Creating a well-crafted resume is essential for a successful job search. To ensure your resume stands out to potential employers, here are nine points you should never miss:
Contact Information
Include your name, phone number, email address, and, if relevant, a professional LinkedIn profile. Ensure your contact information is up-to-date and easy to find.
Clear Objective or Summary
Write a concise objective or summary statement that highlights your career goals, skills, and what you can offer to a prospective employer.
Relevant Work Experience
List your work experience, starting with the most recent job. Include the company name, job title, dates of employment, and a bulleted list of key responsibilities and accomplishments. Tailor these to match the job you're applying for.
Education
Mention your educational background, including the name of the institution, degree(s) earned, and graduation dates. If you're a recent graduate, you may include relevant coursework or academic achievements.
Skills
Showcase your skills, both hard and soft, that are relevant to the job you're seeking. This may include technical skills, languages, certifications, and interpersonal skills.
Achievements
Highlight specific accomplishments and contributions in your work history. Use quantifiable data when possible (e.g., "increased sales by 30%," "completed projects ahead of schedule").
Keywords and Action Verbs
Use industry-specific keywords and action verbs to make your resume more appealing to applicant tracking systems (ATS) and hiring managers. Tailor these based on the job description.
Professional Associations and Certifications
Mention any relevant professional memberships or certifications that showcase your commitment to ongoing learning and development.
References
Unless requested, it's typically not necessary to include references on your resume. You can create a separate reference page to provide when requested during the application process.
Remember, your resume should be concise, typically no longer than one page for recent graduates and up to two pages for individuals with more experience.