A resume is a marketing document designed to secure an interview by providing a concise overview of your qualifications. A well-organized resume focuses on showcasing your most relevant skills and accomplishments, rather than offering a complete history of your life. The effectiveness of this document hinges on its structure and the clarity with which it presents your value to a potential employer.
Essential Contact Information
The top of your resume must feature your contact information, making it easy for recruiters to reach you. This section should be straightforward and professional, beginning with your full name in a slightly larger font. Below your name, include a single, reliable phone number and a professional email address. An appropriate email address follows a simple format like “firstname.lastname@email.com” and should not be your current work email.
It is also beneficial to include a link to your LinkedIn profile. If relevant to your field, such as in creative or technical industries, you might add a link to a professional portfolio or website. Providing your city and state is sufficient for location; a full street address is no longer necessary. Double-check that all information is accurate and any included links are active and lead to professional, updated profiles.
Professional Summary or Objective
Positioned directly below your contact information, this section acts as an “elevator pitch” to capture a recruiter’s attention. The choice between a professional summary and a career objective depends on your experience level.
A professional summary is ideal for individuals with a history in their field, highlighting key achievements and skills. It should be a brief statement that communicates the value you bring to the employer. In contrast, a career objective is better suited for those who are entering the workforce or changing careers.
This statement focuses on your career goals and what you aspire to achieve in the role. An objective is shorter, around one to two sentences, and explains your motivations. For example, an experienced professional’s summary might read, “Marketing Manager with over eight years of experience in developing and executing integrated campaigns that have increased lead generation by 30%.”
This introductory section should be tailored to the specific job, framing the rest of the resume.
The Work Experience Section
This section is the core of your resume and should be structured to highlight your professional history. List your roles in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent position. For each job, include your job title, the name of the company, its location, and the dates of your employment. This standardized format provides a clear overview of your career progression.
Instead of listing job duties, focus on writing achievement-oriented bullet points that demonstrate your impact. A useful framework for this is the STAR method, which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This technique helps you craft concise narratives for each bullet point, providing context for your accomplishments.
To make your accomplishments more tangible, begin each bullet point with a strong action verb like “developed,” “implemented,” or “streamlined.” Whenever possible, quantify your achievements with numbers or percentages. For instance, an effective bullet point might be, “Launched a targeted social media ad campaign (Action) to increase website traffic (Task) during a slow sales period (Situation), resulting in a 25% increase in user engagement and a 15% rise in online sales over three months (Result).”
By focusing on results, you provide concrete evidence of your capabilities. Tailor these bullet points to align with the requirements of the job you are applying for, using keywords from the job description. This helps your resume pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Education and Certifications
Your formal qualifications are presented in the education section. List your degrees in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your highest level of education. Include the name of the degree, the institution you attended, and your graduation date. If you have a college degree, it is not necessary to include your high school information.
Deciding whether to include your GPA depends on your career stage and the score itself. For recent graduates, a GPA of 3.5 or higher can be a valuable addition. Professional certifications and licenses should also be listed in this area. For each certification, provide the official name, the issuing organization, and the date it was obtained. If you have numerous certifications, you might consider creating a separate section for them.
The Skills Section
This section serves as a quick-reference list for recruiters and is optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). It should be a scannable list of your most relevant competencies. Differentiate between hard skills and soft skills to present a well-rounded profile.
Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities that can be measured, such as proficiency in software, programming languages, or data analysis. These are often technical and directly related to the tasks you will perform.
Soft skills are interpersonal traits that describe how you work and interact with others, including abilities like communication, teamwork, and leadership. While harder to quantify, they are important to employers. Instead of simply listing generic terms, demonstrate these skills through your work experience descriptions. Including a few key soft skills mentioned in the job posting can be beneficial.
Optional Resume Sections
Projects
Including a projects section can be beneficial for those in technical or creative fields. This space allows you to showcase specific work that demonstrates your skills and expertise. For entry-level candidates or career changers, personal or academic projects can serve as valuable experience.
Volunteer Experience
Volunteer work can strengthen your resume by demonstrating your commitment and skills, especially if you have gaps in your employment history. This experience can highlight transferable skills such as leadership, event planning, or community outreach, providing further evidence of your capabilities.
Awards and Honors
If you have received recognition for your work or academic performance, an awards and honors section can help you stand out. This can include professional accolades, scholarships, or academic honors. Listing these achievements provides external validation of your excellence and can enhance your credibility.
Publications
For individuals in academic, research, or writing-focused professions, a publications section is highly relevant. Listing published articles, research papers, or books demonstrates your expertise and contributions to your field. This section can be a powerful addition for roles where written communication and subject matter authority are valued.
What to Leave Off Your Resume
Knowing what to exclude is as important as knowing what to include. To maintain professionalism and avoid potential bias, omit personal details such as your age, marital status, or religious affiliation. It is also standard practice to leave off a photograph, as it can introduce unconscious bias into the hiring process.
The phrase “References available upon request” is outdated and wastes valuable space; employers will ask for references if they are interested. Finally, refrain from listing irrelevant hobbies or jobs from the distant past. Every element on your resume should serve the purpose of demonstrating your qualifications for the specific role.