9 answers
Savannah
Student
Montgomery, Alabama
2
Questions
Asked
1941 views
How do I create a resume?
How do I create a resume that I will submit on a job application?
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9 answers
Danuta Detyna
Career Expert, Certified Professional Resume Writer
12
Answers
Rzeszow, Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland
Updated
Danuta’s Answer
Hi Savannah,
Creating a resume can seem daunting, especially for someone who might not have extensive job experience yet. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create an effective resume that highlights her strengths and capabilities:
1. Choose the Right Resume Format
Chronological: Lists your work history in reverse chronological order. This format is best if you have some work experience.
Functional: Focuses on your skills and experience, rather than on chronological work history. This is useful for those with gaps in their employment, or who are changing careers.
Combination: A mix of both chronological and functional, this format highlights relevant skills at the top of the resume before listing a reverse-chronological work history. Good for students with some part-time, freelance, or volunteer experience.
2. Include Contact Information
At the top of the resume, include:
Full name
Professional email address
Phone number
LinkedIn profile (if available)
Personal website or online portfolio (if applicable)
3. Write a Compelling Resume Objective or Summary
Objective: Briefly state what you are looking for and what you hope to accomplish in the position. This is useful for students or recent graduates.
Summary: A brief statement that highlights your key achievements, skills, and what you can bring to the role. This is more suited for those with some work experience.
4. Highlight Education
As a student or recent graduate, your educational background is often one of your strongest assets. Include:
The name of your degree and your major
The name of the school
Graduation date (or expected graduation date)
Relevant coursework, academic honors, or projects that relate to the job
5. Emphasize Skills and Abilities
Create a section that focuses on relevant skills. This can include:
Technical skills (e.g., software, tools, foreign languages)
Soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving)
Any certifications or courses completed that are relevant to the job
6. Include Any Experience
Even if you don’t have formal work experience, you can include part-time jobs, internships, volunteer work, or involvement in school organizations:
List the organization's name, your role, the dates you were involved, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements.
Use action verbs and quantify results when possible (e.g., “increased club membership by 30%”).
7. Add Extra Sections (if applicable)
Consider adding additional sections that might be relevant, such as:
Awards and honors
Publications
Extracurricular activities
Hobbies and interests (if they are relevant to the job)
8. Keep It Concise
Aim for a one-page resume, especially if you are a new entrant into the job market. Make sure your resume is clear, concise, and directed towards the role you are applying for.
9. Proofread
Make sure to proofread your resume multiple times. Errors can create a negative impression. Use tools like Grammarly, or have someone else review it for grammar and punctuation.
10. Customize Your Resume for Each Job
Tailor your resume to highlight the experience and skills that are most relevant to the job description of each position you apply for. This increases your chances of catching the employer’s attention.
Creating a resume is about presenting the best version of yourself on paper. You should focus on what you can offer, using your academic experiences and any other related activities to demonstrate your potential to employers.
If you want to find out more about how to write a resume, you can read this guide: How to Write a Student Resume.
Creating a resume can seem daunting, especially for someone who might not have extensive job experience yet. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create an effective resume that highlights her strengths and capabilities:
1. Choose the Right Resume Format
Chronological: Lists your work history in reverse chronological order. This format is best if you have some work experience.
Functional: Focuses on your skills and experience, rather than on chronological work history. This is useful for those with gaps in their employment, or who are changing careers.
Combination: A mix of both chronological and functional, this format highlights relevant skills at the top of the resume before listing a reverse-chronological work history. Good for students with some part-time, freelance, or volunteer experience.
2. Include Contact Information
At the top of the resume, include:
Full name
Professional email address
Phone number
LinkedIn profile (if available)
Personal website or online portfolio (if applicable)
3. Write a Compelling Resume Objective or Summary
Objective: Briefly state what you are looking for and what you hope to accomplish in the position. This is useful for students or recent graduates.
Summary: A brief statement that highlights your key achievements, skills, and what you can bring to the role. This is more suited for those with some work experience.
4. Highlight Education
As a student or recent graduate, your educational background is often one of your strongest assets. Include:
The name of your degree and your major
The name of the school
Graduation date (or expected graduation date)
Relevant coursework, academic honors, or projects that relate to the job
5. Emphasize Skills and Abilities
Create a section that focuses on relevant skills. This can include:
Technical skills (e.g., software, tools, foreign languages)
Soft skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving)
Any certifications or courses completed that are relevant to the job
6. Include Any Experience
Even if you don’t have formal work experience, you can include part-time jobs, internships, volunteer work, or involvement in school organizations:
List the organization's name, your role, the dates you were involved, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements.
Use action verbs and quantify results when possible (e.g., “increased club membership by 30%”).
7. Add Extra Sections (if applicable)
Consider adding additional sections that might be relevant, such as:
Awards and honors
Publications
Extracurricular activities
Hobbies and interests (if they are relevant to the job)
8. Keep It Concise
Aim for a one-page resume, especially if you are a new entrant into the job market. Make sure your resume is clear, concise, and directed towards the role you are applying for.
9. Proofread
Make sure to proofread your resume multiple times. Errors can create a negative impression. Use tools like Grammarly, or have someone else review it for grammar and punctuation.
10. Customize Your Resume for Each Job
Tailor your resume to highlight the experience and skills that are most relevant to the job description of each position you apply for. This increases your chances of catching the employer’s attention.
Creating a resume is about presenting the best version of yourself on paper. You should focus on what you can offer, using your academic experiences and any other related activities to demonstrate your potential to employers.
If you want to find out more about how to write a resume, you can read this guide: How to Write a Student Resume.
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1590
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Savannah if you're in the process of creating or updating your resume, you could choose to write it alone. However, in a world where resume-writing resources are readily available and affordable, getting help with your resume is easier than ever. Many students are turning to online resume builders. There are numerous online resume builders available, with some of the most well-known being ResumeGenius, ResumeHelp, Zety and ResumeNow. Though each resume within the platform, the concept behind each is essentially the same, with similar core offerings between each of them: pre-designed templates, pre-written content, resume-writing tips, cover letter creation, and various downloadable formats to choose from.
Each resume builder offers different resume templates to choose from. For example, Zety and ResumeHelp both provide more than 20 different templates. The templates are relatively easy and quick to populate, allowing you to fill in the blanks on each page or via tabs broken down by sections. Lastly, many resume builders online will allow you to download your completed resume in multiple formats, including Word, PDF, and Google Doc files.
Hope this will be helpful Savannah
Each resume builder offers different resume templates to choose from. For example, Zety and ResumeHelp both provide more than 20 different templates. The templates are relatively easy and quick to populate, allowing you to fill in the blanks on each page or via tabs broken down by sections. Lastly, many resume builders online will allow you to download your completed resume in multiple formats, including Word, PDF, and Google Doc files.
Hope this will be helpful Savannah
Thank you!
Linto K David
6
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Linto K’s Answer
Please follow the below steps in order to create a professional resume:
1. Always choose the right resume formatting.
2. Do Include your name and contact information (Personal information)
3. Resume summary.
4. Soft skills and Hard skills.
5. Professional summary (If experienced)
5. Update your educational details.
6. Format your resume.
7. Important: Always Proof Read your resume.
All the best!
1. Always choose the right resume formatting.
2. Do Include your name and contact information (Personal information)
3. Resume summary.
4. Soft skills and Hard skills.
5. Professional summary (If experienced)
5. Update your educational details.
6. Format your resume.
7. Important: Always Proof Read your resume.
All the best!
Tiffanie Rand (Lampasona), CDR, CIR
Recruiter
53
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Tiffanie’s Answer
Hi Savannah!
I would recommend doing a google search for a type of resume you are trying to create, for example, if you are looking for a resume for an entry level administrative assistance you can look that up on google.
Then from there I would open word and look for a resume template that you like and start importing your data there. Word has a lot of different templates that can help you create a resume. The content should include what you're looking to do in the future, classes you've taken, jobs you'e had, a few hobbies, education and other related information that relates to the job you are applying to.
I would recommend doing a google search for a type of resume you are trying to create, for example, if you are looking for a resume for an entry level administrative assistance you can look that up on google.
Then from there I would open word and look for a resume template that you like and start importing your data there. Word has a lot of different templates that can help you create a resume. The content should include what you're looking to do in the future, classes you've taken, jobs you'e had, a few hobbies, education and other related information that relates to the job you are applying to.
Sony Korlipara
Quality Assurance
10
Answers
Fremont, California
Updated
Sony’s Answer
Your Resume starts with your name, contact info and email.
Next section you can add Brief objective statement which talk about your career goals or a short statement to describe your relevent work experience
Next comes Professional experience section with reverse order, i.e start with your most recent job/ work experience/ project experience in college, name of company and duration you worked. Instead of focusing on the tasks you did, Highlight your achievements, you can talk about your learnings, growth opportunities etc here at each project / company.
Next you can add your education qualifications, Technical and Inter personal skills.
Few more tips:-
- Read the Job posting carefully and think about the experience you had that is mostly relavant to the position and add them to resume as
needed to tailor it to the Job posting. Your Resume should stand out to skim readers.
- Proof read your resume inorder to correct any spelling mistakes, formatting ..etc
- You can either use word document (or) PowerPoint to prepare your resume
All the best!
Next section you can add Brief objective statement which talk about your career goals or a short statement to describe your relevent work experience
Next comes Professional experience section with reverse order, i.e start with your most recent job/ work experience/ project experience in college, name of company and duration you worked. Instead of focusing on the tasks you did, Highlight your achievements, you can talk about your learnings, growth opportunities etc here at each project / company.
Next you can add your education qualifications, Technical and Inter personal skills.
Few more tips:-
- Read the Job posting carefully and think about the experience you had that is mostly relavant to the position and add them to resume as
needed to tailor it to the Job posting. Your Resume should stand out to skim readers.
- Proof read your resume inorder to correct any spelling mistakes, formatting ..etc
- You can either use word document (or) PowerPoint to prepare your resume
All the best!
Ursula Reichle (she/her)
Senior Recruiter
2
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Ursula’s Answer
Crafting a resume might seem intimidating, but a great initial step is to jot down all your favorite activities and any work you've completed up until now. Canva offers excellent free templates that can serve as a valuable kick-off point.
Recruiters primarily search for the following elements in a resume:
- A brief overview of your skills
- Any special certifications, licenses, or degrees
- Your educational background
- Your employment history
Here are some top tips:
- Keep it to a maximum of one page
- Begin by creating a LinkedIn profile, which can provide a comprehensive summary of your employment history.
Recruiters primarily search for the following elements in a resume:
- A brief overview of your skills
- Any special certifications, licenses, or degrees
- Your educational background
- Your employment history
Here are some top tips:
- Keep it to a maximum of one page
- Begin by creating a LinkedIn profile, which can provide a comprehensive summary of your employment history.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6182
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Savannah,
How to Create a Resume for a Job Application
Creating a resume can be a daunting task, but it is an essential step in the job application process. A well-crafted resume can help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of landing an interview. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a resume that will make you shine:
## Part 1: Preparing to Write Your Resume
Before you start writing your resume, it’s crucial to understand the job you’re applying for and tailor your resume accordingly. Research the job description, identify the key skills and experiences required, and make sure your resume reflects those.
1.1 Understand the job you’re applying for
To create a resume that stands out, you need to understand the job requirements. Read the job description carefully and identify the essential skills, experiences, and qualifications needed for the position.
1.2 Gather your information
Before you start writing, gather all the necessary information, such as your work experience, education, skills, and achievements. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure you don’t miss any important details.
1.3 Choose the appropriate resume format
There are three main resume formats: chronological, functional, and combination. Choose the format that best showcases your skills and experience for the job you’re applying for.
## Part 2: Writing Your Resume
Now that you’ve prepared, it’s time to start writing your resume. Follow these steps to create a professional and engaging document.
2.1 Start with a header
Include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable) at the top of your resume. This information will make it easy for employers to contact you.
2.2 Write a strong summary statement
This short paragraph should highlight your most relevant skills and experiences for the job you’re applying for. It should be tailored to the specific position and grab the employer’s attention.
2.3 List your work experience
Include your previous jobs, starting with your most recent position. For each role, include the company name, job title, employment dates, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements.
2.4 Add your education
List your educational background, starting with the highest degree you’ve earned. Include the name of the institution, your degree, and your graduation date.
2.5 Include your skills
List your relevant skills, such as computer skills, language proficiency, or industry-specific knowledge. Be sure to include any skills mentioned in the job description.
2.6 Highlight your achievements
If you have any notable accomplishments or awards, include them in a separate section. This can help set you apart from other applicants and demonstrate your value to potential employers.
## Part 3: Reviewing and Formatting Your Resume
Once you’ve written your resume, take the time to review and format it properly. A well-formatted resume will be easier to read and more visually appealing.
3.1 Proofread your resume
Carefully read through your resume to check for spelling and grammar errors. Ask a friend or family member to review it as well, as a fresh pair of eyes can catch mistakes you may have missed.
3.2 Use clear and concise language
Avoid using overly complicated or technical language that may be difficult for the employer to understand. Stick to simple, clear sentences that effectively communicate your skills and experiences.
3.3 Use bullet points and formatting
Use bullet points to make your resume easier to read and highlight key information. Additionally, use formatting, such as bold or italic text, to draw attention to important sections or achievements.
## Part 4: Additional Tips
Here are a few final tips to help you create a standout resume:
Keep it concise: Aim for one to two pages, and only include relevant information.
Tailor it to the job: Customize your resume for each job application by focusing on the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position.
Be honest: Don’t exaggerate or lie about your qualifications or experiences.
Save it as a PDF: To ensure your formatting stays consistent, save your resume as a PDF before submitting it.
Authoritative Reference Titles
CareerBuilder: How to Write a Resume - This resource provides a comprehensive guide to writing a resume, including tips on formatting, structure, and content.
The Balance Careers: How to Write a Resume in 2021 - This article offers step-by-step instructions for creating a resume, with examples and advice on how to tailor your resume for different jobs and industries.
ZipJob: How to Write a Resume (With Examples) - This guide covers everything from choosing the right format to writing a strong summary statement, with examples to help you create a standout resume.
GOD BLESS!
James.
How to Create a Resume for a Job Application
Creating a resume can be a daunting task, but it is an essential step in the job application process. A well-crafted resume can help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of landing an interview. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a resume that will make you shine:
## Part 1: Preparing to Write Your Resume
Before you start writing your resume, it’s crucial to understand the job you’re applying for and tailor your resume accordingly. Research the job description, identify the key skills and experiences required, and make sure your resume reflects those.
1.1 Understand the job you’re applying for
To create a resume that stands out, you need to understand the job requirements. Read the job description carefully and identify the essential skills, experiences, and qualifications needed for the position.
1.2 Gather your information
Before you start writing, gather all the necessary information, such as your work experience, education, skills, and achievements. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure you don’t miss any important details.
1.3 Choose the appropriate resume format
There are three main resume formats: chronological, functional, and combination. Choose the format that best showcases your skills and experience for the job you’re applying for.
## Part 2: Writing Your Resume
Now that you’ve prepared, it’s time to start writing your resume. Follow these steps to create a professional and engaging document.
2.1 Start with a header
Include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable) at the top of your resume. This information will make it easy for employers to contact you.
2.2 Write a strong summary statement
This short paragraph should highlight your most relevant skills and experiences for the job you’re applying for. It should be tailored to the specific position and grab the employer’s attention.
2.3 List your work experience
Include your previous jobs, starting with your most recent position. For each role, include the company name, job title, employment dates, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements.
2.4 Add your education
List your educational background, starting with the highest degree you’ve earned. Include the name of the institution, your degree, and your graduation date.
2.5 Include your skills
List your relevant skills, such as computer skills, language proficiency, or industry-specific knowledge. Be sure to include any skills mentioned in the job description.
2.6 Highlight your achievements
If you have any notable accomplishments or awards, include them in a separate section. This can help set you apart from other applicants and demonstrate your value to potential employers.
## Part 3: Reviewing and Formatting Your Resume
Once you’ve written your resume, take the time to review and format it properly. A well-formatted resume will be easier to read and more visually appealing.
3.1 Proofread your resume
Carefully read through your resume to check for spelling and grammar errors. Ask a friend or family member to review it as well, as a fresh pair of eyes can catch mistakes you may have missed.
3.2 Use clear and concise language
Avoid using overly complicated or technical language that may be difficult for the employer to understand. Stick to simple, clear sentences that effectively communicate your skills and experiences.
3.3 Use bullet points and formatting
Use bullet points to make your resume easier to read and highlight key information. Additionally, use formatting, such as bold or italic text, to draw attention to important sections or achievements.
## Part 4: Additional Tips
Here are a few final tips to help you create a standout resume:
Keep it concise: Aim for one to two pages, and only include relevant information.
Tailor it to the job: Customize your resume for each job application by focusing on the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position.
Be honest: Don’t exaggerate or lie about your qualifications or experiences.
Save it as a PDF: To ensure your formatting stays consistent, save your resume as a PDF before submitting it.
Authoritative Reference Titles
CareerBuilder: How to Write a Resume - This resource provides a comprehensive guide to writing a resume, including tips on formatting, structure, and content.
The Balance Careers: How to Write a Resume in 2021 - This article offers step-by-step instructions for creating a resume, with examples and advice on how to tailor your resume for different jobs and industries.
ZipJob: How to Write a Resume (With Examples) - This guide covers everything from choosing the right format to writing a strong summary statement, with examples to help you create a standout resume.
GOD BLESS!
James.
Andrea Rodriguez
recruiter
2
Answers
Alajuela, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
Updated
Andrea’s Answer
Hello Savannah, to build an extraordinary resume make sure you choose simple words, comprehensible, concrete, precise, known and significant.
Avoid grammar and spelling mistakes and the use of acronyms and ambiguous words.
3 C’s in your resume:
•Concise: should not be too long
•Clear: should include relevant information for the position, with a clear division of each section and easy to read
•Credible: should include honest information that can be verified
When writing your resume consider these tips:
•Easy to read and organized: 1 or 2 pages.
•Same letter font in each part of the resume
•Show previous accomplishments.
Avoid grammar and spelling mistakes and the use of acronyms and ambiguous words.
3 C’s in your resume:
•Concise: should not be too long
•Clear: should include relevant information for the position, with a clear division of each section and easy to read
•Credible: should include honest information that can be verified
When writing your resume consider these tips:
•Easy to read and organized: 1 or 2 pages.
•Same letter font in each part of the resume
•Show previous accomplishments.
Mark Howard
Billing-related Contract Management
24
Answers
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Updated
Mark’s Answer
So, there is a nuance to your question that may be confusing to some. Typically, when applying for a job, there are two ways to get your information to the employer to help them decide who they would like to bring in for interviews: 1) the job application and 2) the resume/curriculum vitae (c.v.).
Which one gets used is up to the employer.
So, what's the difference between the two?
Many typical jobs (customer service, restaurant/hospitality, retail) will have an application that is tailored for their purposes and asks specific questions that the employer feels will help in selection of a good candidate for their business.
Positions often requiring specialized training or experiences will seek resumes. Resumes are different in that it is a compact story of what you bring to the position being applied for and why you are ideal for the role.
PRO-TIP: Each resume you submit should be tailored to the position you are applying for.
Creating a resume:
There are online resume creators that are either low-cost or free; essentially, they allow you to input information and the creator auto-formats it for you. If you haven't drafted a resume before, they are really helpful to take the stress of "how should it look" off of you.
To start off, have the following things already written down so you can add it without having to worry about "did remember this correctly?":
The obvious things are:
- Name, Address and Contact Info,
- a Purpose (what it is you want to achieve in your career and why it is important),
- Skills and Expertises you have, particularly the ones that directly relate to the position applying for and skills that complement the mains ones.
- Employment History : List up to three of most recent employers (or last 5-10 years, if you tend to stay at one place a while).
- Education history
- References (put "will be supplied upon request"; this keeps the resume shorter AND keeps your references info out of a person's hands that either don't care or don't need to know. Just make sure you have several copies of a References list printed and with you).
There are several methods to list the info once you get past the Name and contact info section. It is up to you how you want to list the info.
* Chronlogical focuses on Skills and job history from most recent to oldest. This shows stability and gives idea of how long you've had a skill.
* Functional focuses on skills and job history that are most relevant to the position being sought but employment historyis likely to be out of order. It looks fairly different from Chronological for this reason but draws attention to the things the interviewer is most likely interested in, the things you bring to the table.
* Hybrid - a blend of both chronological and functional, it focuses on the skills obtained and/or used at each job that relate to the ones needed in the position being applied for while also more easily referencing how long those skills has been used and showing stability of work history.
PRO-TIP: ALWAYS revise resume for each position you apply for. Even if the jobs are very similar, your resume should look a little different for each job because no two employers ever ask for the exact same things.
If the employer is asking for both an application AND a resume, I would take a closer look at the operation because there will be a lot of redundant information between the two so it doesn't really make the most sense to have to fillout an application and then supply a resume.
Which one gets used is up to the employer.
So, what's the difference between the two?
Many typical jobs (customer service, restaurant/hospitality, retail) will have an application that is tailored for their purposes and asks specific questions that the employer feels will help in selection of a good candidate for their business.
Positions often requiring specialized training or experiences will seek resumes. Resumes are different in that it is a compact story of what you bring to the position being applied for and why you are ideal for the role.
PRO-TIP: Each resume you submit should be tailored to the position you are applying for.
Creating a resume:
There are online resume creators that are either low-cost or free; essentially, they allow you to input information and the creator auto-formats it for you. If you haven't drafted a resume before, they are really helpful to take the stress of "how should it look" off of you.
To start off, have the following things already written down so you can add it without having to worry about "did remember this correctly?":
The obvious things are:
- Name, Address and Contact Info,
- a Purpose (what it is you want to achieve in your career and why it is important),
- Skills and Expertises you have, particularly the ones that directly relate to the position applying for and skills that complement the mains ones.
- Employment History : List up to three of most recent employers (or last 5-10 years, if you tend to stay at one place a while).
- Education history
- References (put "will be supplied upon request"; this keeps the resume shorter AND keeps your references info out of a person's hands that either don't care or don't need to know. Just make sure you have several copies of a References list printed and with you).
There are several methods to list the info once you get past the Name and contact info section. It is up to you how you want to list the info.
* Chronlogical focuses on Skills and job history from most recent to oldest. This shows stability and gives idea of how long you've had a skill.
* Functional focuses on skills and job history that are most relevant to the position being sought but employment historyis likely to be out of order. It looks fairly different from Chronological for this reason but draws attention to the things the interviewer is most likely interested in, the things you bring to the table.
* Hybrid - a blend of both chronological and functional, it focuses on the skills obtained and/or used at each job that relate to the ones needed in the position being applied for while also more easily referencing how long those skills has been used and showing stability of work history.
PRO-TIP: ALWAYS revise resume for each position you apply for. Even if the jobs are very similar, your resume should look a little different for each job because no two employers ever ask for the exact same things.
If the employer is asking for both an application AND a resume, I would take a closer look at the operation because there will be a lot of redundant information between the two so it doesn't really make the most sense to have to fillout an application and then supply a resume.