Here's how to write a resume that will help you get hired in 11 easy steps:
Set up the formatting and style of your resume
Choose a resume layout
Add a resume header
Use an introduction in your resume
Focus on your work experience
Use numbers and action verbs
Demonstrate your skills
Emphasize your education
Add other optional sections
Proofread your resume
Save your resume as a PDF
1. SET THE FORMAT AND STYLE OF YOUR RESUME
Start your resume by opening a new document in your preferred word processor (e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Apple Pages). Then use the following resume formatting:
Set the margins: right margin—10 mm, left, top, and bottom margins—20 mm.
Make sure your page is set to portrait orientation
Choose a professional font for your resume, such as Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman
Set the font size to between 10 and 12 points
This formatting is used in Microsoft Word by default, so you don't need to adjust anything if you are starting with a new document.
Your resume should be one page long so as not to overwhelm the hiring manager. Only write a two-page resume if all of your information is relevant to the job or if you are applying for a management position.
ADDING STYLE TO YOUR RESUME
After formatting your resume, you need to choose a style.
The style of your resume includes all aesthetic details, such as:
the color of your resume
the font you choose
whether you use a sidebar or not
how you format your headings
For formal industries such as law, finance, or politics, you should stick to a simple, traditional resume style. Clean lines, no graphics, and dark colors such as navy blue or burgundy are most appropriate.
However, if you are seeking a job in a more creative industry, such as technology or marketing, you should use a more modern resume design. Modern resume designs incorporate brighter colors, sans serif fonts, and graphic details such as visual skill levels or sidebars.
If you are applying for a creative job, such as a graphic designer, consider using an even more creative visual resume to attract attention. Alternatively, use your skills to create your own resume.
Your name should always be the largest element on your resume so that it stands out, so use a font size larger than 20 points.
2. CHOOSE A RESUME LAYOUT
There are three main resume formats that most job seekers use today. Each format is structured to help you present and highlight different aspects of your professional experience.
These three formats include the chronological resume, the combination resume, and the functional resume.
The right format for you depends on your work history, the position you are applying for, and your skill set.
The classic and most common format is the chronological resume.
Most job seekers use the chronological resume format. This format is probably the best choice for you if you are just starting your career or have consistent experience in one industry and no long gaps in employment.
Chronological resumes focus on your work experience and list each job in order of when you held it (with your most recent position at the top).
Hiring managers want to be able to see how your career has progressed over time, and the chronological format allows you to convey this information quickly and clearly.
3. ADD A RESUME HEADER
Your resume should have an eye-catching resume header at the top of the page to quickly highlight your contact information for hiring managers.
The resume header should include your:
Last name and first name
Email address (use a professional one, such as firstname.lastname@gmail.com)
Phone number
You can also add this additional information:
Online portfolio or website (if relevant to the job)
Your LinkedIn
Your mailing address (if you want to show that you are a local resident)
4. START YOUR RESUME WITH YOUR GOALS
Hiring managers, especially at large companies, have to review many applications for each open position. With so much competition, it can be difficult to ensure that your resume gets the attention it deserves.
To grab a hiring manager's attention, your resume needs to state as quickly as possible why you are the right fit for the job. This is where a compelling resume introduction comes into play.
The introduction to your resume provides a brief overview of your experience, skills, and qualifications at the very beginning of your resume. It should consist of 3-5 sentences and can be written in sentence or bullet point format.
5. TAILOR YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE TO THE JOB ADVERTISEMENT
Next comes the “Work Experience” section of your resume, which is of most interest to many recruiters and employers (so it is important to format it correctly).
To make your “Work Experience” section shine, highlight each point in the job posting for the specific job you want. Carefully review the skills mentioned in the job description and demonstrate any of these skills that you possess with clear examples. Job descriptions and advertisements contain many clues about what the company wants from applicants.
Tailoring your “Work Experience” section to the job posting not only makes your resume more appealing to employers, but also helps you get through the applicant tracking system (ATS) software that many large companies use.
ATS software automatically scans your resume for keywords related to specific skills to determine if you are a good fit for the role. If the program doesn't find the right keywords, it automatically rejects your application before a hiring manager even sees it. Including skills from the job posting will help you create an ATS-friendly resume by targeting the specific keywords the program is looking for and give you an advantage in the hiring process.
6. USE NUMBERS AND ACTION VERBS THROUGHOUT YOUR RESUME
Many applicants make the mistake of simply listing past responsibilities in the “Work Experience” section and entering their resume. Phrases such as “responsible for” and “assigned to” are technically correct, but they don't do a very good job of explaining what you accomplished at work.
To write a better resume, focus on your accomplishments instead, and supplement them with specific numbers that illustrate the impact of your work.
Action verbs catch the hiring manager's attention and make you appear proactive and responsible. Start each bullet point with an action verb to make your application stand out.
Precise figures give an idea of your achievements and show hiring managers what you can achieve for their company if you are hired.
7. SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS
Your key skills should be prominently displayed in the “Skills” section of your resume to give employers an overview of the ‘hard’ and “soft” skills that make you a good fit for the position.
Hard skills are acquired through specialized training, workshops, work experience, or education, and include the skills needed to operate equipment in the workplace.
“Soft” skills are related to your personality, and you develop them simply by interacting with people and performing everyday tasks at work. Organizational skills, such as coordination and self-management, are good examples of soft skills that are valued by employers.
Include a mix of hard and soft skills on your resume to show employers that you have a balance of technical savvy and the ability to work well with colleagues and customers.
OTHER POINTS WHERE YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT YOUR SKILLS
Don't limit your skills to the “Your Skills” section. Elaborate on each skill in the introduction to your resume and in the sections describing your work experience.
For example, if you listed Spanish as a key skill, you could mention how many customers you served in Spanish during your previous job.
In addition, soft skills should be demonstrated with examples in the experience section, rather than listed in the skills section of your resume. This is because soft skills are difficult to measure without context and tell employers very little about your actual abilities.
MEASURE OR ESTIMATE YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERTISE
Chances are, you are not an expert in all the skills listed on your resume. So how do you communicate your exact level of expertise to employers?
For “hard” skills such as Photoshop or languages, consider adding an indication of your level of proficiency. This indication can be either written or visual, for example in the form of a skills bar or graph.
8. WRITE DOWN YOUR EDUCATION DETAILS
The “Education” section should usually come after all your work experience, but you can put it first if you have never worked full-time or are currently a student.
The “Education” section of your resume should only include your highest degree. If you did not attend university, include your high school diploma instead. The exception to this is teaching positions at higher education institutions and college admissions. For these roles, you need to write an academic resume and list all your degrees, including high school diplomas, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and PhDs.
How to list your education on your resume
Your degree title
The name of your college or high school (and its location) Your graduation date (if it happened within the last 15 years)
Your GPA (if it is above 3.5)
You can also add any relevant coursework to your resume if you think it matches the job posting and the company's needs, or if you have recently graduated and are writing your resume.
9. ADD ANY ADDITIONAL RELEVANT SECTIONS TO YOUR RESUME
Depending on your work experience, consider adding additional resume sections. For example, certificates and awards are relevant if they are related to your chosen career, while hobbies and volunteer work are useful if you are writing a resume without experience.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Although they are unlikely to influence an employer's final hiring decision, adding hobbies and interests to your resume will help highlight your personality and make your resume stand out.
In addition, mentioning your passions can show hiring managers that you are a good fit for the job.
For example, if you are applying for a job at an outdoor company such as REI, highlighting your passion for hiking or fishing is a great way to show that you are a good fit for other employees and personally interested in the company's mission.
If you're unsure which hobbies to include on your resume, stick to those that are relevant to the job or demonstrate general “soft” skills.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Are you passionate about volunteering? Including volunteer work on your resume is a great way to show employers that you are involved in your community and interested in more than just a paycheck.
In addition, volunteer work is a good addition to your resume if you lack work experience because it shows that you have a strong work ethic and are willing to devote your time to something.
If you have recently graduated or are just starting your career, be sure to include any volunteer experience you have on your resume.
CERTIFICATES
If you are applying for a job that requires specific certificates, you should add a section to your resume that clearly states that you have them.
For example, if you work in education, construction, or engineering, you probably have several professional certifications. In these fields, it is recommended that you add a “Certifications” section to your resume.
AWARDS
Whether you were named “Employee of the Month” or received official recognition from a professional association, awards are a great addition to your resume. Awards show employers that you were very successful in your previous position and help you stand out from other applicants.
PUBLICATIONS
If you work in academia, writing, or law, you have likely published some work under your name, either online or in an academic journal.
Adding a publications section to your resume shows employers some of your relevant work and gives them an idea of the quality of your writing and research.
LANGUAGES
Do you speak three or more languages? Creating a special section for languages on your resume is a good way to showcase your multilingual skills.
Knowing foreign languages is useful for many different professions, but you should only add a special section for them if you are applying for a job where speaking different languages is very important.
PERSONAL PROJECTS
If you are someone who has worked on several personal projects, including them in your resume shows employers that you are passionate about your work and capable of motivating yourself.
10. PROOFREAD YOUR RESUME (SEVERAL TIMES)
Take some time to read it at least a couple of times. You'd be surprised how easy it is to make a typo and how difficult it is to spot it in your own writing.
You should also give your resume to a friend or relative to review so they can help you reduce the number of common resume writing mistakes.
To simplify the proofreading process, here is a checklist that you can tick off as you go:
Is your contact information accurate?
Does your resume fit on one page (or two pages if you have extensive experience)?
Is your information easy to read (fonts above 10pt, sections don't look too crowded)?
Does the design of your resume match the position you are applying for?
Have you included all the relevant sections in your resume?
Have you included quantitative achievements in the “Work Experience” section?
Does your resume meet the requirements listed in the job posting?
Is your resume free of typos and grammatical errors?
Is all of your information clearly formatted and professional?
11. SAVE YOUR RESUME IN PDF FORMAT.
Once you are sure your resume is ready and you have checked it for errors, you can save it. The best option is to save your resume in PDF format. PDF files retain their formatting, even if you use fonts that are not installed on the hiring manager's computer, so they will appear exactly as you want them to.
However, if the job posting specifically requests your resume in Microsoft Word (DOCX) or another format, follow those instructions.
HOW TO FIND A JOB?
The job search process usually looks something like this:
DEFINE YOUR CAREER GOALS
Before you start looking for a job, you need to define your exact career goals. When thinking about your career goals, think strategically.
First, determine where you want to be in 5-10 years. Do you want to be in a leadership position? Then determine what skills and experience you will need to get a job in that position. Finally, look for positions that are most likely to give you the skills and experience you need to reach that level.
Create a resume. Write a resume that is easy to read, concise, and compelling.
Choose the main places to post your resume.
In Kyrgyzstan, these are mainly HeadHunter.kg or employment.kg.
Be rational.
When applying for jobs, don't spread yourself too thin. Instead, apply specifically to companies and positions that are a good fit for you.
#1. Only apply for positions that you are genuinely interested in and are qualified for. For example, if you are a junior financial analyst with two years of experience, you will never get a senior banker position—it's simply not what the recruiter is looking for.
#2. Apply for 5-10 positions every day, 5 days a week. Job hunting is a process, not something you do in one evening and then call it a day. For the average job seeker, the job search process can take up to 5 months, so don't be discouraged if you don't get good results in just a week!
RESEARCH COMPANIES
Learn about the role and the company and see if they are a good fit for you.
Before clicking “Apply,” you should do some research on the company and the position. And trust us, it will really help you in your job search!
You need this information to:
Tailor your resume to the specific job.
Personalize your cover letter for the position/company.
Better answer interview questions.
Negotiate a higher salary.
Here's how you can do your research:
First, check out the background information on the company. Here's the information you should look for:
What is their product/service? Do you have experience with something similar? If so, you can mention this in your cover letter or interview.
What is their company culture like? Is their culture the type you would fit into? Mention this in your interview or cover letter (and explain how/why!).
What is the latest news/developments at the company? You can mention this during the interview to “surprise” your interviewer!
Then read the job description carefully and really understand what the role entails:
Do you have all the skills and experience listed in the job description? If so, does your resume reflect this?
Have you mentioned all the necessary skills in your resume?
Is this position right for you at this time? Do you have the skills and years of experience for it? Or are you overqualified?
What is the most important experience required for this role? Make sure it is reflected in your resume and cover letter.
Finally, you may also want to research the following:
What is the average salary range for this position with your years of experience?
What is the average salary for a similar position at your company?
Is the company really the kind of place you would enjoy working at? You can find this out by reading online reviews.
WRITE A PERSONALIZED COVER LETTER
Don't just use a cover letter template to copy and paste. Explain to the recruiter why you are a good fit for the role and the company.
A cover letter is a one-page document that you send as part of your job application (along with your resume). On average, a cover letter is about 250-400 words long and serves as a summary of your resume. Your resume is an objective account of your past experience, skills, and education. A cover letter is a written document about how you intend to use that experience and those skills to help the company you are applying to.
TAILOR YOUR RESUME TO THE JOB
Don't just send the same resume for every position. Tailor it based on the skills and experience each employer is looking for.
First, read the job description. Determine which skills/experience are required for the position and which are not.
Review your resume and change the job title to the role you are applying for.
Then mention your key skills in the “Skills” section.
In your resume, highlight your years of experience in this position.
In the “Your Work Experience” section, talk about your main achievements that are relevant to the position you are applying for.
PASS THE INTERVIEW
Memorize common interview questions, practice, and pass the interview successfully.
Before going to the interview, do some preparation. This includes:
Get a good night's sleep before the interview. You will feel better, be less tense, and make a better impression on the interviewer.
Eat breakfast to recharge your energy before the interview.
Check the interview location and plan your route. Make sure you can physically get there on time.
Choose clothing appropriate for the position you are applying for.
Prepare the clothes you are going to wear the next day in advance so that you don't end up spending too much time deciding what to wear.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, GET THE JOB!
GOOD LUCK!
Curriculum Vitae (CV) means “course of life” in Latin. In contrast, ‘Resume’ means “summary” in French.
A CV is a very detailed document that describes your career path step by step, including all kinds of personal information. You can think of a CV as a comprehensive description of everything you have ever done, all the achievements you are proud of, and all the publications that bear your name.
You need to update your CV every time you achieve something new academically or professionally. This means every time you get a new job, publish something new, obtain a new certificate, and so on.
There is no rule about how long a resume should be — depending on the amount of experience, it can range from 2 to 8 pages.
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR CV:
Full name
Contact information
Research interests
Education
Publications (both scientific articles and books)
Teaching or lecturing experience
Work experience
Conferences and courses
Skills
Certificates
Languages
Scholarships
Recommendations
A resume is a short document created for the purpose of applying for a specific job.
Unlike a CV, you should try to keep your resume as short as possible. In 99% of cases, you want your resume to be no longer than one page. If you have more than 15 years of experience or you truly believe that additional information you can mention will increase the value of your application, you can make it a maximum of two pages.
In your resume, you should only mention aspects of your work experience and skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. A good resume highlights the specific contributions you have made in your previous jobs and demonstrates how your various skills can be useful for the position you are applying for.
A resume is usually accompanied by a cover letter, which states your intention to apply for the job. The cover letter builds on the skills and experience you mentioned in your resume and explains how they will help you succeed in the job you are applying for.
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR RESUME
Full name
Your job title or the title of the position you are applying for
Contact information
Work experience
Education
Relevant skills
Languages and proficiency
Relevant certifications and interests (if any)
CV VS RESUME - WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
Now that you have a clear understanding of what a CV is and what a resume is, here is a complete list of the differences between a CV and a resume:
Length - The first and most noticeable difference between a CV and a resume is how long each one is. A resume should be short and concise (usually 1 page), while a CV is more comprehensive (it can be up to 2-3 pages long, depending on your experience).
Function - A CV is mainly used for academic purposes, such as applying for a research program, obtaining a PhD, or joining a university faculty. A resume, on the other hand, is written for a regular job in a company.
The type of information you include - A CV is an academic diary in which you include all your academic qualifications, achievements, and certifications. It is universal in nature, as it can be updated as needed. Considering that a resume should be created (or at least customized) for each job you apply for, it focuses more on your professional achievements rather than your academic ones.
CV VS RESUME - THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE US AND THE EU
By now, you should have a clear idea of the differences between a CV and a resume. This is where it gets a little more complicated: these differences tend to apply only to the United States.
Throughout Europe, the word CV is essentially just a synonym for resume. So, if you are applying for a job in the EU and the vacancy asks for a CV, you should know that it actually means a resume.