Tips To Write The Best Resume

You study for 20 years but your future still depends on that one-page resume. This meme has been circulating forever and still hits a note every time. Well, that is the significance of a resume. If done correctly it can brighten your future. If gone wrong, even to the slightest, it will deprive you of great career opportunities.

There have been plenty of instances where worthy, bright and passionate individuals do not get their dream jobs in spite of possessing all the skills and relevant experiences. However, with the right knowledge of resume writing you can craft a winning resume that will spike employers’ interest in your profile and get your phone ringing with job offers.

So here are some of the tips to write a technically correct and thoughtfully impressive resume. If you are looking for a resume writing guide to compose your resume or optimise it then you should definitely consider these proven techniques.

What is a resume?

We know that you understand what a resume means but it's beneficial to proceed with a clear idea about what a resume is and what its purpose is. A resume is a one-page long document that showcases your skills, work experience, personal information, educational qualifications and any other relevant data needed to gauge your suitability for a particular job role.

 It is submitted to companies while applying for jobs. HR executives review the resume and identify whether the candidate has the potential to handle the job responsibilities. On the flip side, for a candidate, it is the chance to display his/her abilities, experience and knowledge base and prove why he/she is the best fit for the position.

What is included in a resume?

A resume must inhabit your personal, professional and educational information. Every bit of information should be presented utmost professionally. To be concise a resume should ideally encapsulate the following:

• Personal information:

1. Name
2. Contact No.
3. Email id

• Summary - few lines summarizing your qualifications, experience and career objective.
• Educational qualifications (in a reverse chronological order)
• Skills
• Work experience (in a reverse chronological order)

1. Name of the company
2. Your tenure
3. Your designation
4. Responsibilies handled
5. Any achievements

Besides the above, you can also incorporate the following:

• Your photograph
• Your hobbies
• Additional qualifications (diploma or certification courses)
• Extra-curricular activities (participation in competitions, camps, organising events, etc.)
• Achievements

Make sure you include all the information required to demonstrate your capability for the target job. That said, if you are a fresher you might not have much details to put in the work experience section. So instead of that you can highlight your achievements, extra-curricular activities, internships, projects, etc.

Tips for writing a job winning resume:

1. Write separate resumes for different job opportunities

Usually, a job seeker writes one resume and applies through the same in different organisations. However, with the competition increasingly becoming cut-throat, it is beneficial to go a step ahead in your job search efforts.

Go through the job description of the profile you are applying for. Customize your resume according to the given responsibilities and skills. If you have carried out such work before then mention that in your work experience. This will make you stand out as the best fit for the role.

2. Use action words

It's a typical practice to begin your sentences with an action verb in the resume. E.g. managed inventory, won employee awards for continuous growth, developed marketing strategies, etc. it generates greater impact and sounds professional. So don’t begin your sentences with ‘I’ and use only past-perfect tense while writing.

3. Add numerical data wherever possible

Try to include numerical data to demonstrate your performance. E.g. Increased web traffic by 125%, Handled a team of 50 employees, etc. It enables the evaluator measure your performance and also sounds authentic and reliable.

4. Display hard as well as soft skills

Hard skills are technical competencies required to perform a task. E.g. machine learning, accounting, audit, etc. they are undoubtedly necessary pointers to be mentioned on your resume.

However, soft skills add an edge and can elevate your resume. Soft skills are the abilities that help you in completing your tasks efficiently. For e.g. time management, team work, communication skills, etc. Instead of just mentioning them under the skills, try to show how you achieved good results out of these skills in your work experience too.

5. Don’t be extra showy

Many youngsters fall into the trap of overrating their presentation in the resume to stand out. Remember your resume will be reviewed by experienced executives who can easily make out between honest and fake resumes. Avoid words like world-class writer, got mind-boggling leads for the company, etc. it simply sounds artificial and pretentious.

Be honest and authentic. Never fake your skills or experience. It might land you in trouble during later rounds.

6. Keep it neat, clean and concise

The presentation is as vital as your content. Keep plenty of white space in your resume. Use only professional fonts like Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman.

Frame your points in a simple, professional and concise manner. Don’t use lengthy sentences and use words economically. Your final piece should look orgnaised, clean and gentle to the eyes.

Resume forms the cornerstone of your career. Ensure it is crafted in a professional manner and has all the information required to present your skills, qualifications and relevant experience. Enrich your data with numbers, use action words, be honest and make sure the finalized document looks clean and appealing to the eyes.

Freshers often find it difficult to compose a resume because they are unaware of corporate nuances. If you are struggling to craft a good resume for yourself or not landing a job despite repeated attempts, then you should consider professional help for resume writing.

The Assignment Ninjas has experienced writers equipped with the latest insights about resume writing. We will write a technically sound and relevant resume for you based on your inputs and target job profile. Reach out to our executives and scale your career by securing a job you desire.