Resume Building Tips
A resume is a summary of your academic background, paid and unpaid work experience, achievements, and co-curricular experiences. It is a strong statement of your skills, abilities, experiences, and accomplishments presented in a way that demonstrates your ‘fit’ for the role you are applying to. It motivates employers to meet you to discuss employment opportunities. Reflect on how you can make your resume describe what you’ve accomplished in your roles.
Remember: there is no one right way to present yourself on paper. It is beneficial to research the preferred way to present these documents to employers in your field. In addition, be mindful of how you format your resume, particularly with the increased use of applicant tracking systems (ATS) to assess online applications. ATS friendly resumes contain keywords that match the job description, highlight relevant work experience and professional skills. ATS stores, ranks, and scores Resumes and Cover Letters based on main keywords, formats, job titles, work experience, and so many other factors.
Resume Writing Tips:
1. Review the job description
- Identify the required and desired skills and qualifications. Look for keywords. Consider using similar or same wording in your resume if you feel they apply.
2. Create a list of accomplishments
- List your education, jobs, volunteer and leadership positions, relevant coursework, and notable projects.
- What did you enjoy doing or are proud of?
3. Identify your relevant skills and experience
- Emphasise skills that you’ve gained that can be used in the position that you are applying for.
4. Write descriptive action phrases
- What you say is important, but how you say it can make all the difference. You have transferable skills* to offer potential employers, whether you are applying to your first job or fifth.
- Always begin your bullet points with action verbs!
- Arrange the descriptive phrases in order of relevance to the position you are seeking.
- Avoid using “I” statements and articles (“the” or “a”).
* Transferable skills are skills you have developed in multiple settings that enable you to do your job well across industries. You develop these skills in the classroom, through school projects, in jobs and internships, and through hobbies and extracurriculars.
5. Keep it Consistent
- No matter what formatting choice you make, maintain editorial consistency by using that format throughout the document.
- For example, if one header is in a bold font, make sure all headers are bolded. Each position on your resume should include a title, place of employment, location and date range or year.
- Resumes that are free of errors with consistent formatting convey attention to detail and professionalism. Always make sure to use spell check before submitting your resume!
6. Keep it Visually Balanced
- The form and function of a resume is for an employer to quickly scan and get an overview of your professional experience within seconds!
- Strong resumes have a balance of black and white space, meaning you want to avoid an overwhelming amount of text or an overwhelming amount of empty space.
- Pick a legible font and avoid using text smaller than 10 points.
- Don’t include any photos and keep graphics to a minimum. If you choose to use color text, make sure everything is legible when the document is printed in black and white.
Resume Building Resources:
- Resume Writing: LINK
- Online Applicant Tracking System Tips: LINK
- Resume Writing Guide: LINK
- Resume Template: LINK
- Additional Resume Tips + Templates: LINK
- Resume Tips- LINK
LinkedIn Profile Resources:
We look forward to helping you gain that next big opportunity!
Best,
Let’s Go Team
