucial to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. Instead of listing sales as a previous job, describe how much money you made in sales or how many customers you brought on board. Showing how successful you were as an intern can help demonstrate that you are ready to contribute immediately on a full-time basis—all while making yourself stand out among other recent grads. It doesn’t need to be anything extravagant; a few simple statistics can do wonders!
9) Get Rid of Any Jargon
An employer wants to know what you can do and what value you’ll bring. They don’t need to hear your accomplishments or other jargon, so avoid overly flowery language on your resume. Keep it simple and precise. Instead of using buzzwords like multitasker, say exactly what you mean. If you are a great writer, say that instead of just saying something like I have excellent communication skills. You want an employer to understand what your value is; saying everything in plain English will help them see it more clearly. Here are some specific tips to cut through all the noise: Replace Jargon with Specifics – Too many students get nervous about writing their resumes and end up using too much jargon (multitasking, teamwork, collaboration).
First off, most employers don’t care what words you use as long as they sound important enough for them. Second off…they really couldn’t care less about these words! Don’t worry about impressing them with fanciful language—just be direct and honest with how you contributed to projects without mentioning these complex words at all. De-Jargonize Project Descriptions – Don’t talk yourself out of describing your project experiences because they might seem unimportant compared to actual job duties.
10) Stand Out
In an employment market that is increasingly competitive, you need to stand out from the crowd. Your resume has about six seconds to convince a potential employer that you’re worth calling in for an interview. That’s right—six seconds! The first step in making your resume stand out is to make sure it actually stands out—that is, it needs to be printed on paper with a quality heavyweight or extra-thick stock. You also want to use attention-grabbing fonts such as Calibri and Arial, and your letterhead should include only your name and contact information. Don’t forget: Spell check and proofread carefully!
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