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If you are looking to get your dream job, or probably your first job, it all begins with preparing a resume that stands out and separates you from the lot. There are a lot of styles and formats of writing a resume. This piece will help you find the right resume that shoots up your chances of landing that dream job.

What Do You Know About Resumes?

First, a resume is simply a one or two page outlook of your personal, academical and professional experience in a way that gives the employer an idea about who you are and whether you qualify to fill the position available.

Some recruiters may demand a curriculum vitae (CV). A CV is not so different from a resume, but most people make the mistake of thinking they are both the same. A CV can't be altered and is meant to be a complete record of your career; any other new developments will be added in the cover letter. A resume is usually a targeted list of your skills, whereas a CV is focused around one's achievements more than their skills.

How Do I Start?

The simple way to make the writing of a resume less overwhelming than it seems is to break it down into short steps. Once it is broken down, it will all begin to come together smoothly. Here's how you begin:

1. Brainstorming is key

Ponder on how far you have come, everything you have done to get to where you are now and the different positive qualities you possess that make you the perfect candidate for the job you are applying to. Write them down.

2. Identify your experience

Pen down your educational and professional experience using bullet points, volunteer experiences also count. Be sure to also include where and when you took part in each.

3. Outline your skills

This is the part where you get to express yourself. Skills are those qualities that you possess that makes you the best person for the position. Skills can be organizational, communicative, technological, etc.

Types Of Formats

Since you already have the information written down and ready to place into a resume, you're halfway done. This is the part where you will want to choose how you want resume would look like. There are also tools you can use to customize your digital outlook.

For example, would you prefer to use Microsoft Word to create a simple layout? Or, you are probably abreast with graphic design software like InDesign which can be used to create your template.

Remember that it is best to send your resume as a PDF, regardless of how you create it, if the application portal allows such files to be uploaded.

Arrange your information in order, so the categories that have a light amount of information underneath. For example, students would put their educational experience above their professional experience since they have more of the educational experience than the professional experience, but graduates would place their professional experience above the educational.

Sections To Include In My Resume

Even though there are variations in individuals and jobs, the general sections for a resume are outlined below:

– Basic Personal Information

This part of your resume is usually identified with a font that stands out from the rest of the sections, this section should include your full name, home address, email address, and phone number. It is also acceptable to include your LinkedIn handle.

– Profile Summary

This is where you make a brief introduction about yourself and the skills you possess. Be sure to make it short and sweet such that it can neither be written in full sentence or bulleted.

An example is, “an energetic freshman with great leadership skills pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration. I aim to learn new technologies and apply my problem-solving skills to improve workflow through measurable outputs.

– Relevant Coursework

If you are an entry-level applicant, you are likely to not have much or any working experience. This is where your coursework steps in to show that you have command over certain topics, which is why you must add it to your resume just in case, for example, Relevant "Arts" Coursework, Relevant "Physics" Coursework, etc. You can put it in a single column or two-column format with the classes that are relevant to the job you are applying for, well listed. Relevant "ENTER SUBJECT" Coursework then becomes the header for this section.

– Community / Volunteer Work

One key thing that employers are always looking out for is a well-rounded Employee and community involvement or volunteer work will score you some points because it creates the impression that you care about your community, you are not all about taking, and that you use your time wisely. If you've been in a leadership position in any type of role or volunteered in community activity, you might want to add it under this section. Not forgetting where and to what extent you contributed, it is very important.

– Skills

This section is very crucial to the whole outlook of the resume. It tells the employer or recruiter directly about what you are capable of doing, what you know, and whether you would be of value to the company. This way, they can relate your skills to the job requirements and know how you would perform. Your skill section can be written in many ways, they can either be divided by skillset or bullet list in columns.

– Awards And Honors

If you happen to have received any honors or awards, it will be best to include them under this section, showing that you have been recognized for your achievement. Be sure to add the reason and date for the award.

– Certification Of Training

Aside from degrees, certifications are just as important to make your resume look good. Add any certifications or any training courses you participated in under this section especially when they relate to the job you applied for.

Here are some resume samples.

As you put your resume together, here are some DOs and DON'Ts you should keep in mind:

DOs:

Keep your list in bullet points
Submit your resume in PDF format
Try as much as possible to be honest
Let someone go through your resume before you submit it
Use keywords from the job description in your resume.
Your resume should be on one page
Update your resume.

DON'Ts

Repeat information
Add photos or other personal information like sex, age, religion, gender
Exaggerate or lie to impress
Use an unprofessional email address
Use different formats for dates or other information

Conclusion

When you begin to write your resume, make sure it is customized to suit the position you are applying for. The safest way is to make good use of the keywords from the job description in your resume to show how qualified you are for the job.

And if you try to see resume writing as a fun activity instead of the tedious exercise it may seem to be, you would begin to enjoy it. Resume writing allows you to discover and express yourself. Let it be fun, and you are on your way to possibly landing your dream job.

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