4 mins to read How to Create a Great Resume: Do’s and Don’ts
Creating a compelling resume is crucial in showcasing your qualifications, skills, and experiences to potential employers. Here’s a detailed guide on what to include and what to avoid in your resume:
What to Add in Your Resume:
1. Contact Information:
Include your full name, phone number, professional email address (e.g., john.doe@email.com), and location (city and state). Avoid including personal information like your date of birth or marital status.
2. Resume Summary or Objective:
Write a concise, well-crafted summary or objective statement that highlights your career goals and key qualifications. Tailor this section to the specific job you’re applying for.
3. Work Experience:
List your relevant work experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each position, include the following:
- Job title
- Company name and location
- Dates of employment (month and year)
- Brief job description highlighting your key responsibilities and achievements. Use action verbs to start each bullet point.
4. Education:
Include your highest level of education, such as your degree, institution, location, graduation date, and any honors or awards. You can also include relevant coursework or certifications.
5. Skills:
Create a skills section that showcases both technical and soft skills relevant to the job you’re applying for. Be honest about your skills, and provide evidence if possible (e.g., certifications, projects).
6. Achievements and Accomplishments:
Highlight any specific achievements or awards that demonstrate your skills and qualifications. This could include sales quotas met, projects completed, or recognition received.
7. Certifications and Licenses:
Include any relevant certifications or licenses you hold, especially if they are required or preferred for the position.
8.Professional Memberships:
If you belong to professional organizations related to your field, mention them in your resume.
9. Languages:
List any languages you are proficient in, especially if they are relevant to the job.
10. Volunteer Work or Extracurricular Activities:
If you have volunteer experience or have participated in relevant extracurricular activities, include them to showcase your character and interests.
What to Avoid in Your Resume:
1. Personal Information:
Exclude personal details like your date of birth, gender, marital status, and unrelated hobbies. These are generally not relevant and can introduce bias.
2. Irrelevant Work Experience:
Avoid listing jobs that are not relevant to the position you’re applying for. Focus on experiences that demonstrate skills and qualifications needed for the job.
3. Exaggerations or Lies:
Never include false information or exaggerate your qualifications. It can lead to severe consequences if discovered.
4. References:
It’s not necessary to include references on your resume. Simply state that references are available upon request.
5. Objective Statements That Lack Focus:
Ensure your resume objective or summary aligns with the specific job you’re applying for. Avoid vague or generic statements.
6. Inconsistent Formatting:
Maintain a consistent and professional format throughout your resume. Use the same font, bullet points, and heading styles.
7. Overly Long Resumes:
Keep your resume concise and ideally limited to one page for less experienced candidates and up to two pages for those with extensive experience.
8. Unprofessional Email Addresses:
Use a professional email address for contact information. Avoid using quirky or inappropriate addresses.
9. Negative Language:
Present your experiences and skills positively, even if you faced challenges in your previous roles.
10. Spelling and Grammar Errors:
Proofread your resume carefully to ensure it’s free of typos, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors.
By following these guidelines, you can create a resume that effectively highlights your qualifications while avoiding common pitfalls. Tailor your resume for each job application to ensure it aligns with the specific requirements of the position.