Your resume is not just a list of your past jobs and your education. It’s a marketing piece that sells you as the right candidate for the job by highlighting your key relevant skills and accomplishments.
If you’re not sure where to start, review the tips below. Then take your resume to the next level with a professional template and coaching.
Resume Tips
1. Template: If you have less than ten years of experience, use a one page template. For more than ten years, you can expand to two pages as needed. Do not go over two pages.
2. Style: Avoid graphics and color if applying through online job application forms. Automated Tracking Systems (ATS) can get stuck on graphics, color, or non-traditional headers. If you are in a creative field, consider having two versions of your resume – one ATS friendly and one that is more expressive of your style.
3. Your Value Add: Focus on your accomplishments rather than your responsibilities. Lead with what you achieved and how you achieved it to showcase your transferable skills.
4. Sections: Here is what to include.
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- Contact Information – Include your LinkedIn URL too
- Professional Profile/Summary – 3 to 4 sentences about your key skills
- Skills – What skills are required of this job and which do you have? Include a list.
- Experience – Reverse chronological order is generally preferred.
- Volunteer/Personal – What causes/activities are important to you? You are more than a list of job titles!
- Education – College, Graduate Degrees, and Certificates
Make your job search easier with three professional job application templates – resume, cover letter, and thank you note. All templates are easy to edit in word and customize with your experience and skills.