No matter what industry you're in, your resumé should narrate a story that engages potential employers with your experience and skills set. No one has time to read a novel, however, which is why you should keep your resumé short while emphasizing the most appropriate things in regard to your career goals and the job you're seeking.
The first step in resumé creation is gathering information. Don't worry about what you need to emphasize at first. Simply make a list of your former employment, skills, education and other items, such as volunteer work, professional memberships or certifications. Keeping all this information in one location is a good idea, even if you don't use some elements in your resumé now. The ability to reference items in the future helps customize resumés as needed for each application process.
Once your list is complete, begin pulling out items that are appropriate for the creation of the current resumé. Most experts agree that 10 years of relevant experience is generally enough, but every situation is different. You certainly don't want to list 30 years of jobs dating back to your high school stint at McDonald's, but you do want to provide a clear history showing your experience in the applicable industry. Include jobs as far back as that experience is relevant, and don't pick and choose too much within that scope to avoid creating questionable work gaps on your resumé.
During resumé creation, take the most time providing details for relevant jobs and offer simple summaries for other work. If you want something in particular to jump out at an employer, don't be afraid to also emphasize or explain that item in your cover letter, but make sure you aren't simply repeating things verbatim.
Follow the same guidelines for all sections on your resumé. While many people opt for a chronological list of education and experience, some resumé creation methods coach job seekers to place the most important items first. You may want to keep experience chronological for organizational purposes, but prioritize skills and certification lists so the most applicable, desired or related items are at the top. While some formatting is acceptable in resumés today, most resumé experts advise keeping fancy fonts and formatting to a minimum. Don't be afraid to use bold for an item here or there, but rely on descriptions and placement for emphasis rather than colors or varied script.
If you aren't sure how or what to accentuate on your resumé, or you are sketchy on the basics of strong resumé formatting, consider professional resumé-writing services. Professional resumé writers offer advice on what to emphasize to catch the eye of hiring managers in your field.
Resumé creation can be a challenging and stressful endeavor. Simplify the process by putting yourself in the hiring manager's chair. What would stand out to you on a resumé? If you have that experience, skills set or education, make sure it's clear and visible on your resumé.
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