How to Make a Resume That Stands Out?
If you have ever tried creating a resume, you know there are a thousand thoughts and questions that you have when you sit in front of your computer screen to create a resume. Questions like “What all should I add to my resume?”, “Which qualifications should I specify and in which order?” “what tone should the resume have?” etc. As intimidating as it looks, creating a resume is no rocket science; it is just a calculated approach.
You only need to showcase the best parts of your education and professional history. It should weave a story that grips the interviewer. If you’re unsure where to start, using a free resume builder can simplify the process and guide you through the essential steps. How do you create such a professional story? You will know it all in this comprehensive guide on how to make a resume.
How to Make a Resume? – Steps to Create a Winning Resume
When you are fresh out of college with a graduate or an undergraduate degree in your hand, your resume needs to be not only linear but professional. Therefore, the following steps with added tips will tell you what to do and how to make a resume.
Step 1 – Add the necessary details in the beginning
Overthinking is what stops many from creating a good resume. So, don’t think and start with the most basic information at the top. Your name, address, email ID, and phone number should always be present. If privacy is your concern, you can hold off adding your address.
Step 2 – Present your education & professional history
You know your educational and professional qualifications, but do you know exactly what you have participated in?
Start with your educational qualification. Find out every academic degree you have, every training certificate you have acquired, and marks you have received in every major you have done. Don’t forget to mention your GPA, academic honors, and societies you were a part of during college. Even if you have gotten a participation trophy, say it – it showcases your initiative.
In the professional section, specify your work experience, but do so in a direct way. Don’t just highlight your position in the organization you worked with. Focus on what you actually did. Be thorough about your work experience, and don’t forget to mention your accomplishments. Moreover, adding statistics on how your contribution helped your company grow can be extremely useful.
Step 3 – Identify and mention your skills
Your skills must match your qualifications and past profession. Return to the section where you have written your educational and professional history and start extracting information about your skills. Three types of skills count here:
➔ Professional Skills
These relate to what you have learned and what you have done. For instance, if you have gotten out of culinary school and have worked as a sous chef, you can specify the type of dishes you have created. You can also mention the kind of reception you got. If you have been part of the IT brigade, say the programming language you are good at.
➔ Functional Skills
You acquire functional skills on the job. You can list them under your strengths, such as problem-solving, communication, operational proficiency, and team collaboration.
➔ Adaptive Skills
These inform the organization of how you work and showcase your personal traits. You can mention persistence, energy, patience, or other attributes you have in this section.
Step 4 – Organize your resume based on where you are applying
Once you have collected all the information, you can’t just put it as they are. First, research the organization you are applying to thoroughly. Find out which of your skills and qualifications they will benefit from or will pay the most attention to. Then, order your accomplishments accordingly.
Once done, interlace the information with organization-specific keywords. It will inform the organization how well your skills fit with their requirements.
Step 5 – Start working on your draft
After completely organizing the collected information, create a draft of your amazing resume. Here are the tips you must keep in mind.
➔ Keep it Short
A lengthy resume feels like a never-ending list of accomplishments and skills that often induce yawns in an interviewer. Therefore, keep your resume only one page long. But you can keep it to two pages if you have prominent professional experience.
➔ Keep the Format Symmetrical
Ensure that all four margins of the page you want your resume on are equal. It will make your write-up look organized and pleasing to the eyes. Bold the information you want to highlight. For instance, you can emphasize the skills that are helpful to the organization this way. Keep fonts to size 12 for the paragraphs and size 14 for the headings.
➔ Use Tenses Properly
When you are specifying your educational and professional experience, put tenses correctly. If you are currently working in an organization, use the present tense. Use past tense to highlight the things you have already done. It is a simple tip, but important, nonetheless.
Step 6 – Find someone to take a look at your resume
Get feedback for your resume by asking someone who already has a job. You may find that some of your words aren’t clear, or you might have missed something. A friend can always help. However, asking a teacher is also a good idea. Write down the feedback and fine-tune your resume accordingly.
Final Thoughts
It doesn’t take much to create a simple resume, but it takes a lot of skill to create one that can get you a job. Be precise, thorough, and specific about the information you provide. Also, align your data with the organization where you hope to get a job.
Combining them will weave an exciting story, gripping the interviewer and giving you a shot at the success you need.
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