How To Create A Resume

Learning how to create a resume can be a relatively simple process. To break it down it is composed of just two separate entities that once understood can produce magnificent resumes. The two parts are content and aesthetics. In my day to day work, in order to make it past the initial screening process it is equal parts of each. In later stages of job selection content reins King.

I want to focus on the aesthetics in this article.

Formatting your resume to be easy to read at a glance can be tricky. It has to be functional as well as appealing to the poor soul scanning through the resumes by the hundreds (me).

Some simple guidelines to follow to create a resume:

Name and Address: This goes at the very top. Include your name, address, email, telephone number and cell number. The location is not an option. This information needs to be at the top.

Profile Summary: Include in just one or two sentences a brief who are you, what you have done and how that is going to fit with the job position. This serves as a tool so I can easily know who you are and decide if you make it to the trash or the holy phase two pile. An example would be, “An aspiring engineering graduate with practical auto-cad experience at a local consulting firm”.

Now the next section will depend on your age. If you are a recent grad put your education as the next section. Most likely your work efforts will not hold as much value as your education. If you are older and your work experience currently outweighs your education put it next. Every step of the process is about putting your best foot forward as quickly as possible. Most likely when a screener is going over your resume they won’t even make it to the bottom.

Now put your education or work next, depending on what you put before this.

At this point the recruiter will be satisfied with you and either toss you or put you in for a round two screening. You could put in any number of exciting life facts, like that you have 12 toes, and it would fall on deaf ears. Sections after work and education only come into use after making it past the initial screening. After all, do we really care that you are interested in underwater kickboxing or enjoy making sausages.

After education and work you may put in other accomplishments or awards you have won. Interests are OK to put in but keep it interesting if you must put them in. The fact that you “Enjoy the outdoors” is not interesting; my cat enjoys the outdoors.

Finally, please avoid the cliche “references available upon request”. It is certain that they will be and I do not need to read that on every resume. Instead put something in of value like “I am citizen of both Albania and Slovenia” or “I can speak both Flemish and Mandarin” It is more relevant and adds to your overall profile picture.

source: dailycareerconnection