A résumé is a marketing document designed to present a concise summary of your most relevant qualifications to a potential employer. Its primary purpose is to capture the attention of a recruiter and secure a job interview. Think of it not as a complete history of your life, but as a targeted advertisement highlighting why you are a strong candidate for a specific role, tailored to the employer’s needs.
Essential Contact Information
Your résumé must include clear and professional contact information at the top. This section should begin with your full name, often in a slightly larger font to stand out. Below your name, list a reliable phone number and a professional-sounding email address; it is advisable to create a new email for job searching if your current one is unprofessional. For location, providing just your city and state is sufficient and recommended for privacy reasons. You can also include a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile or a personal portfolio website if it is relevant to your field.
The Professional Summary or Objective
Positioned just below your contact details, a professional summary or objective acts as a brief, 2-4 sentence “elevator pitch.” For candidates with existing work history, a Professional Summary is appropriate. It highlights your most significant achievements, skills, and years of experience, showing the employer what you can bring to the role. For example, a summary might read: “Detail-oriented project manager with 7+ years of experience in the healthcare industry, with a proven track record of delivering complex projects on time.”
Conversely, a Career Objective is better suited for individuals with limited experience, such as recent graduates or those changing careers. This statement focuses on your career aspirations and how they align with the company’s goals, emphasizing your enthusiasm and relevant skills. An example could be: “To secure a challenging entry-level marketing role where I can apply my knowledge of digital media and content creation to contribute to team success.”
Professional Experience Section
The professional experience section is the core of your résumé, where you detail past employment. For each position, list your job title, the company’s name, its location, and the dates you were employed. This information should be presented in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent job. This format allows recruiters to quickly see your most current and relevant experience.
The description of your responsibilities and accomplishments should be presented as bullet points. Instead of simply listing duties, focus on writing achievement-oriented statements that begin with strong action verbs. Quantify your successes with specific numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts whenever possible. For instance, rather than stating “Responsible for sales,” you would write, “Increased quarterly sales by 15% through the implementation of a new lead generation strategy.”
Education Details
Your education section provides a formal account of your academic background. It should include the name of the institution you attended, the degree you obtained, and your major or minor fields of study. Also include your graduation date or, if you are still a student, your expected graduation date. Your highest degree should appear first.
For recent graduates, adding a GPA can be beneficial, but typically only if it is high, such as 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale. Including a high GPA can signal strong academic performance. Similarly, you might consider listing relevant coursework if it directly pertains to the job and you have limited professional experience. As you gain more work experience, the emphasis on GPA and specific courses diminishes.
Key Skills to Showcase
A dedicated skills section offers a quick, scannable overview of your competencies for recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS). It is helpful to categorize your skills into hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are technical and measurable abilities, such as proficiency in a specific software, programming language, or fluency in a foreign language.
Soft skills are interpersonal traits that describe how you work and interact with others, including abilities like communication, leadership, and problem-solving. When compiling your skills list, tailor it to the specific job you are applying for. Review the job description to identify the skills the employer is seeking and prioritize those. Using a bulleted format makes this section easy to read and helps automated systems parse the information.
Optional Sections to Enhance Your Résumé
To further distinguish yourself, you can include optional sections that highlight qualifications relevant to the role. These additions can provide a more complete picture of your capabilities and dedication. However, they should only be included if they add direct value and are pertinent to the job you are seeking.
Certifications and Licenses
This subsection is for listing any industry-specific credentials you have earned. Include the name of the certification or license, the issuing body, and the date it was obtained. This demonstrates a commitment to your professional development and can be persuasive in fields that require specific qualifications.
Awards and Honors
If you have received recognition for your work or academic performance, an awards section can be a powerful addition. List any significant honors, from academic scholarships to employee-of-the-month awards. This provides third-party validation of your skills and achievements.
Volunteer Experience
Including volunteer work can be beneficial, especially if it demonstrates skills relevant to the job. It shows community involvement and a strong work ethic. Describe your role and accomplishments in your volunteer positions just as you would for paid work experience.
Projects or Portfolio
For many fields, such as design, writing, or software development, a portfolio or a list of key projects is expected. You can include a link to an online portfolio or dedicate a section to briefly describe significant projects. This provides tangible evidence of your abilities and the quality of your work.
What to Leave Off Your Résumé
Just as important as what you include is what you choose to omit. A modern résumé should be a concise and professional document, free of any information that could introduce bias or is simply unnecessary.
- A photograph of yourself, unless it is a standard practice in your industry or country.
- Personal details such as your age, marital status, or religion.
- Irrelevant hobbies and interests, as they can take up valuable space.
- The phrase “References available upon request,” as employers will ask for references when they need them.
- Your salary history, as this can weaken your negotiating position.