Creating a resume that works. Now that’s a problem every type of jobseeker understands. If you’re wondering how to make your resume stand out, look no further. This guide, complete with CV examples, will tell you everything you need to know about crafting a great resume.
It’s easy to think resumes are becoming redundant, with most professionals uploading their work history to job boards and online profiles. However, HR will inevitably ask you to submit your resume for their records. For this reason, it’s a good idea to upload your resume to your Jobstreet profile and bring a physical copy of your resume to interviews.
A good resume tells hirers everything they need to know about you at a glance. It showcases your achievements and qualifications. And most importantly, it gets recruiters interested enough to invite you for a job interview.
1. Chronological
Many employers prefer the chronological resume format as it is easily digestible. Aside from presenting an itemised employment history, it should also showcase career highlights in reverse chronological order—starting with the most recent position and moving backwards to the first-ever position you’ve held.
2. Functional
This resume format is highly suitable for fresh graduates and job hoppers hoping to break into another industry. Having a functional resume helps you cover a seemingly disconnected employment history by showcasing transferable skills and related achievements.
Create a functional resume by placing the skills you have as headings, then listing your experiences and achievements relevant to the position under those headings. Remember to include the company name in the bulleted description of your previous accomplishments and try to include a brief chronological listing of the former positions you’ve held.
3. Combination
This resume format combines the best features of the chronological and functional resumes by incorporating a chronological work history section and a skills and achievements section. The top focus for combination resumes is on skills and accomplishments, followed by work experience.
Though some employers may find this resume format long, repetitive and confusing, this type of resume can be ideal for someone with good editing skills.
It’s common for fresh graduates to list their career objectives at the top of their resumes. However, for jobseekers with more work experience, a well-curated professional summary will be more effective in grabbing the recruiter’s attention. Career objectives are about what you want. By contrast, a professional summary talks about what you can do for the company.
Your summary of qualifications should include:
When crafting your summary, it’s helpful to think about your “why.” What drives you? Why do you do what you do? Identifying your purpose, source of inspiration, or philosophy will help you make your summary more unique and personal.
It’s also helpful to put yourself in the shoes of the reader. What traits and skills do you possess that they might be looking for? Keep the job advertisement in mind as you write. At the same time, make sure your summary is no longer than 2-3 sentences.
When it comes to job applications, good first impressions are critical. Using a silly email address like “[email protected]” may make the hiring manager think you’re not serious. If you’re a fresh graduate, now is the time to create an appropriate email address using your first and last name.
Your resume should also be visually appealing and easy to skim. After all, TIME reports that “recruiters spend an average of six seconds reviewing an individual resume.” Therefore, limit your resume to one page as much as possible. If you have an extensive employment history, make sure not to go beyond two pages.
Take note that while most people use “resume” and “CV” interchangeably, they’re different in terms of length and use. While a resume is usually only 1-2 pages long, a CV is a more detailed account of your education and work history. CVs are generally used in academia or research and can go well beyond 3 pages.
Whether you’re writing a resume or CV, be consistent with your formatting. Use professional fonts such as Arial or Helvetica, and make sure your font is no smaller than size 12. When using numbers, recheck decimal places or the number of zeros.
Once you’re done, proofread your resume for spelling errors. You may also want to reconsider including your photo. After all, how you appear on your social channels may have more bearing than how you look in a photograph. Thus, provide a clean and professional result when employers conduct their social media search.
This is where you can stand out. When you’re talking about your previous job, don’t just list your responsibilities—tell the recruiter what you achieved. Be specific with your accomplishments, and show how you helped the company to grow.
Make sure to include your computer skills as well. After all, job seekers these days have varying degrees of being computer savvy. So include the specific platforms, as well as your proficiency level, to keep qualifications accurate.
Look at the job ad and see which qualifications and desired traits you possess. Then include them in your resume. Resist the temptation to include every single certificate course and project you’ve completed in your resume. Focusing on experiences relevant to the job position ensures that your resume is concise and compelling.
If you are a fresh graduate with no professional experience, lead with your academic background, honours, and extra-curricular activities. Positions of responsibility in extra-curricular and community organisations show that you have leadership and social skills, so include them as well.
Power words are words that highlight the professional strengths you bring to the position. Using them will help you stand out from the other applications. If the company uses an Application Tracking System (ATS), you will need to use keywords and terms important to the employer to get past the ATS as well.
There are four kinds of power words:
Keywords
These are words employers use in job posts to describe their ideal candidate. You can also search websites in the same industry and check out occupational profiles for positions you’re applying to. Identify the keywords in these profiles and add them to your resume.
Activity or Action Words
These are verbs that emphasise your achievements or skills. Here are a few examples of action words you could use:
Labels or Descriptive Words
These power words highlight the strengths or personal qualities that you bring to the job.
Numbers and Quantifiers
These details will give the reader an insight into how impressive your achievements are. You can use them to describe cost, length of time, quantity or even size.
For example, instead of saying “Led a project,” you can add the project's duration, number of people on the team, and a measurable result of the effort.
Some may question whether cover letters are really necessary. However, they add a personal touch to your resume and show that you’re a serious applicant. If you decide to write one, make sure you don’t repeat what you have already indicated in your resume.
When sending your resume via , write a subject line that is appropriate and specific. If you leave the subject line blank, your email will probably go straight to spam.
Check whether the company has given instructions on the subject line format. If not, include details that will help the receiver identify your email correctly. You may also want to add relevant credentials to make your email more compelling to open.
Here are some examples of subject lines you can use. Use them only if the employer did not specify any subject line:
When applying directly from a job post:
When someone referred you to apply for the position:
Before you hit the “send” button, do a test run and send the email to yourself first. That way, you can make adjustments before sending your email. Click on your attachments to make sure you sent the right files. If you did enclose the correct files, check if they open properly.
Ready to write your resume? Then #LetsGetToWork! Rather than looking for CV examples, save time with our free resume templates. And once you’ve landed that job interview, prepare to impress your prospective employers with our interview practice tool. Download JobStreet's app now on Google Play and the App Store for easier access.