How to Write a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide for Everyone

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(Newswire.net — January 28, 2022) — When looking for a job, the main thing is to interest the employer because there are many candidates and only one vacant position. A lot depends on the first impression made on the employer. The first impression is your resume. It is the first thing a specialist sees before a personal acquaintance with the candidates. And more than 50% of applicants are excluded already at this stage. So, how to write a resume so it doesn’t go to the “We will call you back” folder? This question is relevant for both newcomers and experienced professionals.

How to Get a Recruiter Interested in Few Seconds

The employer is interested in many things, including the applicant’s personal qualities. But there is a list of data that is interesting the most.

  1. Personal data

It is a mandatory item. Last name, first name, age — all this must be indicated briefly and accurately. Gender and marital status are not required, but there are several situations where it will be another plus. For example, if you are a married woman and have an adult child, this is a plus since you probably will not go on maternity leave. 

  1. Photo

A resume is not a page on social media. So, you have to choose an appropriate photo. It will be the first to attract the employer’s attention, and an image should show you only from the best side. By using a photo, we can get the first impression of a person to determine gender, age, and appearance. If employers like the picture, then the likelihood that they will start studying the resume is much higher. In addition, a photograph in the resume can create a psychological effect on an employer. So, it must be appropriate, and you have to look friendly in it.

  1. Experience

Structure your resume well. The last job should be at the top of your experience list. Describe the work in the previous 3-4 companies. Employers are more interested in your acquired skills and recent accomplishments.

Try to describe your work experience as a whole without breaks. For example, breaks up to a year are considered the norm. If there was a long break in work, write why it happened. Here, you can indicate parental leave, work absence due to the search for a new one, or the courses you took during this time to improve your professional skills. But it’s not worth writing about the time spent on vacation. It will show your unprofessionalism.

  1. Skills

First of all, the recruiter will pay attention to what you can do. Therefore, briefly describe everything you feel like a professional in. As experts from the resume service say, your task is to show the skills needed for a particular position. For example, if you want to get a position as a technical specialist who will work with machines or devices, “purposefulness and sociability” will not be the most critical abilities.

  1. Education

When describing places of study, write about what is suitable for a particular position. For example, it doesn’t matter if you took knitting courses for a manager’s position, but information about higher education in management will be helpful too. Knowledge of foreign languages will be a plus. Indicate what language and at what level you speak.

  1. References from a previous job

It is another plus for your resume. Recommendations should be positive and give information about your competence in the desired area.

  1. Cover letters

The cover letter emphasizes the importance of the applicant to the recruiter. Therefore, it should be personal, reflecting the motivation of the future employee, relevant work experience, and personal advantages. The size of the cover letter is not regulated. However, it is essential to convey brief information about yourself in it, which should coincide with the employer’s requirements as much as possible. For example, in the section on work experience, you can show yourself from a professional side and describe all the achievements from previous jobs that you are proud of. If you can distinguish yourself from other job applicants, most likely, you will get an interview invitation.

A well-written resume creates an attractive image of a good, experienced specialist, a pleasant and responsible person, which means a promising employee whose knowledge, professional skills, and experience will be helpful to the employer. The rules for writing a resume have not changed much over time. Only the process of getting a job has changed. Using extra sections on your resume to describe your skills and experience and remembering resume basics, you can beat the competition and get the job you want. Try to periodically review your resume and update it even if you are not looking for a job. You should include each new position, achievement, and project in your form. Also, build your portfolio along with your resume.