{"id":275,"date":"2020-01-05T10:30:50","date_gmt":"2020-01-05T10:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/?p=275"},"modified":"2024-08-14T08:00:21","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T08:00:21","slug":"how-to-write-a-resume","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-resume\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write the Best Resume"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You might be surprised, but even the most experienced\nand skilled professionals often have difficulties with writing a resume. The\ntask can bewilder anybody, though, it is not so hard to learn how to write a\nresume. A resume is a standard paper with a definite structure and demands for\nthe contents. If you are familiar with them \u2013 you need only some time to write\nit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose the Type of a Resume<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are two kinds of job application forms, Resume\nor CV, and they are different. So, first of all, you need to check which paper\nyou have to send to apply for the position. If they demand a resume, then stay\nwith us because this is what we’ll talk about in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A resume is a document that summarizes your skills and\nwork experience. It is simple enough, but there are traps. You should not just\nlist your previous jobs or describe your awards and certifications. For you, a\nresume should be the means to present yourself as more than a set of skills.\nThe resume should depict you as a personality which they need to get acquainted\nwith. That is why it is crucial to understand how to write a resume in the\nright way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first step is to choose the type of resume. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chronological Resume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the format you might already know, the most\npopular resume type. Its focus is on your work experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chronological resume is ideal if you want to\ndescribe your previous career and your progress, or apply to the new job of the\nsame sphere \u2013 it shows that you already possess the skills, knowledge, and\nfamiliarity with the sphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it is unsuitable if you want to switch a\nfield of work, or come out of a long idle period, or simply had too many\ndifferent jobs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The structure of the chronological resume: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Contact details<\/strong> \u2013 this element is the same in all formats of resume paper. Provide these details at the top of the document. <\/li>
  2. Career Objective<\/strong> \u2013 here you specify which position you apply for. <\/li>
  3. Experience<\/strong> \u2013 provide an impressive history of your previous employment proving that you are an expert in this area. <\/li>
  4. Additional skills<\/strong> \u2013 here you indicate those personal features which can work in your favor. <\/li>
  5. Education<\/strong> \u2013 give information about the university, college and high school in the reverse chronological order. Mention all your degrees and certifications.<\/li>
  6. Awards & Honors<\/strong> \u2013 if you possess them, mention the most outstanding ones. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Functional resume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    This format concentrates on your current skills and\nknowledge instead of the previous career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The functional resume will be the best choice for some\nfreelance experts with a great level of expertise. It is also a good option for\na person who wants to change the field of career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, don\u2019t refer to this type of resume if you\ndon\u2019t master the required level of skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The structure of the functional resume: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Contact Information.<\/strong><\/li>
    2. Qualifications Summary<\/strong> \u2013 you need to stress your knowledge and skills at once.<\/li>
    3. Work Experience<\/strong> \u2013 you will notice a very moderate size of this section in the paper when you write a resume. Besides, you don\u2019t need to provide dates. Here it is more important what you know and can do than where you did it. <\/li>
    4. Relevant Skills<\/strong> \u2013 the job position description probably included the requirements. You must list your skills which will present you as a great candidate. Make sure to give a full picture and many details. <\/li>
    5. Education<\/strong> \u2013 you need to mention the main certifications you have and the highest degree you obtained. <\/li>
    6. Awards & Honors<\/strong> \u2013 again, list the most notable ones. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Combination Resume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      As it is stated in its name, this type of resume\nincludes the elements of the chronological and functional types. A candidate\nshould provide information on both skills and work experience. This can be the\nmost informational resume format, and it is favored by the experts of some\nindustries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Use the combination resume if you have a great\nexperience in this field, or if you want to illustrate which skills you\nobtained in that industry. This format is useful for those willing to change\nthe career staying in the same sphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Avoid using this kind of a resume if you are not an\nexpert, or if you want to appeal to your education rather than the employment\nhistory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The structure of the combination resume: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Contact Information<\/strong> at the top of the paper.<\/li>
      2. Professional Profile<\/strong> \u2013 the focus is on your skills, list them all and explain concisely.<\/li>
      3. Work Experience<\/strong> \u2013 this resume format does not go into details deeply as the chronological resume, but you still have to provide information about the past jobs and your achievements there. <\/li>
      4. Skills Sections<\/strong> \u2013 here you should describe the work-related skills and arrange them according to their importance for the job duties performed.<\/li>
      5. Education<\/strong> \u2013 this information is slightly less important, the resume concentrates on your job experience, but you should describe the educational as well. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Practical Recommendations on How to Write a Resume<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Though the three above-mentioned resume formats differ\nin their approach to your career history and skills, they all cover similar\nscope. The type of resume you choose will regulate the detailed elaboration of\nthe provided data. Let’s explore these obligatory sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Personal and contact details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        This is the common rule: your personal and contact\ninformation must be placed first at the top of the document, and marked\nadditionally to catch the recruiter\u2019s attention. The block is mostly located in\nthe center, or on the left. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The following details must be out there: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        • First name and last name. We’ll\nexamine the requirements to the fonts to use in a resume further, and here\nwe’ll simply indicate that you should apply the largest font size to the name.\nIn most cases, it is 24 pt.<\/li>
        • Physical address.<\/li>
        • Phone number. Please make sure to\nactivate the voicemail option for it. <\/li>
        • Email address. It should look solid,\nso, don\u2019t use any nicknames or voluntary numbers in it. The ideal format is a\ncombination of your name and the last name, you can combine them with the\nmiddle initial. <\/li>
        • Link to the LinkedIn profile. <\/li>
        • Links to the accounts in other social\nnetworks if they are relevant to the position you apply for and contain the\ninformation in your favor. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Check and assure that all these links are correct and\nclickable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Resume Introduction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          The purpose of this section is the same as of\nIntroduction in any other paper. You need to grasp the attention of the\naudience, that is your prospective employer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          There are also three types of Introduction which you\nmay use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          • Summary of Qualifications.<\/strong> It is a very clear and laconic description of your qualifications. The format is a bulleted list, the accent is on the specific skills that you possess, and that is necessary for the job. It must be as precise as possible. This summary suits experienced employers best of all.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
            • Career Objective.<\/strong> It is a short description of 2-3 sentences that should tell about the duties you want to perform and how well you can do the job. Note that this couple of sentences must be written very well to catch the reader and make them stay. This format is good for graduates having little professional experience so far. Or, you can use it if you deliberately target this definite company. However, avoid this format if the job requires specific skills that you don\u2019t have. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
              • Professional Profile.<\/strong> This can be the most efficient type which combines elements of the qualifications summary and the career objective. You need to give a summary of the skills you have and the explanation of why you suit the position. This format can help you if you want to refer to your experience and achievements in previous positions, and also want to emphasize your skills as well.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                Professional Experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                This is the section you have to work on thoroughly to\nwrite a resume correctly. Your professional experience is the information that\nthe recruiters seek. Thus, here the recommendations on what and how you need to\nwrite in this area:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                • List your previous work in the\nreverse-chronological order. <\/li>
                • The format should be: the name of the\ncompany in a bold and bigger size, then the title of your position, and the\nperiod of work.<\/li>
                • Include a bulleted list to illustrate\nyour accomplishments and achievements under the \u201cjob position\u201d entry. Note that\nthis should not be a list of your duties, here you should claim that you are a\nhighly qualified person. You should not list them all, of course, so, choose\n3-5 most prominent and impressive evidence. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  Provide information about your education:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  • If you are a fresh graduate, you\nmight place this block closer to the top, before the employment history. If you\nare an expert, you may place it after the information about your work\nexperience. <\/li>
                  • The format should be the name of the\ninstitution, city, state, country (if you studied abroad), the date of\ngraduation (or a planned date if you are still a student), your degree.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                    You have to do the fact-check for this section and\nassure that the information you provide is correct. Check the dates, the\nspelling of the names, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                    You are supposed to give a summary of your skills at\nthe beginning of the resume paper. There is one more area in this document\nwhere you can provide more details. Besides, the latest trends in the\nrecruitment industry claim that employers pay more attention to the so-called\n“soft skills”, your personal qualities. Thus, you should not be\ndeprived of winning arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    You can sort and group your skills in the following\nmanner: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    • Technical skills<\/strong> are those which are relevant to the job. E.g.: if you plan a career in the IT industry, include your knowledge of the programming languages.  <\/li>
                    • Additional skills<\/strong> are those which are not required directly for the position, however, they might be useful. E.g.: foreign languages you know. <\/li>
                    • Soft skills<\/strong> are the qualities that define if you match the work environment. These are leadership skills, or being a responsible team player, or the ability to stay calm under high load, etc. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      The main tip is: do not include the skills which are\ngenuinely not relevant, or not strong enough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Awards, honors, activities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                      This is the optional section. If you are a well-known\nexpert in your field, include your honors and awards list into it and sort according\nto the sphere. E.g.: if you apply for the manager’s position, and you are a\ngreat sportsman at the same time, include the information about your titles, as\nthey also emphasize your qualities which may be demanded the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Certifications and Licenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                      Some jobs demand that you have certain certifications\nproving your level of expertise. However, if this is not mandatory for the\ndefinite job application, you still can include this information. E.g.:\ncertificates from the foreign language schools, specific certificates from the\nIT training, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Publications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                      The information in this section can be critical if you\napply for the position where you must present your published works, e.g. media\njobs. If you got publications in the relevant fields, present them too, even if\nthey are not required. These data will serve you right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Writing Style Recommendations for a Resume<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                      A resume is an official paper, but it still has its\n\u201cmarketing\u201d angle. You use it to present yourself, that is not so easy if you\nonly list your skills and experience. There are too many candidates, so, you\nhave to attract the attention of your future employer with your writing style\nand word choice.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      • Use the first-person voice to speak\nto the reader \u2013 this shows you as a person, and not just words on the paper;<\/li>
                      • Speak specifically about your\ntalents;<\/li>
                      • Give real-life stories to illustrate\nyour qualities (e.g.: explain how you helped the team instead of just saying\nthat you are a team player); <\/li>
                      • Let them feel that you are proud of\nyour accomplishments;<\/li>
                      • Consider your vocabulary and use\nspecific words belonging to the industry. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                        Visual Presentation of a Resume<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                        A proper layout of the document and correct formatting\ndo matter when it comes to how to write a resume perfectly. An excellent visual\nlook of the document makes it easier to absorb the information too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        There are some rules to follow to format your resume: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        • The length of the resume is no more\nthan 2 pages. <\/li>
                        • Choose the common fonts which are\ncorrectly displayed by all systems \u2013 Times New Roman, Arial. <\/li>
                        • The most usual font sizes scheme is\n24 pt for your name, 14 pt for headings, 11 pt for the texts.<\/li>
                        • 1-inch margins. It is possible to\nreduce them to 0.5 inches if this is necessary to not transfer small fragments\nof text onto the next page.<\/li>
                        • You may use some color to distinguish\nsome important prices, but don\u2019t make your resume multi-colored and too busy. <\/li>
                        • Check the requirements for the file\nformat and make sure to save your resume in the correct one. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                          A resume must be impeccable in grammar. You must check\nit and correct all the errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          The skill of writing a good resume is crucial\nnowadays. And though even the best resume can’t guarantee that you get the job,\nit can help you to get to the next stage of the interview and impress your\nfuture employer. We hope that this guide on how to write a resume will help you\ngreatly. Good luck!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                          You might be surprised, but even the most experienced and skilled professionals often have difficulties with writing a resume. The…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=275"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":352,"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275\/revisions\/352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paytowritepaper.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}