In today’s competitive job market, your resume is your first opportunity to make a lasting impression on potential employers. It serves as your personal marketing tool, showcasing your skills, qualifications, and experiences.
In this comprehensive guide, we will talk about writing the perfect resume, which some people call it CV, that can open doors to exciting career opportunities. Whether you are a recent graduate, changing careers, or aiming for a promotion, these insights will help you create a resume that stands out in the crowd.
Before you write a resume, make sure you establish a clear understanding of what a resume is and why it is essential.
A resume is:
The first decision you will face is selecting the most suitable resume format. There are three primary formats to consider:
This format lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. It’s ideal if you have a consistent work history and want to showcase career progression. This resume is the most commonly used resume, and it presents your background chronologically either starting from the most recent experience going chronologically backwards through a succession of previous experience or vice versa. It is also good for the new entry. If we are often between jobs for quite a long period of time, It is not good to use this type because It will show our prospective employer the time gaps. This time gap can be negatively interpreted.
Use this format if you want to emphasize your skills and qualifications rather than your work history. It is beneficial if you are changing careers or have employment gaps.
As the name suggests, this format combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes. It allows you to highlight your skills while also providing a work history timeline.
The resume summary or objective is your opening statement—a concise paragraph at the beginning of your resume that highlights your key qualifications and career goals.
Example of a Resume Summary:
“Results-oriented marketing professional with five years of experience in digital marketing and a proven track record of increasing online engagement and revenue. Seeking a senior marketing manager role to leverage my expertise in driving brand visibility and growth.”
Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. Here’s how to make it shine:
In this section, list your educational background, including degrees, institutions, and graduation dates. If you have relevant certifications or licenses, include them here as well.
The skills section allows you to showcase both technical and soft skills that are relevant to the job. Be honest about your skills, and use specific examples to demonstrate your proficiency.
Depending on your background and the job you’re applying for, you may choose to include optional sections such as:
A well-organized and visually appealing resume is more likely to capture the recruiter’s attention. Consider the following formatting tips:
Before submitting your resume, take the time to proofread it carefully. You can also ask a trusted friend or colleague to review it for you. Attention to detail is crucial, as even minor errors can leave a negative impression.
You can see different types of resume examples in the following section. They are: chronological resume, reverse chronological and functional resume.
See the following chronological resume sample. It is designed for a teacher but it can be adapted to any job position. Please have a look.
| Jim Carlos English Teacher Carrer de Girona, 81, 08009 Barcelona, Spain jim@englet.com SKILLS IELTS Band 8, Excellent Classroom Management and Teaching Delivery, Various Teaching Methods, Time Management, Patience, Microsoft Office, Adobe PageMaker EXPERIENCE English Academy Santa Claus, Barcelona– Junior English Teacher January 1999 – December 2000
English School Barcelona, Barcelona– English Teacher February 2000 – November 2004
British Council, Barcelona– Full Time Teacher of English March 2005 – Present
EDUCATION Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona– Bachelor’s Degree, June 1998 Majoring in English Education and achieving Cum Laude. AWARDS Teacher of The Year 2010, British Council, Barcelona. |
Download the English Teacher Resume above in Google Drive. See also a teacher application letter sample here.
The following is the reverse chronological resume sample for a bartender.
SKILLS EXPERIENCE MARCH 2010 – PRESENT
Royal Caribbean International, Miami — Bar Waiter JANUARY 2008 – DECEMBER 2009
Alchemist Bar & Lounge, San Francisco— Bartender JANUARY 2003 – NOVEMBER 2007
EDUCATION JULY 1998 – JUNE 2022, SAN FRANCISCO Majoring in Food and Beverage Services, with GPA 3.74. AWARDS Employee of the Month, Royal Caribbean International. |
See the following CV for both retail pharmacist and clinical pharmacist. This resume is written using reverse chronological style. Your latest experience is located at the top.
DICK RONALD
666 Leonard Road Melrose, MA 02176, United States (1) 777-8888 RONALD@ENGLET..COM Skills Proper knowledge in medication administration and dispensing, extensive knowledge of medical terminology, excellent at customer service and interpersonal communication, computer literate, strong organization skills and a good team work person. Experience JANUARY 2021 – PRESENT Melrose Wakefield Hospital, Melrose– Clinical Pharmacist
MARCH 2018 – SEPTEMBER 2020 Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston – Clinical Pharmacist
AUGUST 2014 – DECEMBER 2017 Walgreens Pharmacy, Boston – Retail Pharmacist
Education SEPTEMBER 2008 – APRIL 2014 University of Arizona, Tucson – Pharm. D Scholastic Excellence Awards, 2010. Awards The APhA Distinguished Federal Pharmacy Award, 2020. |
| SUSAN WALKER 222 East Sixth Street Bloomington Indiana 47401 (913) 321-43456 e-mail : susan@gmail.com EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVE Financial Research Assistant EDUCATION Indiana University (Bloomington) Bachelor of Business Administration EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE 1. Financial Research Assistant, First Bank (Bloomington, Indiana) 2. Auditor Assistant Intern, Excellent Financial Research Service (Bloomington, Indiana)
LANGUAGES 1. English COMPUTER SKILLS 1. Microsoft Office Excel |
See also a financial research assistant application letter sample or a waiter application letter sample here.
The following insurance agent resume uses a chronological resume style. It is chronologically reversed to highlight the most recent experience one has.
| Ben Arnold Insurance Agent
Skills
Experience
Education
Awards
| Ben Arnold 333 Fourth Ave #111 San Diego, CA 92103 +1 619-333-3333 arnold@englet.com
Let’s Insure / Senior Insurance Sales Agent JANUARY 2019 – PRESENT, SAN DIEGO
Nationwide Insurance / Insurance Sales Agent JUNE 2010 – DECEMBER 2018, SAN DIEGO
American States University / Bachelor Degree in Economics SEPTEMBER 2006 – APRIL 2010, SAN DIEGO Graduated with Honors. Let’s Insure / San Diego Employee of the Year, 2019
|
See the following resume templates. They are chronological and functional templates.
See the following templates. The first one is classic resume template and the other is contemporary type. Choose the type you like.
| RESUME Email : …………………………
|
| [Your Name] [Job Title] [ Street Address] [ City, Country, Post Code] [ Email] SKILLS [Your Skill, your skill, your skill, …] EXPERIENCE [Institution’s Name, City] – [Job Title] [Month, Year] – [Month, Year]
[Institution’s Name, City] – [Job Title] [Month, Year] – [Month, Year]
[Institution’s Name, City] – [Job Title] [Month, Year] – [Month, Year]
EDUCATION [University/College, City] – [Degree], [Month Year] Majoring in [Your Major]. AWARDS [Awards You Have Received], [Institution], [City]. |
Download the contemporary resume template in Google Drive.
See the following functional resume template.
| [Your Name] [Street Address] [City, Province/State, Country, Zip Code] [Phone Number] [Email] EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVE [Job Title] EDUCATION [College/University], [City] [Degree] EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE 1. [Job Title], [Company/Institution] [(City, Province)] 2. [Job Title], [Company/Institution] [(City, Province)] LANGUAGES 1. [Language] 2. [Language] 3. [Language] COMPUTER SKILLS 1. [Software/Application/Program] 2. [Software/Application/Program] 3. [Software/Application/Program] |
Download the functional resume template in Google Drive.
A hybrid resume, also known as a combination resume, is an excellent choice for individuals who want to highlight both their skills and work experience. It blends the best of both functional and chronological resume formats.
| [Full Name] [Professional Title] [Address] [Phone Number] [Email Address] [LinkedIn Profile (Optional)] [Personal Website (Optional)] Objective: Dedicated marketing professional with 5+ years of experience in digital marketing and a passion for driving brand growth through innovative strategies. Skills: Professional Experience: [Company Name] – [Location]
Education: Certifications: – IELTS Score: 9 Awards and Honors: Professional Affiliations: |
In a competitive job market, a well-thought resume can be the key to landing your dream job. By following the steps outlined in this guide and tailoring your resume to each job application, you can increase your chances of standing out to potential employers. Remember that your resume is a dynamic document, and it’s worth investing time and effort into keeping it up-to-date and tailored to your career goals. With the right resume, you can confidently step onto the path of professional success.
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