Write your resume in 15 minutes
Our free collection of expertly designed resume templates will help you stand out from the crowd and get one step closer to your dream job.
Certainly, we will be discussing the above points in detail. You can scroll down and jump to those individual sections or continue reading.
Resume Header: What You Must & Must not Write?
Just like the structure of a resume the header also needs to be organized properly. Haphazardly putting everything without sequence will look unprofessional. First, let's discuss what information you must include in the resume header. Refer to the bullet points.
Personal Details in MUST Write in Resume Header
- Name -
Write your first name, middle name, and last name. Instead of a middle name, you can also put initials. Although writing a middle name is optional yet adding it won't take up much space. For instance, Herman Fuller or Herman C. Fuller or even Herman Chad Fuller is fine. - Job title -
Include the job title that you are applying for like Administrative Assistant, Facility Operations Manager, Marine Engineer, etc. Writing the job title in the resume header is not a compulsion but the recruiter must know what position you are applying for. Hence, don't hesitate to let others know - Phone number -
Always write a personal mobile phone number instead of a residence landline number. You must be the direct point of contact when recruiters decide to speak with you. - Email address -
It's similar to the phone number. Emails are the most preferred choice of communication. Make sure the email address is active and accessible from your end. For example, hermanfuller@gmail.com. - LinkedIn URL (optional) -
Recruiters like it when they have an additional source of information. Nowadays, professionals include LinkedIn profiles in resumes to help employers know them better. For instance, https://www.linkedin.com/herman-fuller-84b74770. - Blog/website URL (optional) -
A blog or a website (https://hermanfuller.com) is more than a digital asset. They reflect your expertise on subjects that the employer is looking for. Hence, if you have one then add it.
When you put all these details together it will look like this:
CORRECTAdmin Clerk
+1 870-299-8473
hermanfuller@gmail.comPhoenix, Arizona
Now let's talk about things that must not go into the header.
Details that You MUST NOT Write in Resume Header
- Too many numbers -
To make sure that the employer reaches them anyhow, most job seekers include a series of contact numbers like their friends or family members. In addition, they also give official contact details of the company they are currently employed at. - Fancy email address -
For example, dude_mark2803@gmail.com or sillygirljessie@gmail.com sounds like a high school boy and girl. Do you think compiling a professional email address is hard. - Date of birth -
Adding a birth date is unprofessional. Nobody cares so don't put it. - Age -
Again no one cares how old are you unless fit for the job. Like date of birth don't mention age. - Residential address -
Potential employers would want to know where you reside. Thus, mentioning the city or state name is ideal but a full residence address is not needed. - Photo -
A headshot or profile picture is not recommended with a resume.
This is how a resume header looks when you add unwanted details. Here you go.
INCORRECTAdmin Clerk
+1 870-299-8473
+1 458-655-1249
herman_007@gmail.com2502 Fittro Street
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
www.linkedin.com/herman-fuller
www.facebook.com/herman-fuller
DOB: 23-05-1996
Age: 27
That looks awful and it's obvious why it likewise. In short, keep personal details in a resume header precise and clutter-free. Eliminate unnecessary items that negatively draw the hiring manager's attention.
Consequently, there's a drawback too. If a resume summary or the objective statement isn't written the way it should be then they might easily slip from the attention of the recruiters. They don't read, they simply scan.
This is the reason why you must compile strengthens your chances for an interview call. The bottom line is to reflect your professional image and that's the sole purpose to write a resume.
What is a Professional Summary?
Surprisingly, a professional summary follows a predefined structure. The way you arrange the information pursues the recruiter through your professional journey.
Begin with the job title followed by relevant work experience in years along with achievements and relevant skills or expertise at the end. To understand this in a better way look at the below examples.
Good Example of Resume Summary
CORRECTBad Example of Resume Summary
INCORRECTDid you spot the knot?
The good example displays an achievement supported by technical skills - the introduction of a new filing system that elevated work efficiency by 66%. That's how you attract the eyeballs of hiring managers.
The bad one concentrates only on relevant skills. For instance, problem solver. This doesn't mean anything. A skill when used must generate the result and this lacks in the bad example.
What is a Resume Objective?
A resume objective statement is for either freshers without work experience or for those who have no experience related to the job position. This includes mid-level job seekers, students, junior-level candidates with little to no work backgrounds, and finally those who want to change their careers.
Let's understand this via good and bad examples.
Good Example of Resume Objective
CORRECTBad Example of Resume Objective
INCORRECTSeriously? Do you even consider the bad one an objective? It's like a novice writer writing a self-recommendation letter.
On the other hand, look at a good example. The first sentence is a hook. The candidate mentions two expertise - concealed wiring & detecting faults. What else do hiring managers need?
The second sentence speaks about what the candidate brings to the table. It's an answer to the question - why should we hire you? I will bring down the maintenance cost and reduce failures. A crystal clear reply.
The last sentence tells the hiring manager what the candidate did in the previous job. For instance, saved money and identified the cause that was draining money.
Our resume builder has no such issues. Pick up a professional resume template, fill details, and it's done. Check out our professional resume templates for free.
Write Work Experience
The professional experience section in a resume is a driving force. It's in the lead role when deciding whether or not to hire. Moreover, work history outweighs anything and everything above or beyond.
Now that we know the seriousness and the intensity of work history let's proceed with how to write it.
The first step towards writing a work history is to arrange the details in order. There are 5 key components you must include:
- Job title -
Each time when you write it must begin with a job title. For example, head clerk or assistant professor. - Company, city, state -
After the job titles mention the location of the previous company. The location shall not include the full address. See here - JBL Housing Ltd., Phoenix, Arizona. Only the city name and the state. - Dates employed -
Write the period from where you started and then finished the job. No need to put exact dates like 03/25/2001. Simply write the month and the year or just the year. For example, June 2001 - March 2003. - Description -
Make bullet points to describe your key responsibilities and key achievements. Concentrate on what's relevant to the job description you are currently applying for. Look here - implemented new work schedule, developed new software, or planned monthly training.
We have figured out what to write but there's still an important aspect of work history undiscussed. It's the format. Let's see what it is.
Why You Must Use the Reverse Chronological Format?
The reverse chronological format is universally adopted by job hunters because of the ease that it provides to recruiters. Details are laid in descending order starting from the most recent one to the oldest.
Moreover, it reflects a progressive career growth of a job hunter. It also speaks about the personality of the applicant further increasing the chances of getting hired.
All in all, the reverse chronological order is impactful in every sense. To conclude the work experience section we have composed a sample for you.
Sample Employment History of a Hiring Manager
CORRECTTaskforce Employment LLP,
Phoenix, Arizona
2016-2019
- Realigned previously used job seekers review and hiring system which consequently refurbished the quality of the overall process.
- Developed training schedules for interns to improve their soft and hard skills
- Organized resume writing workshops for job applicants where reputed hiring managers gave resume writing tips and shared how the applicant tracking system works.
- Published articles on soft skills, hard skills, cover letter, how to write a job description carefully, how to make a resume, tips to write employment history, and much more.
Optimize Your Employment History
Though the hiring process is free of age, gender, or religion the entire hiring system has been revolutionized. Recruiters are now using an applicant tracking system to sort out potential job seekers based on their requirements. They distinguish applicants by searching keywords across the resume mentioned in the job description.
Therefore, optimization is critical.
Read the job description thoroughly and draft your resume aligned with the keywords and key phrases written there, especially, the experience section. Match the duties in the job ad with key achievements and integrate those exact terms in the employment description.
The length of a resume also falls under improving the efficiency of your resume. For example, how long your resume must be? Ideally, one-page resumes are preferred over a lengthy 2 or 3-page resume. Why trouble the recruiter to fumble across pages of your resume?
Spelling errors and common mistakes are other turn-offs and they need to be rectified carefully while optimization. Avoid passive voice in the latest job experience, write in the present tense. Use past tense only while writing previous job histories.
Last but not least be clear and concise. Don't unnecessarily boast or brag too much regarding your skills, education, role, and responsibilities.
Education Section in a Resume
Writing the education section in a resume is pretty straightforward. The ATS software may deliberately keep your resume aside if it doesn't match the required qualification (even though you have one).
There's a simple format to write academic qualifications. Here it is
CORRECTDegree name
College/university name, city, state
Duration
GPA (optional)
Follow the reverse order here starting with the highest degree first. If you hold a master's degree then skip your high school diploma. Mention clubs and activities participation. It's good for you if they are relevant to the job. But if not then they will represent a different persona.
The resume education section for entry-level candidates is crucial because they can replace it with job experience.
GPA isn't a compulsion and if you have anything less than 3.5 kindly don't mention it. GPA above 3.5 is recommended.
There's nothing wrong with having a high school diploma. It's way better than providing misleading or false information about education. Never do that.
Include Relevant Skills in Resume
After the job experience skills section is the second most essential thing in a resume. A great resume always displays skills up front to catch the attention of a recruiter. But how?
Read the job ad and you will find keywords related to skills that you have. For example, video editing, VFX, animation, etc.
Now, this might include soft skills, hard skills, technical skills, and transferable skills altogether. Let's discuss what type of expertise comes under the skills section.
Hard skills
They are measurable and backed up by certificates or training programs. Sound mixing, accounting, editing, designing, and marketing are a few to name. These kinds of skills are categorized into three levels. Refer to the bullet points below.
- Beginner - You are learning the skill but still there's no application. It's just the beginning stage. You might even take up more than one skill at a time to learn.
- Intermediate - You have a good level of understanding of a skill and you have also tested it in a work environment.
- Advanced - You have achieved a high level of expertise and applying the same at work. Moreover, you are now competent in training others.
Soft skills
These skills are self-taught, unmeasurable, and represent your personality. For example, responsibility, punctuality, and work under pressure.
Technical skills
They are often related to specialized academic majors or extra coursework. Sometimes candidates need to learn industry-specific technical skills to get a desired job. Data analysis or web development are technical skills.
