A Simple Guide on How to Write a Good Resume
An updated and modern resume is the key to unlocking your professional potential. Crafting a resume in such a way that highlights both your skillset and how you can provide value to an employer will give you more success when searching for opportunities. So whether they arise expectedly or unexpectedly, be sure yours reflects all those significant aspects of yourself! We know writing resumes isn’t easy, though (which is why these helpful do’s and don’ts are here!), but with some time and strategic insight into what recruiters want to see, you’ll have solidified yourself at the top of their list.
Resume Writing Do’s
Keep your resume clear and concise.
To make a great impression, craft an effective resume that grabs attention quickly. Then, highlight the most relevant skills and qualifications to get employers interested in 30 seconds or less!
Proofread your resume numerous times
A typo on a resume can leave the wrong impression and be detrimental to your job application. Therefore, it’s worth having an extra set of eyes take a look before submitting it, as minor errors can have lasting consequences.
Limit your resume to two pages
When creating your resume, ensure that you emphasize experiences and jobs within the past fifteen years. This allows employers to gain a much better understanding of skills relevant to today’s ever-evolving workplace environment.
Tailor your resume to suit the position you are applying for
Utilize your practical work experience or past accomplishments to demonstrate your ideal fit for this role. Carefully review the job description and note any relevant details that can help bolster your candidacy, such as from an employer’s website.
Highlight what you have accomplished
Put your best foot forward when showcasing what you can do! To focus on how well you perform, highlight the most impressive examples of success in the “Work experience” portion of your resume. Doing so allows recruiters and employers to understand better just how amazing an employee you are.
Be Honest
Don’t be tempted to exaggerate — honesty is always the best policy! Showcase your talents and trust in what you can bring to an employer. Have faith in yourself, and you will showcase the attributes that make it easy for employers to choose YOU.
Quantify your achievements
Show employers the impact you made – impress them with your accomplishments and competitive advantage! For example, reveal how many people you successfully managed, what kind of revenue increases were achieved through sales initiatives under your leadership, etc. Highlight these concrete successes to demonstrate why hiring or promoting you would be a great decision.
Use simple words and action verbs.
Your resume should be tailored to impress various readers- recruiters, Human Resources specialists, and even your potential employer. To maximize the impact of your accomplishments, avoid jargon – focus on solid verbs like handled, managed, led, developed, etc., demonstrating the value you can bring to any team!
Include unpaid work that shows off your skills
Including volunteer or cause-related experience on your resume is a great way to show potential employers that you have the skills required for their role. In addition, it provides tangible evidence of what kind of worker you are and shows them how passionate and engaged you are in causes important to you—qualities any workplace would benefit from! Highlight these experiences prominently under either “Work Experiences” or “Volunteer Work,” particularly if they align with the job description.
Double-check and include your contact information
Make sure your first page looks sharp and professional by providing accurate contact information at the start. Include your name, address, email and phone number – remember to double-check this.
Resume Writing Don’ts
Don’t use an inappropriate email address.
Your email is your online identity and first impression, so make sure it’s excellent! Stick to using only your name for an address that appears polished and professional – yet still uniquely yours. Avoid obscuring the truth with numbers or nicknames; they won’t add any gravitas in this digital world.
Don’t include unnecessary personal information.
When writing your resume, focus on the most important and relevant details of your experience. Leave out any personal information that could lead to bias in an employer’s decision-making process; this includes age, religious preference, political views – anything beyond what is necessary for a job application – plus never include sensitive data such as Social Security Number.
Don’t include a picture of yourself.
It’s important to remember that in the Philippines, including a photo on your resume can take away from the content and skills that employers are most interested in. Instead of how you look visually – it’s far more beneficial for them to be able to appreciate your qualifications!
Use only a few bullets.
Show the employer why you are a great fit – condense your resume into reader-friendly sections containing up to seven key and relevant points. This allows employers to identify what value you can bring to their organization quickly.
Don’t use personal pronouns.
Crafting your resume in the third person offers an exciting perspective on key career accomplishments and experiences. Showcase yourself as a professional by eliminating any use of first-person pronouns – it’s all about creating a polished, engaging summary that highlights relevant qualifications without crossing into the overly informal territory.
Don’t simply list job responsibilities.
Take ownership of your job title and showcase the successes you have achieved! Showcase your talents by adding a personal touch to your role, giving concrete examples showing how far you’ve come.
Don’t make general statements.
Transform your statements into powerful indicators of success. Rather than use vague phrases, provide tangible evidence such as “Achieved $XX in cost savings by streamlining processes and improving efficiencies.” Personalize your experience to show employers the measurable impact you can have on their organization!
Don’t include reasons for leaving previous jobs.
Your resume is your first impression, so let it make a lasting one! Highlight all the fantastic things you have achieved and showcase how valuable an asset you would be to any prospective employer. Leaving out reasons for leaving ensures enthusiasm in your professional experience shines through.
Refrain from including references.
Your references can help you get the job of your dreams, so take care to have them handy if a prospective employer expresses serious interest in hiring you. Compile their contact details on an independent sheet and provide it at leisure when requested – this will demonstrate preparedness and foresight!
Don’t include hobbies or interests.
It’s understandable to feel hesitant when introducing your hobbies in an interview, but don’t let that stop you from being proactive. If any of your extracurricular activities have relevance for the role on offer, demonstrating how they can make you a great fit is a surefire way to increase confidence and show employers why they should hire you!
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