I’ve been there. You just found a posting for your dream job and the only thing that stands between you and an interview is your resume. You know you’re perfect for the job but how do prove that on paper? Follow these tips to write a resume that will help you stand out from the crowd. Your well written resume will highlight your qualifications and help you get that dream job you’ve been working so hard to get.
Resume Appearance
The general appearance of your resume is the first thing that your future employer will notice. Maintain a professional look by keeping your format consistent and avoiding any grammatical errors. If you’re converting to a PDF document, make sure it formats properly.
Resume Organization
Assume that your future employer will be scanning your application quickly. With this in mind, organize your resume in a way that highlights your most relevant experiences. Separate information into sections to make it easy to read. Doing so makes an immediate favorable impression. Aim for just one page. But if you need a second page, use that space wisely.
Your resume should include:
- Contact information
- A brief summary of your skills or statement of your professional objective relative to the job description
- Educational background
- Professional experience, including both paid and unpaid positions
- Affiliations, awards, and publications
Provide references in a separate document instead of listing them on your resume.
Many employers prefer that you list your work experience in reverse chronological order. However, if you have frequent gaps in your employment or have limited professional experience, you may want to focus on describing your relevant skills (functional resume example). Either way, the general idea is to organize your experience and skills in a way that highlights your qualifications for the job.
Use specific headings can help draw attention to your qualifications.
For example, instead of using a generic heading like “Work Experience,” categorize your work history into multiple headings that relate to the job requirements. For example, “Fundraising” or “Research.” List your work experience in reverse chronological order under each heading.
Resume Language
Use accomplishment statements to describe your work experience. An accomplishment statement starts with an action verb, followed by the project, and ends with the result. Be specific and quantify your accomplishments. Here’s an example:
- Coordinated (action verb) three fundraising events for local shelters (project), which raised over $8,000 and greatly improved community awareness (result).
While creating a generalized version of your resume is useful for widespread distribution, you should tailor your resume for individual job applications. Study your potential employer’s website for key phrases or buzz words, and use those words and phrases in your resume. This is especially helpful if you’re submitting your application to a database. If an employer uses scanning technology to pre-filter applicants using these buzz words, your resume will stand out.
Finally, have someone you trust proofread your resume, and use this checklist to make sure you’ve written a winning resume.
Other Resources
Resume and Cover Letter Guide, Worcester State University
Resumes and Cover Letters: An Extension School Resource, Harvard Extension School
Resume and Cover Letter Guide, Princeton University
