PROFESSIONAL RESUME WRITING | COMMUNICATION SKILLS

A resume provides a outline of your education, work history, credentials, and different accomplishments and skills. There are also optional sections which includes a resume objective and hobbies. Resumes are the foremost common document requested of candidates in job applications.

It is “snapshot” of you with the intent of capturing and emphasizing interests and secure you an interview.

Since your resume is a primary tool in your job search, it has to be rigorously written.

RESUME WRITING GUIDELINES

• When you’re writing your resume, it’s vital to keep in mind the aim of the resume.
• The resume is supposed to spark interest in you as a candidate. Your resume writing ought to be with the intent to get to an interview, not a job offer.
• It isn’t meant to list every single course, talent or accomplishment you’ve got. Remember, resumes get interviews, not jobs.

THE RESUME SHOULD DO THE FOLLOWING:

1. Create a positive first impression.
2. This is done by showcasing your communication skills and making the resume simple to read. The resume should be summary and easy to follow.
3. Tell who you are.
4. When you’re writing your resume, you’re telling the reader who you’re and why they should think about you for a position.
5. Describe what you have learned.
6. Especially for a brand new grad, your resume should highlight the courses and projects that are applicable for the job you hope to be employed for.
7. List your accomplishments.
8. Your resume must highlight any special accomplishments you’ve achieved. If you got a 4.0 while working full time, were awarded a special scholarship, or received special recognition of some kind, it must be listed below your accomplishments.

In order to make your resume pleasant and simple to read, you’ll want to follow some resume writing format guidelines. The resume format is important because you want to make sure to keep the reader’s interest and, finally, be entailed for the interview.

GUIDELINES FOR WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A RESUME WRITING

When you are writing a resume, there are several resume formats you can select, including chronological, functional, and targeted resumes.

However, regardless of the format of resume you decide, there are some points that most resumes should follow.

Resume Length

Your resume should be as concise as possible; two pages is the maximum length, but one page is preferable. If you need to get your resume on a single page, tighten it up and get extra space.

Font and Size

Do not use ornate fonts that are difficult to read. Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, or a simpler font is best. Your font size should be between 10 and 12 points although your name and the section headings can be a little larger and/or bold.

Layout

However, you choose to arrange the sections of your resume, be sure to keep each section uniform. For instance, if you put the name of one company in italics, every company name should be in italics. If you bold one job title, bold all.

Information to Avoid

Do not include personal data like birthday, height, weight, legal status, children, etc., unless the position requires it.

Accuracy

Be sure to edit your resume before sending it. Check spelling, grammar, tenses, names of firms and people, etc. Have a friend or career services counselor check over your resume as well. Proofreading will confirm that your resume writing is perfect.

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Here’s some information that you should be sure to include on your resume!
1. Identification

Include your name, address, phone number, and email address in the identification section at the top of your resume.

2. Objective
This section is optional. If you choose to include a resume objective, keep it concise and specific; state your required job or field, and what you hope to accomplish in that field.

A resume objective is a statement of your goals for employment, typically listed at the top of your resume. A resume objective is usually one or two sentences long.

When you’re crafting your resume objective, you must focus on particular skills and experiences that are directly associated to the job. Another effective strategy is to keywords from the employment listing in your resume objective.

3. Profile

Another optional section is a resume profile which has outline of your skills, experiences, and goals written specifically for an employment posting.

4. Education

Include the degrees you’ve received written in reverse order (with the most recent degree listed first).

Be sure to include the name of each institution, its location, and your date of graduation (or expected date of graduation).

When applicable, include your major/minor fields, as well as your GPA and any honours, publications, and projects.

5. Experience

This section can include jobs, internships, and volunteer work. High school students might also include clubs and sports teams when applicable.

Include the name of the company, the position, and dates of employment.

6. Skills (Optional)
Include any computer skills with which you are proficient, particularly if they’re associated to the position for which you’re applying.

Include foreign languages with which you’re good; state both the language and your level of familiarity (beginning, intermediate, proficient, fluent).

7. Volunteer Work (Optional)
You can include a volunteer experience section to convey your leadership, communication skills, etc. List the name of the organization, the dates of your volunteer work, and your achievements.

8. Hobbies and Interests (Optional)
You can also include a section on your hobbies and interests if they relate to the position. For example, if you are applying to work at a sporting goods store, you can include your passion for basketball.

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CREATING A PROFESSIONAL RESUME

Your resume writing must be professional and polished, because if you do not have an outstanding resume, your application materials most likely would not get a second look from any hiring manager.

Your resume should be straightforward – avoid small fonts, dense blocks of text, imprecise language or excessive jargon, and inconsistent formatting.

POST RESUME

After the resume is written, make sure to proofread. Ensure your resume gives the best first impression possible!

Print the resume out, to visualize how it looks for a manager that might like hard copies. Adjust any spacing as necessary. You will want printed resume copies to take with you to job fairs and interviews.

WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE WHEN YOU’RE WRITING A RESUME

• The Word “Resume.”
• The Date You Wrote the Resume.
• Any Personal Data Beyond Your Contact Information.
• Physical Characteristics (height, weight, etc.) 
• Unrelated Work Experience.
• Unrelated Hobbies.
• Obsolete Skills