Advice for Writing a Resume
What are the best ways to get noticed by employers and graduate schools? What should you put on your resume that will make you stand out from the competition? How should you write a resume if you're looking for something specific like an internship in the education system? This blog post offers advise for getting started with writing a resume.
To become one of those individuals who have successfully mastered the art of writing resumes, all it takes is an open mind, some persistence, and some perseverance. As long as these qualities are balanced in your favor, any obstacles along the way can be overcome with relative ease.
Some of the best tips for writing a resume are as follows. Keep in mind that these are guidelines that are meant to help you become familiar with what information is normally included on a resume. This is by no means an exhaustive list of every single possible tip you will need to know when it comes to writing resumes, so please continue reading.
Going into any kind of career fresh out of college will require you to have a valid resume and cover letter at your disposal. You never know who you might need to contact with regards to potential job openings or school programs, and it's only courteous for you to have this information readily available at all times.
Unless you plan on going the independent route and becoming a self-employed writer for hire, it's always a good idea to put your best foot forward and try to work for a company or organization where the customer base will be able to see your resume.
The simplest method of getting your resume into the hands of potential employers is to take full advantage of your network. Get in touch with everyone you possibly can, and ask them if they know anyone who might be in need of hiring someone with your particular field of interest.
They should at least be able to point you in the right direction. If not, then you may need to consider other options such as putting up an ad online, or simply contacting strangers directly via email.
You should also be able to find other professionals in your field who are currently looking for a job or internship. Try to keep track of the people involved with different types of career paths, and be sure to list their names, relevant industry experience, and an email address on your resume.
One thing you will want to pay close attention to is what they have on their resumes, and how it is formatted. They may have information in a different order, or even completely different parts of the same section on their resumes. Whatever works for them may not necessarily work for you.
Let's take a quick look at the different sections of your resume. This way, you will be able to get an idea for what should be included in each section, and how you should arrange it.
The top of your resume should consist of several key factors. These include any academic honors you may have received in college, as well as any training courses that pertain to your current profession or future goals. You may also want to consider including internships that you did while in school. It is also an excellent idea to include names and contact information for references who are capable of speaking on behalf of your character and work ethic.
It should be noted that you will want to spend more time on this section of your resume since it greatly influences the potential employers' first impression of you.
The experience section of your resume should be arranged in order where the most recent experience is placed at the top. This includes full-time employment, part-time employment, and any relevant volunteer work your have done. Include job description, supervisor name, and location for each internship or job in your listing.
You may also want to include any certifications that you may have attained by way of attending a specific course or school program.
Keep in mind that the company or organization you were working for may also decide to include this information in their own personal profile, so you may want to edit out certain information.
The education section of your resume is the next and most important one of all. You should have included this section on your resume before the skills section, otherwise, you will not be able to build a strong foundation with regard to your credentials.
You will want to include the details of any certifications that you may hold which pertain to your chosen field. This also applies for advanced degrees as well.
You should also list special courses that you might have taken on your own initiative outside of school since these are just as important as going through school itself.
The skills section of your resume should be placed at the bottom since most recruiters are looking for more important information such as your educational background and work history. In fact, the education section is often given more attention than the experience section.
It is fine to include any special skills related to your current field of interest, but be sure not to place this section at the very end of your resume. Some hiring managers may regard these as irrelevant if they do not see anything that stands out from other candidates applying for different jobs.
The only reason a special skills section is ever listed at all is because it can help set you apart from others who are equally deserving of an interview based on their own qualifications.
Keep in mind that writing your own resume can be a difficult feat, and it may take an entire day, or even several days to complete. In order to streamline this process, you may want to look into using resume templates for assistance.
Easy-to-use online databases will allow you to choose from several different templates based on your personal field of interest. You may have to scroll through dozens of different options before you find the one that fits your needs perfectly.
These resources will usually offer a basic overview of what information is necessary, but they will not provide as much guidance as if you were going through actual classes with a teacher present. You will also have to rely solely on your own knowledge about the job description for the requirements for each position that you are applying for.
There are certain things a potential employer will want to know from you, such as how long you have been working in a particular field, and how long you have worked in that field.
They may also inquire about your work ethic, work ethics of those with whom you were working, and other things similar to these scenarios.
When it comes to including references on your resume, it is usually best not to include anyone who could vouch for your character or past performance while at work. You will want to focus on your former employers who you worked with long enough to form positive relationships. Take the time to explain why they may want to want to use them.
Be sure that you review any information that has been included on the website of your potential employer at a later date once you have been given an opportunity at an interview. This way, you will know what was covered in each section, and how it was organized.
You will also want to consider whether or not they provide much information on their website regarding their hiring process. If they do not, then you may want to take the initiative of contacting something similar through a different site.
Conclusion
Overall, there really is no shortage of sites on the web that offer some form of resume writing help. In fact, it is possible to find countless examples on the web. These can be a great place to learn more about formatting your resume properly, and ensuring all of the appropriate information is included in each section. By taking nothing less than a scientific approach to your resume, you will avoid embarrassing yourself in front of prospective employers and performing poorly on an interview.
How do I get started with writing my own resume?
Once you've chosen a topic for your resume, start by searching for relevant resources at this site or similar ones for advice on how to organize your skills and experience sections in chronological order.