Strong resume writing skills are important in today’s world of fierce job competition. The way you set yourself apart from all other applicants and make a good first impression is with your resume. Job seekers pay hundreds and thousands of dollars for classes to develop their resume writing skills. We are here to give you some free tips to help you get started on your resume writing and working toward your new career.
Be Professional
There are a variety of resume writing styles, the goal is to present yourself in the best professional light. You don’t want to look lazy or sloppy. Whatever resume writing style you choose, make sure you are impeccable in your perfection and presentation.
Stand Out
Your resume writing should make you stand out from the other applicants. It should not only state your qualifications and your experience, but also your writing abilities that show you are the right person for the job.
Color
It may not be a resume writing tactic, per se, but using slightly tinted paper will make your resume stand out. Do not print your resume on brightly-colored paper or odd colors like sage or lavender; but a heavy-grade ivory linen paper is appropriate.
Templates
Using templates turns resume writing into fill-in-the-blank, but it also keeps you in a box. Resume writing templates are difficult at times, because you are unable to do much changing to “the box” if you want to add more or different information.
Objective
If you are just starting out in the job field, you may not need an objective statement. Objectives are not as crucial as they once were thought to be. If you use an objective in your resume writing, be sure to make it apply to the job for which you are applying, but do not pigeonhole yourself either.
No “I”
Do not use first person in your resume writing. Don’t use third person either. Instead, leave off references to yourself. The employer will know it is you.
Action
Use action verbs in your resume writing. It makes you look like an asset to the company. Say things like “Developed (insert skills) while (insert responsibilities, not job description)” or “Increased (insert measurable accomplishment) during (insert project or program).”
Contact
The best resume writing in the world will not work unless the company can contact you. Have full contact information at the top of your resume, including name, address, home phone, cell phone and e-mail. Have an e-mail address set up specifically for job hunting with a professional, easy-to-remember address — nothing gimmicky.
Highlights
Remember when you are doing your resume writing, that it is a resume, not a job history. You are highlighting your pertinent experience that has prepared you for the job for which you are applying, not giving a run-down of everything you have done since you were 16.
Connect
Resume writing is not simply giving a job description of your favorite jobs. You need to show your prospective employers through your resume writing how your experience in past jobs has prepared you for THIS job. Make connections from your skills developed in the past to the skills needed now.
Be Honest
Especially if you are just starting out, you may have to think pretty hard to come up with pertinent skills developed during years of waiting tables in college that will prepare you for the “real world.” Be creative, but be honest in your resume writing. No exaggeration.
Make It Fit
If you don’t have much in the way of job experience to put into your resume writing, you can add in other aspects to your resume writing to make yourself stand out. Show volunteer experience and activities in the field; if you are a student or a recent graduate, add your GPA (if it is impressive), honor societies, scholarships and anything else to make you look good.
Be Perfect
Above all, the cardinal rule of resume writing: spell check. Recruiters have so many applicants, and they only need one reason to discount you. Show them one ounce of laziness or lack of care (i.e. a misspelled word) and they will toss your resume.
By D. Blair Thompson