How To Write A Resume?
With the increase in the number of job seekers and the reduction of available job opportunities, which has led to intense competition among job seekers, writing resume has become more valuable. Your resume is your most influential tool when you’re looking for a new job, and proper presentation of it can help you get the job. In the following, we explain what a resume is and how to write a resume.
What is a resume?
A resume is a one-page document that includes a summary of your work history, academic records, skills, and achievements, and proves if you are qualified to get the job. Also, employers invite you to an interview based on your resume because it is the first document that they consider. So if your resume is poorly written, you will have a hard time getting the job you want. It is very crucial to spend time and effort to write and improve your resume.
What should be mentioned in the resume?
In general, it’s better to include the following items in your resume:
1- Personal information
Personal information includes first name, last name, phone number, and email address. Of course, other information such as LinkedIn profile and postal address (to prove proximity to the workplace) can be mentioned in this section.
2- Introduction
In this section, you should use short sentences to introduce yourself. Briefly state your work experience. You can also talk about your passion for working in this field.
3- Academic background
This section includes a summary of academic records such as university name, field, degree, time of beginning and end of each degree, awards, and other academic achievements.
4- Work records
You should list your work history in the resume from the latest to the first. Besides, you must provide information such as company name, job position, responsibilities, achievements, and date. If you do not have a professional background, you can use the following:
- Work experiences during the school
- Work experiences in the university such as T.A. and R. A.
- Volunteer work experiences
5- Skills and abilities
Your resume should include a list of 10 to 15 skills related to the job that you are looking to acquire.
Types of resume
It is a misunderstanding to think that there is only one way to write a resume. Resumes come in a variety of forms, and depending on your work history or key skills, only one or two kinds of resumes are suitable for you. In the following, we introduce various types of resumes.
1- Chronological Resume
The chronological resume is the most common type of resume. This resume lists your work history based on their history. In this way, the last job is mentioned first and ends with the first work experience. Many employers prefer this type of resume because they can review your work history at a glance. This kind of resume is suitable for people with influential work experience without a time gap.
2- Functional Resume
The functional resume is designed to focus on your skills, not your work history. In this type of section, the skill is longer than the work history section. This type of resume is suitable for people who do not have work experience or have limited work experience, such as university graduates. Also, if you have time in your work history, use this type of resume.
3- Combination Resume
This resume is a combination of the chronological and functional resume. While the chronological resume focuses on your work history and functional resume focuses on your skills, the combination resume focuses on all of them. This resume is suitable for people who have strong continuous work experience and advanced skills and abilities both at the same time.
4- Targeted Resume
The targeted resume, as the name implies, is written in such a way that its sole purpose is to show that all of your features meet the job’s needs. Simply put, this resume is designed to be used only for one particular job. For example, if you write a resume for the editing position, you can emphasize your Ph.D. in literature or the prizes you have in writing competitions. Writing this kind of resume is extremely difficult because it easily causes misunderstanding, and the employer may have a different impression.
5- Infographic Resume
Unlike other resumes, infographic resume relates to graphic designs and other visual effects and have less text. We suggest that you use this resume only to apply for a graphic designer position.
6- Mini Resume
A mini resume is a summary of your qualifications and only includes highlights of your records.
Note:
There are other types of resumes like federal resume and nontraditional resume, but they are not as important as the other ones.
Study suggestion: Difference between resume and CV
Common mistakes in writing a resume
1- Private information
Avoid entering private information height, weight, birth date, age, sex, religion, political affiliation, place of birth, marital status, and health status. But if the employer is looking for a person with special circumstances, private information can be entered. For example, if an employer is looking for someone born in the 1980s, then it is required to enter a date of birth.
2- Spelling, typographical, and grammar mistakes
Suppose you are an employer. Are you hiring someone whose resume is full of typos and misspellings? Certainly not. You don’t even bother to read it completely. So be careful not to make mistakes when you are writing a resume because it will cost you to lose the job opportunity. Read your resume over and over to avoid any possible mistakes. Or you can hire a specialist. The expertise of such people has a great impact on solving these problems.
3- Photo and image
It is better not to have a photo or image in the resume (the photo of the person himself is not a problem, of course, depending on the situation).
4- Using unconventional fonts
Be very careful to choose the font. Suggested fonts are:
- Times New Roman
- Arial
- Calibri
Font size is also important. Acceptable font size for resume is 12 points. Larger fonts apply for the headline, name, and titles.
5- Using the table
Do not use the table in your resume. Enter the information linearly.
6- Salary
Do not write about the salary that you received from previous work in the resume under any circumstances.
Resume writing tips
- Take a lot of time and effort to write a resume.
- Write your resume briefly and usefully.
- Always ask other people’s opinions about your resume. Consulting with a specialist can help.
- Keep your resume updated.