Your resume is that one thing that could link you as a job seeker with your dream job, or a not-so-good employment. The reason lots of job seekers end up sitting around for weeks (sometimes even months) before they get even a response, is because they probably didn't get their resume just right. But if you compose it rightly, you could be getting follow-ups, responses and interview invites from probably every company you apply to.
A question probably has arrived your mind, "How do I draft the perfect resume that'll get various Human Resource Managers inviting me for interviews frequently?"
Look no further.
First things first. You need to decide how you're going to build your resume, before you actually start working on it. But whatever you do, do not make use of the regular text editor. Although it seems to be the most popular method, it really isn't the best method. If you do, you'll have to spend a lot of time setting up and editing the formatting which, if you make one mistake, your entire document could get messed up, requiring you to start over.
We recommend using a resume builder, specifically made for that purpose, instead of the traditional text editor. Novoresume is faster, easier, and holds more information than the average resume.
To maximize the use of this guide, simply visit novoresume.com to start drafting yours while going through the guide.
Concerning the types of resume formats, there are three of them in total.
Reverse Chronological Format
Skill-based format
A combination of both of these.
How do you choose the appropriate resume format?
Reverse - Chronological Resumed Format: This resume format is perfect for people with lots of work experience that ar relevant for the post or position they're applying for. It is the most popular and most used format.
Functional/Skill-based Format: The skill based resume format is ideal for a student or recent graduate, or if you lack relevant work experience.
Combination Resume Format: If you've got a diverse skill set then this is an excellent choice. Especially good if you're applying for a job that requires expertise in 3-4 different fields. This resume easily allows you display it all. For instance, say you're applying for a senior management post, and the requirements are Software Development, sales and management.
Now in most cases you'd still prefer to stick to the Reverse Chronological Format, especially as this is the one that most HR managers are accustomed to. Therefore, this guide is going to focus on this format only.
However, if you have got an extensive skill set and/or work experience, or you're a fresh graduate, you might want to choose the other two formats. Check out our guides which describe this format later.
Contact Details To Be Displayed On Your Resume
First name and last name.
Phone Number
Email address
Location. So the company would know if they'd have to sponsor your relocation.
Optional Information
You may or may not include your title. Include it if it relates to your job e.g Digital marketing specialist, or junior data scientist.
You can add a link to your LinkedIn profile especially if it is updated and can add some value to your resume.
Website/Blog: Do you have a portfolio which has been published somewhere online? A link to your social media that clearly states your expertise? Make sure to add it, if you do!
What Shouldn't Be Included In Your Contact Information
Date of Birth: Unless listed as a requirement in the job ad, it shouldn't be included as it could cause discrimination based on age.
Unprofessional Email Address: Use an email with the format name.lastname@mail.com, not player69@mail.com
Headshot: There's no reason to include it, as the HR manager does not need it to evaluate your application.
Resume Summary:
This involves a summary of your career in 2-3 sentences. This is very important for your resume, if you're a fresh graduate or changing career. It should include your profession and years of experience, your key achievements and goals.
Work Experience:
This is the part where you actually display in detail your key achievements and responsibilities. It is one of the most important part of your resume. To list your work experience the format goes in the following way:Job/Title/Position, Company name/Location/Description, Achievements/Responsibilities, and the dates of employment.
How much Work Experience Do you Need To Include in Your Resume?
This question could pop-up in mind, especially if you have up to a decade's worth of experience. You probably don't know what to include and what to leave out. This will help you out:
Entry Level Candidate: Include all the work you've done up till the present.
Job Hunter With Little to No Experience: This might be difficult if you are in this category. You can then add cases of volunteering, or experience in student organizations, and the like.
Mid-level Professionals: Make sure to include only the work experience that is vital for the job or position you're going for.
Senior Professional: You can include uo to 15 years of relevant work experience that is suitable only for the job application.
Education
Here is the format for the education section:
You may also add your GP, Academic Honours, achievements, and also minors. If you do, make sure they are in the order stated.
Skills
The skills section is where you mention all your technical skills and know-how which makes you the perfect fit for the job. When adding your skills, there are two categories they can fall into:
Make sure that your skills listed are also tailored to the job you're applying for. Not all skills are useful for every job.
Perfecting Your Resume
Interested in making your resume nothing less than perfect? If you're through creating yours, you can make use of Novoresume checklist to see where you rank.
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