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Categories: Help | Security | Guides | NewsHow To Write Better Online Resumes
(A resume on Truho.)
This guide is excerpted from Resume 101 on The Success Manual
A basic resume contains details in these categories, in order:
1. Header and Footer: Header contains your contact information- name, address, phone, email, website (useful for people in the creative fields, where they can show their work). Social media profiles (if they are relevant- Behance, Linkedin, Pinterest) go in the footer. They go in header only if they contain most of your relevant online presence/activity.
2. Make the employer's job easier by hyperlinking your email address so they can just click on it to get in touch. Also put in active links (relevant Linkedin profile, social media links etc). Don't put in your full address, be safe, and just put in your city, state, and zip code.
3. Career summary: What you are, what you have done - modified for the job (when you are printing it out), to convince the employer of your value.
4. Skills Summary: Key abilities, especially the relevant ones. Keep less than 10 bullet points. Don't be vague. Use action verbs (see below). Highlight relevant skills from the job description, in 3-5 bullet points, each item in 'Adjective + Skill + Benefit' style. (E.g. 'Created successful online branding campaigns for phone brands to reach relevant online audiences at 60% lower cost' )
5. Work Experience: Key successes in jobs (list in reverse chronological order, with the most recent job on top). In PAR format: Problem, Action, Result.
E.g. 'The team was falling behind schedule (problem). I plugged the gaps (action) and productivity increased (result).'
Another useful style for telling your success stories: “I did … and as a result...'
Please be reasonable with your accomplishments. People have taken to the trend of overblown achievements, making it hard for employer/hiring manager to verify. Better work experience is also shown by a steady progression in level of job position.
In the technical fields, it is now common to list key skills used in every job you held.
6. Education: Your qualifications, especially the relevant stuff, and any spectacular grade. Format: Name of institution, location, major/degree
7. Awards: Accolades and recognition.
8. Professional Membership: Of institutes and associations.
9. Activities: Non-job actions undertaken.
10. Personal Information: Hobbies, social- Think twice before putting anything there.
What to list if you have little work experience?
- Focus on the skills and achievements you have had.
- Highlight your successes with skills in a variety of areas- side projects, internships, volunteer work etc.
- List Any References (or check on your old contacts)
- Accept that it is okay to start with a slim resume
Also read useful resume guides:
The Ultimate List of Tips For Great Resumes
What To Put on a Resume When You Have Nothing to Put On It
What Skills To Put On Your Resume
A Quick Guide To Great Words for Your Resume
The 6 Seconds Test For Resumes (And How To Survive It)
