A Winning Resume
What does a winning resume look like?
A resume is your personal marketing statement, designed to convince a potential employer that you have what it takes to be the best match for an opening position, and to inspire the employer to pick up the phone and set up an interview with you.
The first impression of your resume is the most important. Research suggests that readers scan resumes within about 20 seconds, so it’s crucial to show them at a glance why you’re the best fit for the job. In order to write a winning resume, pay attention to the following points:
- Relevance:
Highlight only the relevant qualifications on your resume, in accordance with the requirements of the specific job you’re applying for. Also, focus more on the unique accomplishments that make you stand out. Leave it out whatever does not add to your value as a potential candidate.
- Length:
Keep in mind that a resume is a summary of your experience and should be kept short – two pages max. Make sure to include a cover letter when you present a resume to an employer in order to have room to elaborate if there is anything you need to emphasise more on.
- Format:
Keep the layout of your resume simple with bulleted information. Use a readable font, concise language and add visual attraction to your resume with subtle pops of color, to make sure your resume stands out and sticks in the employer’s mind.
- Proofread:
This should go without saying that proofreading your resume is a must. Spelling mistakes and typos make you look careless – and no one wants to hire a careless person! Read your resume out loud to catch your errors. More conveniently, get a trained professional to read and critique your resume. And make sure you get help with your resume well before the application is due.
Here are 7 Sections That Every Resume Must Include:
- Header:
The first thing to put on the resume is your name, followed by your address, telephone number, and email address. Do not include personal data such as age, gender, marital status, social insurance number! Use a font for this section that stands out.
- Profile statement:
Make this brief, unique, and matched to the job/company/organization for which you are
applying – tell them a little about who you are. You can win a job by this section only, so be creative and honest.
- Work Experience:
Your work experience is crucial for the employer to decide if you’re qualified for the job. Start with the most current job of yours and include the name of the company, location, title of your position, and dates you worked at the company (in month and year). Then in bullet points, explain your accomplishments at the company.
- Education:
Up next, you should summarize your highest levels of education. If you have no relevant work experience, education should be emphasized first. When stating your education, begin with the highest degree and include the name of educational institution, location, the degree you earned and the date you earned it. State your GPA only it is truly outstanding.
- Skills and Strengths:
This section gives you a chance to showcase your qualifications for the job. List several points highlighting your strengths and skills that are pertinent to the position. Make sure the skill is outstanding and preferably not so cliché!
- Honors and Awards:
Include honours, citations, scholarships, and any other recognitions. If you have earned only one or two awards, list them in the Education section with the related details.
- Extracurricular Activities and Interests:
This section gives the employer to get to know your interests and accomplishments beyond academic and job-related achievements. Include impressive activities and interests such as clubs you belong to, activities that demonstrate communication skills and any team sports, band or musical group you participate in.
Finally, do not include references on your resume, unless the employer asks for them explicitly.