Crafting a resume can be a challenging task for many individuals as it involves selecting the right format and template to showcase their skills and accomplishments effectively.
With an array of options available, ranging from chronological resumes to functional resumes or a combination of both, it can be overwhelming to determine the best fit for one’s needs.
However, creating a strong resume is crucial as it serves as a potential employer’s first impression of the candidate.
In today’s competitive job market, where hiring managers receive an abundance of resumes for every position, you want to ensure that your resume stands out and captures their attention.
A well-crafted resume should not only highlight your skills and accomplishments but also predict how you may perform in the desired role.
In this article, we will explore what you should include and exclude in your resume to increase your chances of moving forward in the hiring process.
Sections to Include
Your resume should always include the following sections:
- Contact information – name, address, phone number, email address, web page.
- Objective or Career Summary– your resume objective states your employment goals, your professional qualifications and expertise. It is usually at the top of your resume.
- Work experience – this is a listing of the positions you have held, and the skills and experience associated with those positions. The order they appear on your resume will depend on the style of resume.
- Education – this is the listing of all your formal education including degrees earned, and individual course s you may have taken. Do not include your high school if you’ve gone on to earn a certificate, diploma, or degree.
- Computer skills/language skills – some positions require specific computer skills, others may not but having those additional skills on your resume could work to your benefit. The same applies if you speak more than one language; make sure to include it on your resume.
Tips about Sections to Include
First and for most, make sure you provide genuine information about yourself, right from the educational qualifications to your professional expertise.
Furthermore, you should provide a resume that would speak about your short term as well as longer term goals, and make a highlight of your achievements in the given job.
The most common sections on a resume are:
- Personal details
- Resume Objective Statement
- Career Summary
- Work Experience Chronological – reverse order
- Key Strengths and Job skills
- Education
- Rewards, Interests etc.
When writing a resume, the first thing to do is to select the sections and what to include in each.
Different Types of Resume Formats
Not all resumes are befitting the requirements of all professions.
Here is a brief list of the types of resumes, and which would be suited for what kind of professional:
A.) Chronological Resume
A chronological resume is a resume which lists down all the jobs that the professional has held in a definite timeframe.
A chronological resume is best for people who have progressed in their professional life through working in different companies. It can basically be considered as a timeline of a person’s progress from one job position to its higher.
The type of resume is best used to show the progress that a person has done either in a short span of time or in a few or several companies.
B.) Functional Resume
A functional resume is basically used by a person who has too much of experience of too little or a singular responsibility.
A functional resume is basically used by a person who has held a number of job-positions in a single or very few companies.
This format of a resume also helps you highlight your achievements in a better understood manner if you have worked in several companies in the same position.
C.) Combination Resumes (also called hybrid resume):
A combination resume is actually a combination of the chronological resume and the functional resume.
The combination resume basically takes the best parts of the chronological as well as the functional resume.
It makes a note of your work history, as well as giving special attention to your qualities and qualifications on a professional level.
What to include in a Resume: 10 Tips to Consider
1.) Use Resume Examples
It is very easy today to find examples of resumes online.
Even if it is not your first time writing a resume, looking at examples is a great way to reshape your resume and get fresh ideas.
It should be pretty easy to create a customized resume that suits your needs.
2.) Select the Resume Format
If you want to get an interview, then you need to stand out amongst all the other countless applicants.
There are different examples of resume formats that can fit you and can stand you out amongst your competition.
Several resumes are never read simply because they are not in the proper format.
Make sure that you have a format that allows the recruiter to skim through all the important parts of your resume immediately, so that he or she can make an immediate decision about whether they should call you for the interview or not.
The best format for a resume is the one which tells the recruiter all about the proposed employee without reading much into the resume. In fact, much of your resume depends on the type of resume you use.
3.) Resumes Objective
Your resume objective (or your career objective in a resume) simply lists your career objectives, your career summary, and personal competencies to certain job positions.
Avoiding useless info and providing the exact resume objectives phrases that describe your skills can make the difference.
Recruiters just need to know why you’re the best person for the job.
4.) Resume Fonts
2 fonts in a single resume are OK. You may use one font for your headings, and the second on your actual content.
Fonts are categorized into 2 main: Serif fonts and Sans-serif fonts. Recommended fonts are Serif fonts (Times New Roman) for the content.
You may use contrasted Sans serif (Ariel) for the headings. You can select fonts from these two categories. Be sure that your resume is easy-to-read via computers or as a printed version.
5.) Targeting your Resume
Decide on job targets and then customize your resume with a sense of direction to the employers.
Re-shape your resume to support the job position that you are targeting.
Another good idea is to write several resumes for different job positions, based on the targeted job titles.
6.) Statements within Content
Describe what you did at previous jobs using Problem Solver or Leader Action statements.
For example: Improved ABC malfunctioning by developing DFT software system.
7.) Simplicity – Keep it Simple and to the Point
Recent surveys have shown that each resume is read for not more than twenty seconds.
Therefore, it goes without saying that the resume should be eye-catching and interesting at first read.
The only way a resume can be eye-catching and interesting is to have a simple document that highlights the positive points in the sharpest way possible.
Use simple and short sentences rather than complicated and long ones.
8.) Use Strong Action Verbs
Action verb brings power to a sentence.
Leading a sentence with an action verb tells the employer that you were the initiator. However, do not describe the job but describe the achievement.
In other words, don’t bore the reader with a job description. An example of action verbs: Managed, supervised, designed, developed, created, restructured, Initiated, negotiated, hired, increased, improved, produced, reduced etc.
9.) Provide Specific Numbers
Specific numbers create a good impression. For example – project’s budget, percent of a success scale, employees number etc.
10.) Provide Convincing Details and Benefits
It’s all about the benefits.
The employer looks for the benefit he can get by hiring you. Remember to detail an achievement, first sentence, and then the second – the benefit.
If you have an important point like managed ABC, it should be listed in the first sentence.
What You Should Never Include on Your Resume
Just as there are things that every resume should have, there are things that every resume should not have. Including any of these on your resume puts you at risk of not being called back.
- Every job you’ve had since high school. You don’t have to go through all your work history. 10-15 years is enough.
- Any job experience that is irrelevant to the position you are applying for.
- Any health issues.
- Information about your family.
- Lies about your experience or your education.
- Your age and your social security number.
- Poor grammar.
- Your sexual preference, religion, and political identity.
- Your physical characteristics.
- Do not add undue information about your hobbies and even your personal life.
It’s important to incorporate the right information into your resume to ensure you draw the attention of the hiring manager.
Resume Do’s and Don’ts
1. Don’t personalize your resume: Eliminate the use of “I” – the potential employer knows it’s all about you.
2. Don’t use the phrase “I was responsible for..” or “responsible for”: These phrases do not clearly describe your part. Therefore, give yourself a full credit by using action verbs that specify your achievements.
3. Don’t repeat the action verb: Avoid using the same action word. If you wrote ‘managed’ once, the second time use a synonym like – guided or supervised.
4. Don’t redundant the verbs in the same sentence: Designed and developed have the same meaning.
5. Don’t use unreadable fonts: Use the standards Ariel, Courier and Times New Roman.
Wrong Phrases to avoid in Your Resume
You put all that energy into creating the perfect resume, and then you don’t even receive a call for an interview.
It seems to happen over and over, and that leaves you scratching your head about what went wrong.
Let’s look at resume phrases that are overworked and will kill your resume.
Top 6 Words That Will Get Your Resume Tossed
- Responsible for…. (Responsible for closing cash)
- Experience in … (Experience in using Microsoft Word)
- Excellent written communication skills.
- Team Player.
- Detail orientated.
- Successful (Successfully sold products)
Other Word Phrases to Get Your Resume Ignored
- Results-oriented professional
- More than [x] years of progressively responsible experience
- Strong work ethic
- Meet or exceeded expectations.
- Excellent communication skills
- Proven track record of success
- Works well with all levels of staff.
- Cross-functional teams.
- Bottom-line orientation.
- Visionary.
- Strategic thinker.
- Proven track record.
- Problem solver.
- Goal orientated.
- Multi-tasker.
- Seasoned professional.
- Dedicated professional.
- Technically savvy.
- Detail orientated.
Why will these phrases actually get your resume rejected?
- They don’t say anything. They are simply fillers.
- They are boring and unoriginal.
- They are self-praising.
- They are tacky.
- They are not factual.
- They cannot be proven.
Instead of using these phrases, you should be more explicit, give facts, and details that are concrete so that the interviewer sees what it is you have done and can do.
For example, rather than saying you are a good communicator, be specific about the communication skills you have and how you have used them effectively.
While we’ll admit not every resume will be rejected because of these phrases, the majority will land up on the reject pile faster than the average resume.
You should put a little creativity into the creation of your resume. Remember, your resume is an advertisement about your skills and experience.
Just as a boring advertisement doesn’t get much attention, neither does a boring resume – you know the one – it looks like everyone else’s resume.
After a while, the phrases all begin to blend together.