What is a Resume?
A resume is considered a “self-advertisement” that summarizes your experiences on one page. It is one of the most important parts of a job application. A resume is a powerful tool to tell the story of your professional work history to potential employers.
A good resume highlights the qualifications most relevant to the job and helps you secure an interview. Often, interviewers will refer to your resume during the interview as well. Above all, your resume should be consistent, concise, and easy to read. If it isn’t, no hiring manager will take a second look at your resume and cover letter.
Types of Resumes
There are several basic types of resumes used to apply for job openings. Depending on your personal circumstances:
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Chronological Resume
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Functional Resume
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Combination Resume
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Targeted Resume
A chronological resume (in reverse chronological order) is the simplest format to use, but there may be circumstances where you want to focus on key accomplishments and skills instead of your employment history. For example, this format can be helpful if you have a gap in employment.
Which Type of Resume is Right for You?
Which type of resume should you use in your job search? It depends on what you are trying to achieve. The goal of any resume is to showcase the applicant’s strengths, skills, and experiences in the shortest time possible. According to one study, hiring managers spend no more than seven seconds reviewing a resume before moving on, so it’s in your best interest to place your best qualities and achievements prominently on the page.
Additionally, functional or combination resumes may also be helpful if you are trying to draw the reader’s attention away from something—such as large gaps in your work history or deviations in unrelated fields.
What to Include in Your Resume?
An effective resume showcases a summary of qualifications that will prompt the hiring manager or employer to move forward and invite you for an interview for the job.
For many individuals, it may be helpful to sit down with a pen and paper or a blank Word or Google document and write down their work history from start to finish. Of course, if you have been in the job market for many years, this may not be time-efficient, so you might choose to focus on the most relevant and standout positions.
Whatever your approach, your goal will be to produce a timeline of work experience relevant to the jobs you are applying for.
Required and Optional Resume Sections. In addition to details about skills, education, and work history, resumes can also include optional sections, such as an objective, summary statement, and skills or professional achievements. These sections can be added after gathering all the factual information you need to include in your resume.
Record Details. Make sure to include the company name, location, dates of employment, and several bullet points describing your role and responsibilities in each job you list. While you may need to elaborate on the bullet points later, you will at least need this information.
Include Your Experience and Achievements. While this should focus on professional work experience, you can also include awards or accolades, volunteer or community experience, post-graduate coursework, skills, as well as your college education, which can be moved down your resume once you land your first job after graduation.
Focus
on your achievements. When writing the description for the positions you held, focus on what you accomplished in each job instead of
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-write-a-resume-2063336
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