How To Make A Resume: Complete Guide And Examples

You’re in a creative drought, aren’t you? Well, if you’re in dire need of some ideas or perhaps guidance on how to make a resume from scratch, you’ve come to the right place. Heck, we make our living off of this! Now, joking aside, we’ve been there, wracking our brains to find the optimal examples, and the best way to organize the information in order to make it stand out.

What is a resume, actually?
What are the most common types of resumes?
How to write a resume?
How to write a resume: proofreading tips
Customize your resume for the job
Completing a resume template: the perfect checklist

Now, why aren’t the hiring managers replying to your emails? Must be that they are on a constant lunch break, right? You’re applying left and right and getting no responses? Might just have something to do with the way your resume template should look like. No worries, we’ll cover everything in this here article, from what is a resume template, how to draft a resume, how many types are there, and how to tailor your resume to a specific job.

By the time you finish reading, you’ll already be equipped with the basic tools and you’ll know how to write a professional resume. There’s no shame in looking for help.

What is a resume?

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: writing a resume is not easy. If you’re constantly asking yourself ‘how do I write a resume?’, chances are you need to approach the matter from a different perspective. Did you ever ask yourself what a resume actually is?

Simply put, the resume is a preview, a trailer if you will, of the movie that is your entire working career. Now, you wouldn’t stuff a trailer with everything that went into the production of that movie, right? You only need to feature the highlights! That’s how you catch the attention of the movie goer…err, recruiter! Remember, you only have one chance at a great first impression.

 

So, to make this even easier to grasp, this is what your resume should not be:

• Your entire job history mashed together.
• The summary of all your hard and soft skills.
• The be-all and end-all that will get you the interview and then the job.

Remember, you’re just hooking the would-be interviewer at this point, not selling him the whole package. Recruiters, especially those reviewing student resumes, hardly ever spend more than a couple of minutes looking at each one. You have to make yours stand out.

One final touch: the resume is not the CV. The curriculum vitae is a complete look at your career which covers all aspects of your education, work and experience and has no length restrictions. A resume is just what the name entails: a summary of all that.

Ok, that’s good but how to make a resume I hear you ask? Read on for the details. 👇

What are the most common types of resumes?

Before we get to the ins and outs of writing your resume, let’s see what kinds are there. This is actually the first step in the guide, as the type you choose will have an impact on how you structure it.

Reverse chronological resume

It’s the most popular example out there, great for people who have a lot of work experience relevant to the position they’re applying for. Alongside this, including a carefully curated list of interests can add a personal touch to it, distinguishing it from others. It’s pretty familiar to potential employers, which means they’ll have no problems identifying the important points. But, it’s not the most creative design around. The work experience is listed from newest to oldest, as the name implies.

You should use it when you want to highlight your career progression, when you are applying for a job in a similar field and you want to demonstrate your upward career mobility. Don’t use it if there are some major gaps in your employment history, you’re changing your career path or if you’re a job hopper.

Functional/skills-based resume

This type of resume template, often taking the form of a one page resume, is mostly used by people who don’t really have that much experience because they’re students, recent graduates, or are interested in making a career change. Thus, you can emphasize your skills over your lack of experience in a concise, focused format. A one page resume is the best way to showcase your abilities if you are very skilled in a specific area of expertise.

The advantage is you can emphasize how the skills you’ve gathered so far make you a suitable candidate for the role. On the down side, using this kind of resume runs the risk of employers thinking you have something to hide.

Combination

OK, this is an interesting one, and a great choice for those who have a very diverse skill set. If you’re applying for a position that requires experience in more than 3 fields, and you want to show that you have what it takes, this is the way to go. It’s a safe choice for seasoned pros and career changers who want to highlight their field-crossing transferable skills. Not a good idea for entry-level positions.

It’s not really often that recruiters get to see one of these types, so you might just catch their eye with it. But you should have the content to back it up! Stay away from it if you want to highlight your education or you lack experience for a specific position.

So, choosing the right format is half the process and one of the important things to look for when writing a good resume. Figured out which one works best for you?

How to write a resume?

You figured out which format works best for you, that’s great! But what’s the proper way to write a resume? We’ll start with the basics and then get further into the details!

General and basic things to know

After you decide on the template, it’s time to choose the layout for it. Of course, this will be influenced by its format. While you might be accustomed with just going for a text editor, we argue that’s not your best bet. Our suggestion is using one of our templates! You’ll get much more out of a resume builder than you normally would.

Here is an example, for a better understanding

Does this look neat or what? Using a professional resume template means you also don’t run the risk of bad formatting. And keep in mind, the first thing a recruiter notices about a resume is the layout.

So, things to remember:

• The length of your resume template should be of only one page. Go for two only if the information displayed in the second page is of paramount importance.
• Have clear resume headline examples.
• Your resume template should have ample white space. You don’t want to tire out the eyes.
• Choose an easy to read font. It should stand out, but not be so original that it’s unreadable.
• Save your resume as PDF! Word might mess up the formatting.
• Your resume template should inspire a creative design, if you’re an artistic person or image plays a big part in the job. Don’t stress yourself otherwise.

We’ll continue the tips on how to build a resume by taking apart each section.

Resume header and contact information

The header should contain your personal and contact information, short and sweet. Also, make sure the information is correct, otherwise it won’t do you much good in the long run. Triple check your information in order to make sure everything is up to date. The must have information covers your name, phone number, e-mail address and location. You could also benefit from adding your job title, social media or website/blog.

Stay away from information like date of birth or age unless specifically required. Create a professional email address. Should you include a photo? Depends on the job, but including a professional one can only help.

Resume summary, objective and about me

Some resumes might benefit from having an opening statement like the one below:

Use this space to describe yourself and your objectives, your job and years of experience, one or two top achievements and your desired goals, for example. Make this section your own! Since it’s at the top of the page, this information will definitely get noticed. Avoid using “I am” in this section.

Education in your resume

In a study performed by StandoutCV that involved analyzing and surveying 25,000 resumes, it was found that 55% of Americans have lied on their resumes at least once. This statistic is indicative of the challenges employers face in verifying the accuracy of information.

So our first advice here is to be honest. Start by placing your highest degree first and add any other degrees after in reverse-chronological order. Add relevant coursework, awards and honors. To wrap it up you could also include extracurricular activities or volunteering.

Work experience

The meatiest part of your resume is usually the work experience, if you have it. This is where you advertise yourself by highlighting your past accomplishments and responsibilities. This section should include:

1. Job title/position.
2. Company name/short description.
3. Achievements and responsibilities.
4. Dates of employment.

Remember to list both responsibilities and achievements in this section as this will show to the employer what you’re really capable of, and how you’ve been challenged. Show exactly how you helped your employer grow their business and how you reached and exceed expectations.

Now, depending on your level of experience you might also think to talk about:

• Work experience in student organizations, if you did not have a job before.
• List all the work so far if you’re entry level.
• Mention only information relevant to the position if, you’re a mid-level professional.
• No more than 15 years of experience if you’re a senior.

Remember to list your professional history by using keywords and numbers to measure your impact. Be brief and use action verbs.

Skills Section of your resume template

We advise being creative with this section as one of the cornerstones of resume writing tips. You get a couple of benefits from using bullet points:

1. Concision.
2. You save space.
3. Clarity.

Sometimes a visual is worth a thousand words! Remember to list both your hard skills (measurable abilities) and your soft skills (personal skills).

Mention only those skills that are relevant for the position you are applying to. Also, make sure to include the proficiency level for your spoken languages.

Additional experience

Got more you want to say? You may also include awards, interests, certifications, projects, internships and so on. The same rule applies: keep it catchy, short and simple.

Tips for proofreading: How to write an effective resume

So, you applied all our tips on writing a resume and you think you’re done? Wait a second, you also need to edit it and proofread it! Give it some time, don’t edit it exactly after you’ve written it. Wait at least 24 hours and then come back to it. You’ll see it with fresh eyes.

Try reading your resume backwards at least once. We know, it sounds weird, but trust us, you’ll be able to spot misspelled words a lot easier this way.

Finally, you could also ask a family member to read it too. Last but not least, fact-check your resume: company names, address and so on. Things might have changed since you last applied for a job.

How to customize your resume for the job

You should never use one resume to apply for all jobs. Rather, you should make a separate one for each job application (except if you’re applying for the same position – but even then, you can do some slight tweaking). This means mentioning the right keywords, the rights skills and the right tone of voice for each individual application. Also, make sure you use the active voice, not the passive one when writing your resume!

How to know what to emphasize each time in the professional history and experience section of your template? It’s very simple, just check out the job description and tailor it to that. 😉

How to make a resume: The essential checklist

Still looking for assistance with writing one? You’re in the right place. We’re about to provide a final summary of the key aspects you should pay attention to:

1. Did you include all relevant contact information and is it correct?
2. Do you have a professional email address?
3. Did you choose the right template?
4. Does your resume have all the relevant sections?
5. Did you keep the resume clutter free?
6. Did you list both achievements and responsibilities?
7. Is the resume tailored to the job?
8. Including of the right skills?
9. Did you miss any other important sections?
10. Did you proof-read your work?

If the answer is positive on all of the above, you’re on the right track!

If how to write a resume is still something you input in a search engine, then it’s obvious you need more assistance. This is where we come in!

Read about us to find out how we can help you get the resume you need! You deserve the job of your dreams and it’s only one decision away!