A resume is the one opportunity that job seekers have to showcase their skills and experience for a potential employer in order to be selected for a follow-up interview. Learning how to write an impressive resume will increase a job candidate’s chances of finding quick employment.
Include All Vital Information Within the Proper Resume Format
A resume’s format has an impact on not only the appearance of the resume itself but how it will be viewed by employers. A standard resume format may look something like this:
- Personal information (name, address and contact information)
- Career objective
- Skills
- Work History
- Education
- References
A Career Objective Helps Tailor a Resume to Specific Employment
Although some job searches may focus on employment opportunities within a narrow career field, most employment seekers have a varied set of professional skills that could be successfully applied to differing career choices.
Individuals should keep a basic resume template and modify it to properly adhere to the skill set requested in the employment ads they choose to respond to. Dr. Katharine Hansen, the editor of QuintZine, an online newsletter for job seekers, suggests that those searching for a new career consider tailoring a specific career objective on their resumes for every new job they apply for.
A Professional Resume Should be Informative yet Concise
The Office of Personnel Management at USAJOBS emphasizes the importance of using a resume template that will allow for the greatest amount of information to be included in the smallest amount of space. Some tips for keeping a short resume format are:
- Use columns rather than rows to include information.
- Opt for a slightly smaller font.
- Include a resume statement that offers to provide references upon request, rather than listing references within the resume itself.
- Only provide recent employment history.
- Include only the highest education level. For example, if a job seeker has completed college and a graduate program, it is not necessary for him to list his high school.
The rationale for keeping a resume short is the idea that a hiring manager or job recruiter will only skim resumes rather than studying them in depth. A second page is often thought to be a waste. If a job seeker, however, is searching for a high level career that requires extensive education and experience, hiring managers will expect a longer resume from those job applicants and limiting information may be a bad idea.
Ensure a Proper Resume Layout With Resume Templates
Free resume templates are available online for all different types of careers. Applicants should select a template that allows them to best reflect their level of skill and experience. Selecting a resume template that is easily modified to different career objectives and job types will also increase a job seeker’s chances to be selected for an interview.
It is not necessary for most individuals searching for a new career to feel that they have to hire a professional resume writer to help them in their search for employment. Anyone with a good handle on his or her skills and qualifications can successfully construct a functional and professional resume that will impress a hiring manager enough to procure an interview.
Candice Edwards - Candice Gillingwater is a credit specialist and consumer advocate currently living in Georgia. Her goal is to educate the public about ...
