How to Write a Resume?

What is a resume?

A resume is a document that presents an individual's background, abilities, skills and qualifications and is generally used to seek employment. A curriculum vitae is a shorter version of the resume and is used in the UK. A resume (in addition to a cover letter) is more popular in the US and is a more detailed version of the CV specifying a person's educational or professional background, qualifications, specific skills, experiences and interests.

What is the purpose of a resume?

The primary purpose of a resume is to provide information about a candidate's suitability for a job, so resumes are an essential part of job applications. Resumes are prepared and updated by individuals to seek new employment and an individual prepares her resume to provide a detailed profile about her background and experience to her prospective employers. Each resume is customized to suit specific job descriptions and certain skills required for the job are emphasized. Resumes are typically short and limited to one or two pages and for each job, only the relevant information for that specific position is included in the resume.

Resumes and blogs have a similar purpose as they are both meant to increase visibility of an individual and help create his or her personal brand. A blog is used as a marketing tool on the web to highlight the talents of an individual and a great resume can also serve as a tool to market the skills and qualifications of a candidate and increase his chances of getting the job.

How to create a great resume?

It is important that you create an effective resume to get the immediate attention of your prospective employers. Remember, that a resume represents 'you', so it must have character and uniqueness. A resume that stands out from thousands of other resumes, is the one that typically brings out your unique personality, skills, qualifications and experiences. A creative layout and a certain level of originality in the presentation of your skills will go a long way to impress your employers.

The smart way to present your qualifications in a resume is to highlight your strengths and downplay your weaknesses. If you are highly educated, emphasize your degrees and teaching or research accomplishments, highlight your knowledge and provide information on your academic pursuits. If you have great professional experiences, describe your previous job specifications or professional achievements in detail. It is important to remember that when describing your achievements, you must not overdo and you must provide only the most relevant and interesting information that will attract prospective employers. A great resume has one goal - impress everyone.

What are the different types of resumes?

There are different types of resumes such as electronically submitted online resumes, functional resumes, chronological resumes, website resumes, infographic resumes, combination of hybrid resumes, video or audio resumes, and personalized resumes.

• Online resumes are now increasingly posted online and resumes are searched and tracked by employers using keywords. Larger employers use applicant tracking systems. Online resumes are often processed through a mass distribution system so individuals post their resumes on job sites which are then sent to hundreds of employers. Online resumes are matched according to job descriptions as posted by employers and then distributed. However this sort of distribution system may not provide the customized job profiles of candidates that employers seek. Online resumes are submitted electronically in some of the acceptable formats such as PDF, Word documents or HTML.
• Functional resumes classify skills and qualifications according to job functions and highlights why a specific individual is most suited for a particular job. Functional resumes are most suited for job applications that have clearly defined job descriptions and specifications. This sort of resume highlights unique personality traits required for the job or relevant professional experiences that enhance the uniqueness of a job applicant. Functional resumes summarize experiences or unique skills in an individual that distinguish her from other applicants. In other words, a functional resume emphasizes why and how a particular individual is 'functionally unique or different' from others and is thus most suited for the job.
• Chronological resumes or reverse chronological resumes are the most common type of resume. This type of resume lists all jobs or positions held by the individual in a reverse chronological order with starting and end dates of the jobs. Reverse chronological resumes list the current professional experience first and then gradually moves backwards enlisting previous experiences and the oldest job is given last on the list. The chronological resume gives specific dates and could be suitable if you are looking to present yourself as an organized and consistent job applicant, with no gaps or hiatus in your professional or academic profile. This way you can illustrate your career trajectory and your predictable professional growth. You can show where you came from and where you intend to go in terms of professional achievements. Reverse chronological resumes help employers to track your career and help them to understand your progress and ambitions. This is one of the safer options if you prefer predictability rather than disruption in your professional life.

You may have heard of professional social networks. LinkedIn is one example of a site that allows you to post and share website resume within a social network. You can also make a video of your skills and post a video resume on YouTube. Infographic resumes use graphics and images to present information in a condensed and scientific manner. Combination or Hybrid resumes use both chronological and functional styles, although may also use infographic approaches. Combination resumes are typically mixed-use, mixed-approach style resumes. Minnesota career resource has also identified targeted resumes that target specific job descriptions and keyword based resumes that are keyword rich and easily searchable by employers.

Finally, let me add the unique or creative personalized resume. This type of resume does not follow the rules or format of any other type of resume but represents your style and your unique approach to your life and profession. Your own creative personalized resume is unique as it reflects your character and personality. So my suggestion is to be bold and get creative and come up with a unique resume that will reflect your professional uniqueness and personality traits, so you will stand out as distinct and different from every other job applicant.

Concluding Remarks

While writing a resume, try to focus on relevance and impact. Are your presented skills relevant to the job description? Are you uniquely qualified for the job you are interested in? Are you confident that you will impress your prospective employers with your unique skills, personality traits and abilities? If yes, go ahead and create that stunning resume and find your dream job or hire a professional resume writer who will write the most amazing and unique resume for you.