Resume Creation Guide
Follow our comprehensive step-by-step guide to create a professional resume that gets results.
Guide Contents
- Step 1: Preparation and Information Gathering
- Step 2: Choosing the Right Format
- Step 3: Creating a Strong Header
- Step 4: Writing a Compelling Summary
- Step 5: Detailing Work Experience
- Step 6: Highlighting Skills and Qualifications
- Step 7: Including Education and Certifications
- Step 8: Customizing for Specific Jobs
- Step 9: Design and Formatting Tips
- Step 10: Review and Refinement
Preparation and Information Gathering
Before you start writing your resume, gather all the information you'll need. This will make the creation process smoother and ensure you don't miss important details.
What to collect:
- Contact information (phone, email, LinkedIn profile)
- Employment history with dates, company names, and job titles
- Key responsibilities and accomplishments for each position
- Education history, degrees, certifications
- Technical skills, soft skills, and language proficiencies
- Achievements, awards, and quantifiable results
Pro tip: Create a master document with all your professional information. You can then select relevant details when tailoring your resume for specific jobs.
Choosing the Right Format
The format you choose should highlight your strengths and minimize any potential concerns. There are three main resume formats:
Chronological
Lists work history from most recent to oldest.
Best for: Candidates with steady work history in the same industry.
Functional
Emphasizes skills and abilities rather than work history.
Best for: Career changers, those with gaps, or limited experience.
Combination
Blends chronological and functional formats.
Best for: Experienced professionals highlighting both skills and experience.
Creating a Strong Header
Your header is the first thing employers see. It should be clean, professional, and contain all necessary contact information.
Essential header elements:
- Full name (in larger font, 18-22pt)
- Phone number (make sure it's one you answer)
- Professional email address (avoid unprofessional addresses)
- LinkedIn profile URL (optional but recommended)
- Location (city and state/province, full address not needed)
Optional: If relevant to your field, include your personal website, portfolio link, or professional social media profiles.
Writing a Compelling Summary
A strong professional summary or objective statement gives employers a quick snapshot of your qualifications and career goals. Keep it concise—2-3 sentences or 30-50 words.
Professional Summary Template:
[Your Job Title] with [X] years of experience in [industry/field]. Skilled in [2-3 key skills relevant to the position]. Proven track record of [notable achievement with metrics if possible].
Example Summary:
"Marketing Manager with 6 years of experience in digital marketing and brand development. Skilled in campaign strategy, content creation, and analytics. Increased client conversion rates by 35% through targeted social media campaigns."
Detailing Work Experience
This section should highlight your relevant professional experience, focusing on achievements rather than just duties.
For each position, include:
- Company name, location, and dates of employment (month/year)
- Your job title
- 3-5 bullet points highlighting achievements and responsibilities
The STAR method for bullet points:
- Situation:Set the context
- Task:What was required of you
- Action:What you did
- Result:The outcome (with metrics when possible)
Example bullet point:
"Led a team of 5 designers to redesign the company website, reducing bounce rate by 40% and increasing lead generation by 25% within three months of launch."
Highlighting Skills and Qualifications
Your skills section should showcase your most relevant abilities for the position. This is especially important for ATS optimization.
Effective skills organization:
Group your skills into categories to make them more scannable:
Technical Skills
- Programming Languages
- Software Proficiency
- Technical Tools
Soft Skills
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem-solving
Remember to include keywords from the job description, but be honest about your skill level. If appropriate for your field, consider using proficiency indicators (e.g., Expert, Advanced, Intermediate, Basic).
Including Education and Certifications
List your educational background in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest or most recent degree.
For each entry, include:
- Name of institution and location
- Degree earned and field of study
- Graduation date (or expected date)
- GPA (if 3.5 or higher)
- Relevant coursework, honors, or achievements (optional)
Include relevant certifications, especially those that are industry-recognized or required for the position.
Customizing for Specific Jobs
One of the most crucial steps is tailoring your resume for each position you apply for. This increases your chances of passing ATS screening and impressing hiring managers.
How to customize effectively:
- Analyze the job description and identify key requirements
- Rearrange your skills section to prioritize the most relevant skills
- Adjust your professional summary to align with the specific role
- Emphasize relevant accomplishments in your work experience
- Use the exact keywords from the job description where applicable
Use our ATS Optimizer tool to check how well your resume matches the job description and get suggestions for improvement.
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