what is the function of resume

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What Is a Functional Resume?

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A functional resume, sometimes called a skills-based resume, places the focus on your skills and areas of expertise, rather than on the details of your work history. This type of resume is ideal for entry-level candidates, candidates with employment gaps, and career changers!

How to Write a Functional Resume [4 Free Templates Included]

Struggling with your resume because you just graduated from university and don’t have much work experience?

Or maybe you’re switching careers, and aren’t sure how to make your past position relevant for the new field?

Whichever the case, the solution is pretty simple:

Use a functional resume format!

• What’s a Functional Resume?

When to Use a Functional Resume?

How to write a functional resume.

• What Are Some Other Resume Formats (and When To Use Them)

What is a Functional Resume?

A functional resume, also known as the skill-based resume, is a resume format that focuses on your professional skill test as opposed to work experience.

If you were to create a traditional resume, you’d list out your work experience in reverse chronological order as follows:

Whereas, in the case of a functional resume , you list out each of your skills, and then back them up by highlighting how you’ve practically applied them in the past:

It’s better to use a functional resume in the following situations:

• You’re a recent graduate with no work experience. As the functional resume focuses on skills rather than experience, it can be very helpful to students.
• You’re switching careers . If you have some work experience, but the said experience isn’t relevant for the position you’re applying for, you can use a functional resume to highlight how your skills make you the right candidate.
• You have a long history of unemployment (or gaps between jobs). Since the functional resume format focuses on skills, you can use it to downplay your work experience gaps.

That being said, in around 90% of cases, we don’t recommend using a functional resume .

While it does have its perks (e.g. standing out as a recent graduate), it also comes with significant downsides.

First off, it’s nowhere near as popular as the traditional resume format, and in certain parts of the world, recruiters might not even know that the functional format is a thing.

In addition, some recruiters might find the lack of work experience in a resume suspicious because it can hint the candidate isn’t being truthful (e.g. red flags, being fired from previous employment, etc.).

These 2 disadvantages combined make a compelling case against the functional resume format.

So, if you do decide to create a functional resume, weigh the pros and cons and proceed at your own risk!

Want to also learn how to create a traditional resume ? Check out our guide!

First things first - pick a compelling resume template to get started. We recommend using our Functional Resume template:

Then, create the following sections on your resume:

• Contact Information
• Resume Summary
• Skill Summary

If you have additional space once you’re finished with these sections, you can fill it up with some optional sections (which we’ll explain a bit down the line).

Now, let’s walk you through each of these sections and explain how to do them right:

#1. Contact Information

While it might sound elementary, there’s a ton of tid-bits you need to know about getting the contact information section right.

Here’s what you need to include in the contact information section:

• First and last name
• Current job title
• Email address
• Phone number
• City and country you’re based in

Optionally, you can also include links to relevant social media profiles. For example:

• If you’re a writer, you can link your portfolio page or website.
• If you’re a developer, you can link your GitHub profile.
• If you’re a marketer, you can link your Instagram or Twitter page.
• Your LinkedIn profile link (if it’s up-to-date).

#2. Resume Summary

The next section on your functional resume is the “resume summary.”

This section goes right under your contact information, and looks something like this:

In a nutshell, a resume summary is a 2-4 sentence recap of your biggest professional achievements and career highlights.

The goal of this section is to show the recruiter (in one glance) that you’re qualified for the position you’re applying for.

Here’s what a well-written resume summary would look like:

• Professional executive assistant with experience in supporting high-level CEOs and other executives for over 5 years. Experienced in customer support, data entry, and scheduling meetings. Skilled in time management, MS Office, and Adobe Photoshop.

#3. Skill Summary

This one’s going to be the bulk of your functional resume.

In a skill summary section, you mention the top 3 skills required for the position you’re applying for and then provide information on how you’ve gained the said skills right under them.

Let’s say, for example, you’re a recent graduate applying for a role in marketing. Here’s what your skill summary could look like:

Copywriting

• Wrote over 20+ well-researched papers for my university.
• Worked at the university news media as a journalist, interviewing interesting university alumni and publishing their stories on the website.
• Created and published high-quality tech articles on my personal blog (www.exampleblog.com).
• Participated in a university project for a real-life company (Company X), where we had to come up with ideas for expanding to a new market.
• With the help of my team, came up with 5 ideas, out of which 3 were actually implemented by the company.
• Came up with 100+ topic ideas for content on my personal blog, some of which got over 50 shares when published.

Project Management

• Acted as a team leader for most of my university projects, ensuring that they were completed on time, and that every group member contributed.
• Was part of the Startup Weekend organizational committee. Helped source speakers, organize the event, find sponsors, and overall ensured that the event went smoothly.

#4. Education

The next section on your functional resume is Education , and this one’s actually pretty straightforward.

Here, list out the following information:

• Name of the degree (e.g. B.A. in Computer Science)
• Name of the university and dates attended (e.g. Boston State University, 2012 - 2016)

Optionally, you can also include the following as part of your education section :

• GPA. If you had an impressive GPA in your university (3.5 - 4.0), you can list it in your resume. Most companies, however, don’t really care about your grades all that much .
• Honors. E.g. Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, etc.
• Academic Achievements. Your thesis, interesting or noteworthy research papers you’ve written, etc.
• Courses Attended. If you’ve taken some very impressive classes (and they’re related to the role you’re applying for), you can mention them in your education section.

#5. Optional Sections

Still have some space left on your resume? Here are some other sections you can include:

• Projects - In our opinion, this one’s the most underrated resume section. Here, you can include any kind of personal or university project you’ve worked on. E.g. blog you’ve started, a piece of software you coded, etc.
• Extracurricular Activities - If you’re a recent graduate, you can include a section about the extracurricular activities you’ve participated in during university.
• Languages - Knowing an extra language or two can always come in handy. When filling these out, though, make sure to include your level of understanding (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Fluent, or Native).
• Work History - Yep, you CAN include work history on your functional resume. If you decide to do this, though, your resume will be a combination resume and NOT the functional one.

Other Resume Formats

There are 2 other resume formats in addition to the Functional one:

• Reverse-Chronological Resume Format
• Combination Resume Format

Here’s what they’re about:

#1. Reverse-Chronological Resume Format

This one’s the most common resume format out there and it’s what most people have in mind when they refer to a “resume.”

This resume format simply lists out work experiences in reverse-chronological order and backs them up with other essential resume sections (skills, education, etc.).

Unless you have specific reasons to use either of the other resume formats (combination or functional), we recommend you stick with this one.

#2. Combination Resume Format

The combination resume is almost the same thing as a functional resume, with a small twist.

In addition to the skill summary section on the resume, you also add a work history section (which helps even out the downsides that come with a functional resume).

Usually, the combination resume is used by senior professionals with a decade’s worth of work experience.

4 Free Functional Resume Templates & Examples

Want to get started with your functional resume?

All you have to do is pick one of our free templates and you’re good to go!

#1. Functional Resume Template

Our functional resume template adds a dash of style to the traditional black-and-white resume.

Use this template to present your skills and talents in the best way possible!

#2. Combination Resume Template

This combination template allows you to showcase your skills without having to cut down on work experience.

#3. College Resume Template

Our College resume template is perfect for recent university graduates, allowing you to emphasize your skill-set over your work experiences.

#4. Professional Resume Template

Looking for something a bit more professional? This resume template is a prime favorite for job-seekers who are serious about their careers.

Key Takeaways

And that just about sums up everything you need to know about functional resumes!

Now, let’s do a small recap of everything we’ve learned so far:

• A functional resume format is a type of resume that focuses more on skills rather than work experiences.
• You can use a functional resume if you’re a recent graduate with little work experience or if you’re switching careers.
• To create a compelling functional resume, you want to get your skill summary section just right.
• Functional resumes, however, are not that common in most parts of the world, so we recommend sticking to a conventional resume format to most job-seekers, instead.

Discover More Resume Templates

• One Page Resume Templates
• 2 Page Resume Templates
• Google Docs Resume Templates
• Word Resume Templates
• Chronological Resume Templates
• Creative Resume Templates
• Minimalistic Resume Templates
• High School Resume Templates

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What is a Resume? Definition, Structure, Purpose, Types & Meaning

In This Guide:

Reverse chronological resume format, functional/skills-based resume format, hybrid resume format.

• Resume Templates

Personal Details and Contact Information

Resume introduction, work experience and achievements, education section, additional sections.

You want to get a job and that’s just great! But as you start thinking about it, hundreds of questions pop up in your head.

“How do I write my resume?”, “What is a resume”, “What is a cover letter” and even more and more hanging there. Don’t worry, we are here to help you and get you good and ready to start your journey.

We are going to cover some basic topics like:

• What is a resume
• Resume format and layout

As well as some more advanced ones like:

• Resume structure
• Design and formatting tips
• Dos and Don'ts
• Cover letter

This article is mainly for the basics, so if you want more advanced tips and tricks, you can also learn how to Make Your Resume Stand Out .

But if you are searching for the basics only, that’s the right place!

So let’s dive in.

What is a resume?

The resume is your absolute must if you are looking for a job.

Your resume defines who you are in the eyes of your potential employer and is the most important document in your job application, followed by the cover letter.

But probably you are asking yourself: what is a resume?

In simple words: A resume is a formal document that a job applicant creates to itemize their qualifications for a position. It usually includes work experience, education, skills and any other relevant information you want to share with your future employer.

We need to note the fact that a resume is different from a curriculum vitae (CV).

The CV shows your complete work experience, education, skill set, and anything else you have done, no matter the length of the document, while the resume’s goal is to present anything relevant in a clear and easy-to-read format.

Unlike a CV, a resume should be modified for each and every job position, so that it would be as relevant as possible, and it should not exceed 1-2 pages.

The goal of your resume is to quickly and effectively show your potential employer why you are uniquely qualified for their job opening, based on your relevant experience and skills.

Preparation before writing a resume

As we said earlier, a resume should be kept short and to the point, it should only include relevant information for the job position.

The easiest way to perfect your resume writing is to get started with some preparation.

What you need to do is get a list of:

• Accomplishments from previous jobs
• Your skill set - soft, hard and technical skills
• Details about your previous jobs
• Details about your education
• Certifications, awards and honors
• Anything else that you might want to include in your resume at one point

Don’t worry about the writing, just focus on the relevance to the job position of everything you write down.

Once you are done, step away. Give it a few hours.

And when you are well rested again, come back to it with fresh eyes and perfect your writing.

Format and Layout

Now you have everything you might want to include in your future resumes, all in one place, and that’s great!

But there is just one more thing to do before we start filling each section with information.

And that’s a pretty important step - choosing the format and sticking to a good layout.

Don’t worry, we got you covered, and we will go through the 3 main resume formats.

A reverse chronological resume format is the most popular one out there.

It has the great advantage of being suitable for pretty much every job position.

This format is mostly career-oriented - it lists your work history in order, as the most recent position would be at the top.

It is the ideal format for people with lots of work experience, relevant to the job position they are applying for.

Check out some of our great examples - Reverse Chronological Resume .

But if you don’t feel confident that your work experience is relevant enough, don’t worry, the next resume format would be perfect for you.

As opposed to the reverse chronological resume, the functional resume format is mainly focused on your skill set.

It is the perfect choice for you if you are looking for your first job or career change, or if you are trying to steer away the employer’s focus from a gap in your employment history.

The great thing about the functional resume format is that it groups your skills in categories and presents them in a great and easy-to-read format.

Check out some examples to form a better idea of what the function resume format is - Functional Resume .

You are not convinced that this is your format either? We have one last format for you and it is guaranteed to work!

As its name shows, this resume format combines all the best features of the reverse chronological and the functional resume.

What it includes is both a reverse chronological work history section, and a highly detailed skill section.

It’s mostly used for job positions that require expertise in a variety of fields, and you want to show that you are the right person for the job.

Get a better understanding of the combination resume format with these examples - Hybrid Resume .

Great, you picked your resume format, now let’s focus on one last thing - the layout .

There are a few important points that you need to follow in order to do this part right.

First, keep it short and to the point. One page is what you need. Don’t go for 2 pages, unless you are absolutely sure that it would add some significant value.

Pick the right font and font size:

• Your font should stand out, but not too much, so you can go for Ubuntu, Roboto and Overpass, but don’t ever try Comic Sans.
• Keep your text between 11 and 12pt, so that it would be easy to read
• Pick a heading type (H1, H2…) and stick with it for all sections. Use between 14 and 16pt so that titles would stand out a little more

To ensure that your resume would look good, make sure you have sufficient white space between sections and appropriate margins (at least 0.7 inches)

And last, but not least - save your resume as PDF . It’s going to keep your formatting as it is, no matter what, as opposed to alternatives like Word.

We know that it might be intimidating to process all that information.

But don’t worry, we got you covered.

There are a few main templates that you can stick to, according to the type of resume you are trying to achieve.

The first, and most multifunctional format, is the Basic . You can use it on any occasion, but it is not specifically concentrated on any section, so if you want to focus on something more, keep reading, we’ve got more for you.

If you just graduated from college and don’t have much experience, you might want to focus more on your education and skills, rather than anything else, so you would want to use the College Resume Example .

We mentioned earlier the functional resume format, we have some examples for you to check out: Function Resume Template .

The other resume templates you can check out, according to your goal are:

• Infographic Resume Template
• Minimalist Resume Template
• Modern Resume Template
• Timeline Resume Template
• Traditional Resume Template
• Two-column Resume Template

Check them all and win the resume game.

Resume Structure

Okay, we are doing great so far!

Let’s dive into all the different sections your resume can have .

Believe it or not, this is the most critical section of your resume.

No matter how well you did everything, how skilled and experienced you are, the HR won’t ever call you in for an interview if you misspelled your phone number.

This section should be on the top of your resume and must include your name, email and phone number. The mailing address is mandatory.

Your name should be highly visible with bolder or larger font than the rest of the document.

As you want to look professional in the eyes of your potential employer, make sure your email address sounds professional. Consider creating a new email account if you currently use an outdated email service.

You can also include a portfolio if you are applying for creative positions, or a LinkedIn profile, but make sure you make it a strong one.

If you feel like more tips on the topic would be of use, check out Contact Information on Resume .

And last, as we stated in the beginning of this section - make sure your contact information is correct. You should double-check it, and even triple-check it and make sure everything is correct and up-to-date.

This is a very small part of your overall resume, but it is an extremely important one.

As it is one of the first things a hiring manager would see when looking at your resume, you need to perfect it.

What it actually is, is a short statement in two or three sentences. It’s a description of who you are as a candidate.

A well-written introduction can grab the hiring manager’s attention and multiply your chances of getting the job you applied for.

It’s not a deal-breaker if you skip this section and decide you don’t need it, but that short statement on top of your resume can really be key for getting called for an interview.

The work experience is the heart of your resume.

The first thing the hiring manager would look for are the job titles and the companies you have worked for. Make sure this information is easy to find.

The basics of this section should include:

• Job position
• Location of the Company
• Dates of employment

But no matter how impressive your work experience, compressed in these 4 points, it might not be good enough for the employer.

Employers don’t want only basic information, they are much more interested in the impact you had on the companies you previously worked for.

Results matter and numbers are important.

No matter what were your previous positions, there is always some metric that can show your potential employer you had a significant impact.

Perfect this section by checking out - Work Experience Section .

Having a clear education section is essential for your resume, especially if your work experience is limited, or you have just graduated.

If you don’t have much work experience, but your track record in school is good, consider making your education section highly-detailed and include all your education-related accomplishments .

On the contrary, if you have a few years of work experience, your education section should shrink down to the basics.

In most cases, listing the school name, the attendance years and your degree would be enough.

If you want to go deeper in this section’s topic, check out - Education Section .

Before starting this section, we need to define the difference between the two main types of skills - soft and hard.

Hard Skills

Using simple words, a hard skill is one that can be learned, taught, or measured and is not dependent on your industry.

Examples of such skills are any language or computer skills, or ability to operate heavy machinery.

Soft Skills

A soft skill is a personality trait that is hard to measure but that makes you great at your job.

Examples of such skills are being a team player, being driven to succeed, or having a great attitude.

Now that we have defined both types of skills, it’s pretty much up to you to decide which ones to include on your resume.

The important thing is to list them clearly, so it would be easy for the hiring manager to see them and note them.

If they see right away the skills that they seek, they are much more likely to take your resume under consideration.

As this section is very important, but somewhat complex, we recommend you look into it a little more - Skills Section .

If you have gone this far, you know all the basics you need for your resume.

There are a few more sections that you can add to your resume, if you think they would contribute in some way, or if you consider your resume still incomplete.

Certifications, Awards, & Honors

This section can potentially be very important, but you really need to show something impressive, if you decide to go for it.

If your potential employer needs to see some specific certifications, make sure you know which ones to include in your resume before you send it, because leaving some out could potentially ruin your application by making you seem unqualified.

In any other case, if you feel like some certification, award or honor would be relevant in your resume, feel free to include it.

If you would like to read a little more on the topic - Certifications on Resume .

And feel free to add any other section that you feel would help your hiring process.

Here are a few sections that you can consider:

• Publications
• Volunteering
• Hobbies & Interests

Tailor Your Information to the Job Ad

So far, so good.

Now we need to remember once again that the resume’s purpose is to be fitted for a specific job position.

So don’t forget to make it so, don’t send out the same resume for a variety of different positions, because it just won’t work.

The most important thing to do here is to adjust the keywords, especially in your skills section.

Show the employer that the skill set you have is perfectly fitted to the company’s needs.

You should also consider modifying your work experience and education sections, depending on the job requirements.

But all in all - focus on the keywords for each and every job position you are applying for.

Cover Letter

Okay, you seem to be all done with your resume.

So you might be asking yourself - I have a great resume, do I need a cover letter?

The answer is always - yes, if you have the option.

Cover letters may be crucial in the hiring process because they let you provide context for your resume.

Furthermore, they let you show off your personality and your enthusiasm for the job you are applying for.

A well-written cover letter can really boost your application and be the game-changer in your hiring project, so don’t hesitate to learn How to Tell a Story in a Cover Letter .

We reached the end of our topic, but don’t relax just yet, because this is an important one.

Typos and grammatical errors are the most common mistakes found in resumes.

And quite often they are a dealbreaker for the employer.

So don’t skip out on proofreading and do it right.

Here are some tips to be sure your resume would be mistake-free:

• Try reading your resume backwards (it can help you identify errors by presenting the words in a new order)
• Ask trusted friends, colleagues, professors and family members if they can review your resume (third-party opinions can help reveal new information you might have overlooked)
• Try reading the resume a few times, but at different times of the day (it would clear up your mind and help you identify mistakes, you didn’t see before)

And, of course, don’t forget the layout recommendations we gave you before - check your font and font sizes.

One final thing - if your resume is more than one page, review it once again and try to shorten it to one page.

Takeaways: What is a resume?

We are all done.

Now you know the difference between a Resume and a CV.

You also learned the basics of writing your Resume and modifying it according to the job position.

You have in your knowledge the most important dos and don'ts for writing a Resume, and you’ve got a great variety of links to deepen your knowledge for every step of the writing process.

• Resume Guides

Resume Order of Jobs – Does it Matter?

Cover letter design: 5+ tips & examples for success, how to network effectively to get hired, resume keywords to land interviews and get hired, sam landed a job at spotify with enhancv, can you count internships as work experience yes, and here's why..

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What is a Resume? The Ultimate Guide to Resumes

A resume is a document that summarizes an individual’s education, work experience, achievements, and skills. It is often the first point of contact between a job seeker and a potential employer.

A well-crafted resume is essential for job seekers to stand out from the competition. It is a marketing tool that sells an individual’s skills and abilities to potential employers. A carefully tailored resume that highlights relevant experience and skills can greatly increase a candidate’s chances of securing an interview and landing a job.

Brief history of resumes

Resumes have evolved over time, from handwritten personal summaries to today’s digital, keyword-optimized versions. The use of resumes dates back to the Middle Ages, with Leonardo da Vinci believed to have created the first known resume. In the 20th century, resumes became standard practice as the workforce grew and job applications became more formalized. With the rise of electronic resumes and online job searching, resumes have continued to adapt to new technologies and trends.

Resume Formats

A resume format is the presentation style you choose for your resume. There are three popular resume formats: chronological, functional, and combination.

A. Chronological

Explanation of chronological format:  The chronological resume format lists your work experience in reverse chronological order with the most recent job first. It focuses on job titles, employers, dates of employment, and job responsibilities. It is the most traditional and widely used format.

When to use chronological format:  Use the chronological format if you have a solid work history with no significant gaps in employment, and you want to highlight your career progression and accomplishments. It’s also effective if you’re targeting a job that is similar to your current or previous jobs.

B. Functional

Explanation of functional format:  The functional resume format emphasizes your skills and achievements rather than your work history. It highlights your relevant skills and abilities in a separate section that captures the attention of the reader.

When to use functional format:  Use the functional format if you have gaps in your employment history, are changing careers, or have limited work experience. It’s also effective if you have a lot of relevant experience that is not directly related to your previous job titles.

C. Combination

Explanation of combination format:  The combination resume format blends the features of chronological and functional formats. It presents your work history in reverse chronological order and emphasizes your relevant skills and achievements.

When to use a combination format:  Use the combination format if you have a solid work history with relevant experience and accomplishments that are not necessarily reflected in your job titles or descriptions. It’s also effective if you want to highlight your transferable skills and achievements relevant to the job you’re targeting while providing a detailed work history.

It’s essential to choose the best resume format that suits your career goals, job level, and work experience. Carefully consider each format’s advantages and disadvantages before deciding which resume format to use.

Resume Components

When it comes to crafting a winning resume, there are five core components that you need to include. Here’s everything you need to know about each one:

A. Contact Information

Your contact information is the very first thing that should appear on your resume. Without it, recruiters won’t be able to reach out to you for interviews. Make sure you include your full name, email address, phone number, and mailing address (optional).

B. Professional Summary or Objective Statement

Your professional summary or objective statement is a brief, high-level overview of your experience, skills, and career goals. This section should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for, and should give the reader a clear sense of what makes you uniquely qualified for the role.

C. Work Experience

Your work experience is the heart of your resume. This section should include a list of your previous jobs, along with accompanying details like job titles, company names, dates of employment, and job responsibilities.

1. Explanation of How to List Work Experience

When listing your work experience, start with your most recent job and work backwards. Use bullet points to highlight your most notable accomplishments and responsibilities for each role.

2. Importance of Strong Action Verbs

Using strong, active verbs (like “managed,” “created,” or “led”) can make your work experience section much more impactful. Avoid weak, passive language (like “assisted with” or “was responsible for”).

D. Education

Your education section should include a list of your degrees, along with the school names, dates of attendance, and any academic honors you’ve received. If you have a lot of relevant coursework or certifications, you can include those here as well.

Your skills section is a chance to highlight your core competencies, both technical (hard skills) and interpersonal (soft skills).

1. Explanation of Hard and Soft Skills

Hard skills are specific, measurable abilities that are required for a particular job (like proficiency in a certain programming language). Soft skills are more interpersonal in nature, and include things like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

2. How to Showcase Skills Effectively

When showcasing your skills, be sure to provide concrete examples of how you’ve used them to achieve success in previous roles. Avoid vague or generic statements – the more specific you can be, the better.

Your resume should be a well-crafted representation of your skills, experience, and achievements. By following these guidelines and tailoring your resume to each job you apply for, you’ll be well on your way to landing your dream job.

Writing a Strong Resume

Crafting a compelling resume is an essential part of any job search. A strong resume showcases your skills, accomplishments, and experience in a way that makes you stand out to potential employers. Here are some tips to help you create a resume that will catch the eye of hiring managers:

A. Tailoring resumes to specific job descriptions

Tailoring your resume to specific job descriptions can increase your chances of being noticed by recruiters. When applying for a job, carefully review the job description to identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. Then, make sure to highlight those skills and qualifications in your resume.

B. Importance of using metrics and data

Using metrics and data to quantify your accomplishments can make your resume more impactful. For example, if you increased sales revenue or decreased production time, include specific numbers to demonstrate the results of your work. This will show potential employers the impact you can make on their organization.

C. Tips for avoiding common mistakes

To ensure your resume stands out for all the right reasons, avoid common mistakes such as spelling errors or grammatical mistakes. Also, make sure your resume is easy to read and follows a logical format. Keep it concise and highlight your most relevant accomplishments.

D. Examples of strong resumes

One of the best ways to improve your resume is to learn from examples of outstanding resumes. Here are some essential elements of a strong resume:

• A clear objective statement that captures the attention of recruiters
• A concise summary highlighting your most significant achievements and skills
• Relevant work experience and education, presented in a clear and organized way
• Metrics and data to showcase your past accomplishments and demonstrate your potential value to the employer

A strong resume requires time, effort, and attention to detail. By tailoring your resume to specific job descriptions, highlighting your achievements with metrics and data, and avoiding common mistakes, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job.

ATS and Keyword Optimization

A. explanation of ats and the role it plays in the hiring process.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software used by companies to efficiently manage the hiring process. These systems aid in screening, tracking, and managing job applications.

When a job seeker applies through an online portal or email, the resume is first scanned by the ATS, which then filters the applications based on parameters such as education, skills, experience, and keywords.

The hiring managers see only those resumes that have passed the ATS screening, and the system also saves the information of all applicants for future reference. Therefore, optimizing your resume as per the ATS guidelines is essential to ensure that it gets recognized by the system and increases your chances of getting the job.

B. Importance of keyword optimization

ATS scans for keywords that match the job description provided by the employer. To improve your chances of getting through the ATS, it is crucial to include relevant keywords in your resume. Identify the keywords that appear in the job description and tailor your resume accordingly.

Merely copying and pasting the exact same words from the job description, however, is not advisable. It’s important that you integrate the keywords organically and weave them into your resume.

C. How to optimize resumes for ATS and keyword search

Here are some tips on how to optimize your resume for ATS and keyword search.

Use keywords specific to the job: Use keywords that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Identify the keywords in the job description and ensure that you use them in your resume.

Use industry jargon: Industry-specific jargon indicates that you are familiar with industry practices and standards. It will also help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

Keep formatting simple: Avoid complex formatting like graphics, images, and tables in your resume. Use standard fonts like Times New Roman or Arial and a readable font size of 10-12.

Use bullet points for better readability: Use bullet points to organize your skills and experiences. It ensures that your resume is easy to read, and the information is easily accessible.

Customize your resume: Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for. Use relevant experience and skills that match the job description.

Optimizing your resume for ATS and keyword search is essential to make it past the initial screening process. It ensures that your accomplishments and experiences are noticed by the hiring manager and increases your chances of getting an interview. Stick to these guidelines, and you’ll be well on your way to crafting a winning resume.

Resume Proofreading and Editing

Once you have completed your resume, it is essential to proofread and edit it thoroughly to avoid any errors and ensure that it presents you in the best possible light. Here are some common mistakes to look out for:

A. Common mistakes to look out for

• Grammatical errors such as misspellings, incorrect verb tenses or articles, and fragmented sentences.
• Inaccurate or inconsistent information, such as incorrect employment dates or job titles.
• Lack of clarity and specificity, making it difficult to understand your qualifications or achievements.
• Formatting issues, such as inconsistent font sizes or styles, poor spacing or alignment, or incorrect headings.

B. Tips for proofreading and editing

Here are some helpful tips for proofreading and editing your resume:

• Take a break after completing your resume to help you approach it with fresh eyes and a clear mind.
• Print out a hard copy and read it aloud, which can help with detecting errors and identifying areas for improvement.
• Use tools like spell-checking and grammar-checking software to catch any mistakes you may have missed.
• Focus on improving the overall readability and flow of your resume. Use clear headings, bullet points, and action verbs to make it easy for the reader to follow.

C. Importance of seeking feedback

Even after you have proofread and edited your resume, seeking feedback from others is critical to ensuring that it presents your best self. Here are some reasons why:

• Another person can provide fresh perspective and catch errors or areas for improvement that you may have missed.
• Feedback can also help you identify any weaknesses in your resume and provide ideas for how to strengthen it.
• Getting feedback from someone who is experienced in the field or industry you are applying to can give you valuable insight into what employers are looking for.

It is essential to put in the time and effort to proofread and edit your resume thoroughly. Taking the extra step of seeking feedback can also help set you apart from other applicants and put you on the path to success in your job search.

Resume Design

When it comes to crafting a winning resume, design is just as important as content. A visually appealing resume can help you stand out from the competition and make a great impression on potential employers. In this section, we’ll explore the importance of a visually appealing resume, best practices for design, and examples of resumes that do it right.

A. Importance of a Visually Appealing Resume

Your resume is often the first impression that potential employers have of you. In fact, many hiring managers spend only a few seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to move on to the next candidate. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure your resume is visually appealing and easy to read.

A visually appealing resume can help you convey your professionalism, attention to detail, and overall skills and experience. By choosing the right fonts, colors, and layout, you can make your resume stand out and grab the reader’s attention.

B. Best Practices for Design

To create a visually appealing resume, there are several best practices to keep in mind:

• Choose an appropriate font size and style that is easy to read.
• Use bullet points and whitespace to make your resume scannable.
• Incorporate your personal brand into your design, such as using your brand colors or logo.
• Avoid using too many different fonts or font styles.
• Keep your resume layout simple and clean.

C. Examples of Visually Appealing Resumes

Here are some examples of visually appealing resumes that showcase the best practices discussed above:

• The Minimalist: This resume features a simple black and white design with plenty of whitespace and bold headings. The font is easy to read and the design is simple yet effective.
• The Creative: This resume uses pops of color to draw attention to key sections and incorporate the candidate’s personal brand. The layout is clean and scannable, making it easy to read.
• The Professional: This resume uses a clean, professional layout with a touch of color to differentiate each section. The font is easy to read and the design is both elegant and functional.

By incorporating these best practices into your resume design and drawing inspiration from these examples, you can create a visually appealing resume that gives you the best chance of landing the job you want.

Cover Letters

A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume when applying for a job. It is essentially a summary of your skills and experience, and explains why you are the perfect candidate for the job.

A strong cover letter is crucial when applying for a job, as it helps you stand out from other candidates. It is an opportunity for you to showcase your skills, experience and enthusiasm for the position.

Here are some tips for writing a strong cover letter:

• Keep it concise and to the point. Stick to one page and avoid rambling.
• Tailor your cover letter to the specific job you are applying for. Highlight how your skills and experience match the requirements of the job.
• Use a professional tone and avoid informal language or slang.
• Show enthusiasm for the position and the company. Explain why you are interested in working for the company specifically.
• Address the person who will be reading your cover letter by name, if possible.
• Proofread your cover letter carefully for any typos or grammatical errors.

Here are some examples of strong cover letters:

• A cover letter for a marketing job that highlights the candidate’s experience in social media marketing and their enthusiasm for the company’s brand.
• A cover letter for a teaching job that showcases the candidate’s passion for education and their ability to connect with students.
• A cover letter for a sales job that demonstrates the candidate’s track record of exceeding sales targets and their ability to build relationships with clients.
• Do customize your cover letter to the specific job you are applying for.
• Do show enthusiasm for the position and the company.
• Do proofread your cover letter carefully for any errors.

Don’ts:

• Don’t use informal language or slang.
• Don’t make your cover letter too long or rambling.
• Don’t use a generic cover letter for multiple job applications.

A strong cover letter is an important component of any job application. By following these tips and avoiding common mistakes, you can create a cover letter that helps you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Resume Submission

Once you have polished and perfected your resume, the next step is to submit it to potential employers. This section covers where to submit your resume, the different submission requirements for different companies, and tips for following up after submitting your resume.

A. Where to Submit Resumes

There are several places where you can submit your resume. The most popular option is through online job boards, such as LinkedIn or Glassdoor. You can also submit your resume directly to a company’s career page or via email to a hiring manager or recruiter. Additionally, you may choose to work with a staffing agency, which can provide further assistance in your job search.

B. Different Submission Requirements for Different Companies

It’s important to keep in mind that each company may have different submission requirements. Some companies may require you to fill out an online application in addition to submitting your resume, while others may only accept resumes via email. Always follow the specific instructions provided by the company to ensure that your application is considered.

C. Tips for Following up After Submitting a Resume

After submitting your resume, you may be wondering what the next steps are. One important tip is to follow up with the company after a week or two to check on your application status. You can reach out via email or phone and reiterate your interest in the position.

It’s also a good idea to personalize your follow-up message and highlight any relevant experience or qualifications that make you a strong candidate. This shows that you are dedicated to the position and are willing to put in effort to stand out.

Submitting your resume is just the first step in the job search process. By knowing where to submit your resume, following specific company submission requirements, and following up appropriately, you can increase your chances of landing the job of your dreams.

Job Search Strategies

When it comes to job searching, there are several strategies you can use to increase your chances of success. In this section, we’ll provide an overview of some of the most effective strategies to consider.

A. Overview of Different Job Search Strategies

Online job boards:  Websites like Indeed, Monster, and Glassdoor allow you to search for job openings based on specific criteria such as location, job title, and salary range. You can also create job alerts to be notified when a new job posting matches your search criteria.

Networking:  This involves reaching out to people in your professional and personal network to learn about potential job opportunities. LinkedIn is a popular social networking site for professionals that can be used for networking purposes.

Recruiting agencies:  These are companies that assist both job seekers and companies looking to hire by matching candidates with open positions.

Direct outreach:  This involves finding companies you’re interested in working for and reaching out to them directly to inquire about open positions or express interest in working for them in the future.

B. Importance of Networking

Networking is often considered one of the most effective job search strategies because it allows you to tap into the “hidden job market” – job openings that aren’t publicly advertised. By building relationships with people in your industry, you may learn about job openings before they are posted on job boards or advertised elsewhere.

Networking can also help you learn about potential employers and gain insight into their company culture and hiring practices. This information can be valuable as you prepare for interviews and evaluate job offers.

C. Tips for Maximizing Job Search Success

Tailor your resume and cover letter:  When applying for jobs, make sure your resume and cover letter are tailored to the specific position and company you’re applying to. This shows that you’ve taken the time to research the role and company and are genuinely interested in the position.

Prepare for interviews:  Research the company and position you’re interviewing for and prepare responses to common interview questions. Dress professionally and arrive early to the interview.

Follow up:  After an interview, send a thank-you email or note to the interviewer to thank them for their time and reiterate your interest in the position.

Be persistent:  Job searching can be a long and frustrating process. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear back from companies right away. Follow up regularly (but not too frequently) on your applications and continue networking.

By using a combination of job search strategies, networking, and following these tips, you can increase your chances of success and find the job you’ve been searching for. Good luck!

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• Private Duty Caregiver Resume: Proven Example for 2023
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• The Pros and Cons of Temporary Jobs: A Complete Guide.

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How To Write A Resume In 7 Steps (With Examples)

• How To Write A Resume
• Resume Skills Section
• Resume Objective Section
• Career Objective Section
• Resume Reference Section
• Resume Summary Section
• Resume Summary Example
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• Study Abroad On Resume

Resumes are still the most important document in your job search . Generating a professional and interesting resume isn’t easy, but there is a standard set of guidelines that you can follow. As hiring managers usually only spend a short time looking over each resume, you want to make sure that yours has a reason for them to keep reading.

If you’re looking to write a resume, rewrite a resume you already have, or are just curious about resume format, then you’ve come to the right place. This article will go through the steps to writing an excellent resume, as well as offering examples for what sections of the resume should look like.

Key Takeaways:

A resume is a short document that details your professional history in a way that tailors your experience and skill set for the particular job you’re applying for.

Resumes follow a few standard formatting practices, which hiring managers and recruiters expect to see.

Highlighting your work experience, skills, and educational background with relevant keywords can help you get past applicant tracking systems and into more interviews.

How to write a resume

Writing a resume involves using the proper formatting, writing an introduction, and adding your work experience and education. Stuffing your entire professional life into a single page resume can feel overwhelming, but remember that you’re distilling the relevant parts of your professional experience in order to catch the eye of the recruiter .

Formatting your resume. To start, use a word processor such as Microsoft Word or Google docs. Standard resume formatting calls for:

1 inch margins

10-12 point font

A professional, commonly-used font

Additionally, there are three resume formats that are commonly used. Most people should stick with a chronological resume format , but the combination resume format and functional resume format can be effective for more advanced workers or those who have significant gaps in their resume.

Write a resume header . It doesn’t matter if you have the best resume in the world if the hiring manager can’t contact you. Every single resume should include the following contact information:

Your full name. First and last.

Your phone number. Use a personal phone number, and make sure your voicemail is set up properly.

Your email address. Nothing inappropriate — [email protected] is a safe choice.

Location. City, State, Zip Code is fine, but you can include your full mailing address if you think it’s appropriate.

Your social media (optional). LinkedIn is the obvious one you’d want to include, but make sure your profile looks good. If you have an online portfolio , either on a personal blog/website or on a site like Journo Portfolio , feel free to include that here as well.

Your job title. Also optional, but can be useful for applicant tracking systems.

Resume introduction. You have four options for your resume introduction: a resume objective, summary statement, resume profile, or qualifications summary. For most job-seekers, a resume summary statement is the best choice. Regardless of which resume introduction you choose, avoid first-person pronouns (I/me/my).

Resume objective. A resume objective is the goal of your resume. Since the objective of every resume is to land a job, this is not the most original or impressive opener you can have.

On the other hand, it’s a good choice for an entry-level applicant or someone who is changing career paths . This should be a 1-3 sentence summary of why you’re motivated to get the position you’re applying for.

Who should use a resume objective: Entry-level applicants, career-changers, and recent college graduates.

Resume summary. This is the best opener for most job-seekers. As the name suggests, a resume summary highlights the most salient aspects of your resume.

It should include your current position, how many years of experience you have, some of your biggest achievements, and possibly your career goals. This should be a 1-3 sentence spiel and should include some quantifiable experiences.

Who should use a resume summary: Most job seekers; anyone with quantifiable accomplishments to emphasize and a broad range of skills.

Qualifications summary. A bullet point list (4-6 points is the sweet spot) of your qualifications for the position. It’s best used by applicants going for jobs that require a fixed skill set. It’s not a great choice for entry-level applicants who lack quantifiable achievements.

You’ll notice that a qualifications summary takes up more space than a resume objective or summary, but it can actually save the hiring manager time if you provide a bunch of valuable information right off the top.

Who should use a qualifications summary: Those applying to a job with requirements for certain skills and job-seekers who have a lot of experience in their industry and/or field.

Resume profile. A resume profile is similar to a resume summary, but goes into more detail about your accomplishments at your current or former job, while also telling the reader about your career goals. Think of a resume profile as a section that pulls all the best parts of your work experience section into one place.

Who should use a resume profile: Anyone with significant accomplishments under their belt, expertise in a niche field, or applying to a job in the same industry that they have lots of experience in.

Resume headline. Resume headlines aren’t necessary, but you can include one alongside any of the four types of resume introduction listed above. A resume headline comes between your contact information and the resume introduction of your choice.

Headlines can be used by entry-level applicants and experienced job-seekers alike. The important point is that your headline should be short and to the point. Additionally, you should use title case when writing your resume headline (capitalize words as you would for a book title).

Who should use a resume headline: Any job-seeker who wants to showcase their experience or unique value right off the bat.

Work experience. Your work experience section is the place to let hiring managers know that you have relevant experience that would allow you to handle the job you’re applying for.

If you’re using the chronological resume format, your work experience section would come after your resume summary/objective. In a funcitonal reumse, it would follow your skills section. Either way, work experience should be listed in reverse-chronological order (most recent experience at the top).

When listing your work experience, you should include all of the following information:

Job title. Start by stating the position you held at the company. These are easy cue for the hiring manager to look at and determine whether your past positions would help you succeed at their company.

Company Info. Include the name of the employer, the location where you worked, and perhaps a brief description of the company, if it isn’t a well-known name.

Dates Employed: Use the mm/yyyy format if you want to be sure that most applicant tracking systems (ATS) will pick it up. Whatever format you use for dates, be consistent, or your resume will look sloppy.

Job Description. Don’t just list your job’s responsibilities; hiring managers and recruiters already have an idea of your duties based on the job title. Instead, list your most important and impressive responsibilities/achievements at the job with bullet points. Determine which of these are most relevant for your new role based on the job description.

Ideally, each bullet should be no longer than a single line. However, two lines is acceptable, if used sparingly.

Always start with a strong action verb, followed by a quantifiable achievement and a specific duty. For example: “Developed ad campaigns for clients, increasing sales by an average of 27%.” Each job title should include 3-5 bullet points.

The order that you include this information can be changed around, as long as you are consistent throughout your resume. However, the bullet points detailing your job’s achievements should always be the last item for each entry.

It’s important that you tailor your resume’s work experience section to the job you’re applying for. We recommend reading the job description carefully and highlighting the action verbs in one color and the skills, adjectives, and job-specific nouns in a different color.

Educational background. In almost all cases, your education section should come after your professional history. If you’re a recent college graduate with limited work experience, you may choose to put your educational achievements first.

Like the section on your professional history, educational experiences should come in reverse-chronological order, with your highest level of education at the top. If you have a college degree, you don’t need to add any information about your high school experience. If you didn’t finish college, it’s okay to give a list of what credits you did complete.

Each educational experience can be listed in the following format:

Degree/Program Name College/University Name Dates attended

You don’t need to add anything else, especially if your resume is already impressive enough. But if you’re struggling to fill up the page, or you feel that aspects of your educational experience will help make you a standout, you may consider also including:

Minor. If you think it rounds out your not-exactly-relevant-to-the-job major nicely.

GPA. Only if it was 3.5 or higher. Otherwise, it’s not going to do you any favors to include this.

Honors. Dean’s List, Cum Laude, etc.

Achievements. If you wrote a killer thesis/dissertation that showcases intimate knowledge relevant to the job to which you’re applying, you can include its title and a very brief description.

Extracurricular activities. Only include if they’re relevant. For example, if you’re applying for a management position and you were president of your student government.

Certifications/Licenses. If the job you’re applying for requires/likes to see certain certifications or licenses that you have, you may include them in this section as well.

Skills section. Your impressive skills should be scattered logistically throughout your professional history section, but you should also include a section solely dedicated to highlighting your skill set . Skills can be broken down into two categories:

Hard skills are skills you learn through training and indicate expertise with a technical ability or job-specific responsibility.

Soft skills are your personality traits, interpersonal abilities, and intangible qualities that make you more effective at your job.

Your resume should have a healthy mix of hard and soft skills, as both are essential to job performance. However, since soft skills are harder to prove in the context of a resume, we recommend leaning more toward hard skills. Additionally, whenever you list a soft skill, make sure that it has a correlating item in your work experience section.

For example, if you say you are skilled in collaboration, you should mention a time when a team project was a major success somewhere in your work experience section.

Optional sections. If you still have space left or there’s more you want to show off that doesn’t quite fit in any of the above sections, you may consider adding an additional section covering one or more of the below categories:

Language . Being bilingual is always impressive, and can be included on a resume for any company. Highlight this more if your position involves liaising with international distributors and/or clients. Don’t lie about your proficiency level.

It may be best to not mention it if you’re not particularly proficient speaker . Such as if you took courses in school, or haven’t really managed to gain fluency. It can end up looking like an attempt to inflate your credentials, which you want to avoid.

Volunteer experience . Always a good thing to include. It shows you’re a team player who behaves in a way that promotes the greater good, without thought of personal gain. Especially good for entry-level candidates and those applying for jobs at a non-profit. If you have gaps in your work history, you can also consider including volunteer experiences in your work history section instead.

Personal projects. A personal blog, published works, or a portfolio of your past projects are all good things to include. They show you take initiative, enjoy and take pride in your work, and that you can handle the responsibilities of the job, if relevant.

Certifications/licenses. If you didn’t include these in your education section, this is another good place to list relevant certifications or licenses that you have.

Interests . This is largely just a space filler if your resume is light in other areas. However, if your hobbies are directly related to the job that you’re applying for, it’s not a bad idea to include them. And it might draw a recruiter’s attention if you end up sharing some of the same interests as they do.

If you have several seemingly random items that are valuable, but don’t warrant creating a whole separate section for, you can also make a section called “Additional Experience.” Here you can include all of the above categories in one place. Just make sure that each item is clear and easy for readers to understand.

Resume samples

Now that we have a good idea of how to write a resume, let’s take a look at some example resumes:

Jack Pilgrim Washington , DC 14015 – (555) 444-3333 – [email protected] – www.linkedin.com/jpilgrim Resume Summary Graphic designer with 3+ years of experience creating and implementing promotional materials and social media graphics. Worked with sales and marketing teams to increase inbound calls by 23% YoY through compelling digital media. Adept at planning, managing, and prioritizing multiple deadlines at once, and thrives in fast-paced work environment. Work Experience Creative Designs | Washington, DC Lead Graphic Designer | June 2018-Present Worked with sales and marketing teams to create landing pages, sales proposals, and supporting media elements to drive sales by over $250,000 per quarter Trained, managed, and mentored team of 4 junior designers to fulfill 40+ project orders on a weekly basis Conducted UX research through surveys, usability testing, and data analysis to plan content marketing strategy, driving organic search traffic by 12% Presented proposals, results, and status updates to set of 4-7 clients, ensuring customer satisfaction at or above 95% for 3 years straight Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Junior Graphic Designer | July 2016-May 2018 Translated client needs and branding strategies into design and content strategy, increasing client retention by 22% Reduced project turnaround time by 8% by Utilizing web-based ticket system for completing and archiving finalized pieces Posted digital artwork to network IPTV using web interface to produce high-end info-graphics and other materials Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Marketing Intern | September 2015-July 2016 Assisted marketing team with data collection, analysis, and presentation using Google Analytics Drew up storyboards for new marketing campaigns alongside sales team, increasing brand awareness through social media Wrote 500-1000 word articles to pair with graphical elements on page, leading to a 40% boost in engagement on company website Education Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, Georgia May 2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Skills Adobe Creative Suite Typography HTML/CSS WordPress Collaboration Organization

Allison Neederly Chicago, Illinois , 60007 | (333) 222-1111 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/allison.neederly Resume Summary Dedicated customer service representative with 4+ years experience resolving customers’ needs in-person, online, and over the phone. Top achiever at XYZ Inc. with a 100% customer satisfaction rate for Q1 of 2020. Friendly personable, and knowledgable about company’s products and services. Relevant Skills Customer Service Responded to upwards of 200 customer queries daily with XYZ Inc., reducing the average wait time by 56% and increasing customer satisfaction rates by 13% Ability to resolve conflict and create a positive atmosphere for shopping for both new and existing customers through technical proficiency Expert product knowledge and communication skills, and experience training and mentoring new customer service staff Web Chat and Phone Skilled in 3 web chat platforms for helping online customers resolve their queries quickly and accurately Achieved fastest call resolution rate at XYZ Inc., with an average resolution time of under 5 minutes per customer Performed outbound calls for customer satisfaction surveys, as well as writing web-based surveys for 10,000+ customers Troubleshooting Detailed product knowledge allowed for customer technical issues to be resolved at rate within top 5% of all customer service associates at XYZ Inc. Created manual for step-by-step directions for troubleshooting that was implemented for team of 100+ customer service reps Positive attitude took average tech-related negative response from 1/5 stars to 4/5 stars, increasing trust in brands and services Work Experience XYZ Inc. | Philadelphia, PA Customer Service Associate New Look Global | Burlington, VT Junior Customer Service Representative L.L. Bean | Burlington, VT Sales Associate Education University of Vermont | Burlington, VT May 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Humanities

Priya Laghari New York, NY | (222) 111-0000 | [email protected] | www.priyabizdev.com Resume Profile Strategy Development: Grew John Deere’s international sales by 13% by tapping into undeserved countries in Southeast Asia Management: Oversaw a team of managers representing marketing, sales, and product teams. Streamlined collaborative, cross-functional communications through agile and scrum management system CRM: Developed, customized, and implemented new customer relationship management database for accounts totaling over $10M in value Work Experience Business Development Manager 01/2015-Present Microsoft | Redmond, WA Developed product strategies and roadmap for Google AdWords, increasing inbound traffic by 26% YoY Reduced time training on new software by 50% for new and existing employees by implement e-learning programs Spearheaded digital marketing campaign worth $1M that saw a return of 200% in first year by qualifying leads earlier in the sales funnel Regional Sales Manager 11/2012-01/2015 Big Things Inc. | St. Louis, MO Managed territory encompassing 29 regional locations with an annual revenue of approx. $55M Worked with C-level executives to plan business strategies, resulting in 20% reduction in overhead costs Increased client retention by 12% in first year by implementing a CRM approach based on account profiling and elevating levels of relationship selling Account Manager 02/2009-11/2012 Solutions Corp. | Chicago, IL Implemented and developed CRM strategic plans, increasing retention of long-term clients by 22% Maintained 50+ accounts totaling over $35M in value Generated leads through one-on-one consultation via phone inquiries, online check-ins, and meeting office walk-ins Relevant Skills CRM: Proficient with Salesforce, Zoho, and HubSpot; some experience with Keap. Used various CRM software over a decade to successfully manage customer relations and quick to adapt to new software and tools that aid in quality of customer experience. Salesmanship: Negotiated and closed over several deals worth $1M+ and skilled in upselling and cross-selling. Adept at working closely with marketing and product teams to maximize the efficiency of the sales funnel for both inbound and outbound traffic. Presentation: Represented Microsoft Northwest Region at quarterly board meetings, ensuring all stakeholders were kept abreast of new developments and opportunities. Also deliver monthly presentations to big clients and vendors to maintain positive relationship. Data analytics. Expert at integrating data from various analytics platforms, including Google, Microsoft Power BI, and SAP BusinessObjects Education Colgate University | May 2008 MBA Fordham University | May 2006 Bachelor’s Degree in Business

For more resume examples and templates:

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Google docs resume template

Resume templates

Resume builder

Resume Headers Samples:

Tip : Never put your contact info in the header of your document; some applicant tracking systems might miss it.

For more on how to write a resume header:

Resume Header

Resume Titles

Resume introduction examples

Entry-Level Resume Objective.

Recent graduate with a bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of Virginia seeking an entry-level role in content marketing. Excellent copywriter with 2+ years experience editing content as a member of the UVa Writing Center.

Career Change Resume Objective.

Eager to apply 7+ years of experience with customer success management to make successful outbound B2B calls, deliver customized business solutions to new and existing customers, and provide expert product knowledge in the role of Account Manager for XYZ Inc.

Example Resume Summary Statement.

Accountant with over 8 years of experience in the medical industry. Adept at advising on management of cash deficits, reconciling departmental accounts, and creating new accounts and codes. Coordinated invoice preparation system for ABC that reduced contractor overhead by 19% YoY.

English teacher with a love of language and 6 years of experience teaching high school students. Developed new curriculum that boosted freshman reading comprehension scores by 12% and created after school book club for AP Lit class, resulting in 100% of participating students achieving a 5 on the AP Lit test.

Example Qualifications Summary.

Executive assistant with 5+ years experience helping maintain efficiency in an office of 25 employees Communicated directly with internal and external stakeholders, helping Senior Vice President manage projects worth $5M+ Proactively managed office schedules, identifying and prioritizing changes to ensure client satisfaction Recognized in a company of 500 for “Outstanding Achiever” in May 2019

Example Resume Profile.

Detail-oriented IT Specialist with 4 years of experience overseeing and improving the infrastructure of IT systems. Adept at building and running troubleshooting systems and testing services. Decreased security risk by 47% through continual optimization, while also improving the speed of client portal by 22%. Excellent communicator both internally and for client-facing discussions. Achieved 98%+ customer satisfaction ratings through weekly and monthly check-ins with accounts valued cumulatively at $500,000.

Entry-Level Resume Headline.

Bilingual College Graduate with 80 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience

Experienced Resume Headline.

Business Development Specialist with 6+ Years Experience Scaling Start-Up Tech Teams

For more on resume introductions:

Resume objective statement

Resume summary statement

Resume summary statement examples

Qualifications summary

Sample resume work experience sections

Work Experience XYZ Industries | Seattle, WA Marketing Associate | May 2019-Present Delivered weekly presentations to client-base to communicate brand messaging, increasing client retention by 11% Served as liaison between marketing and product teams, resulting in projects finishing 2 weeks early, on average Leveraged Excel skills to create and maintain spreadsheet to track consumer insights, emergent trends, and inform decisions of marketing team through competitive analysis Managed team of 5 contractors to juggle multiple priority projects simultaneously, never missing a deadline Initiated an affiliate referral program that PR team went on to turn into a revenue-generating stream valued at $30,000 annually ABC Corp | Seattle, WA Marketing Intern | September 2018-May 2019 Developed, maintained, and processed 20+ digital consent forms and distributor forms Worked collaboratively with a team of 10 marketing professionals, closely aligning our goals with the PR team Provided data analysis using Google Analytics and performed keyword research to increase blog traffic by 56% over six months Answered up to 50 customer queries by phone and email each week

For more on building the perfect resume work experience section:

Resume work experience section

First resume (no experience)

Examples Of Education Resume Sections

Graduated recently from a 4-year program.

Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois May 2020 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology | Minor in Psychology 3.95 GPA magna cum laude Dean’s List all semesters

Two degrees.

Fordham University | Bronx, New York April 2016 Master of Chemical Engineering Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, New York April 2014 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Anticipated graduation date (not yet graduated).

DePaul Univeristy | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Arts in History – Degree anticipated May 2021 Current GPA: 3.8

Older job seeker (graduated 10+ years ago).

University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Business Administration

High school graduate (no college degree).

Johnston High School 2016-2020 Head of Computer Club

More on crafting the perfect resume education section:

Education resume section

GPA on resume

Dean’s list

Magna cum laude

Examples Of Skills For Resume

Examples of hard skills include:

Examples of soft skills include:

Here’s more information on how to incorporate skills into your resume:

Resume skills section

Hard skills

Soft skills

Top skills for professionals

Skills-based resume

Resume writing FAQ

What is a resume?

A resume is a one to two-page document that focuses on professional experience, past achievements, education and certifications, and specific skills tailored to the job you’re applying for.

Almost every job application requires a resume, and hiring managers use them as a first impression in determining which applicants get a shot at an interview.

Whether you’re fresh out of college or have 30 years of professional experience, this guide should help craft a resume that stands out from the crowd and get you one step closer to landing your dream job.

What is the format for writing a good resume?

Most people will want to use a chronological or reverse-chronological resume format. This format is compatible with most applicant tracking systems (ATS) and is easy for employers to read. Additionally it helps highlight your experience, which helps prove your qualifications.

How far back should a resume go?

A resume should go back no further than 10 to 15 years. However, it is important that all your information is relevant. Therefore, do not include job experience that is irrelevant to your application, even if it’s fewer than 10 years old. Save that information for later discussions.

Should you personalize your resume for each job?

Yes, you should personalize your resume for each job you apply to. Many recruiters use ATS now, which will search for keywords in a resume and reject those that don’t have them. That means that the skills you choose to highlight as well as your opening, such as your resume summary, should be altered to suit each job you apply to.

You don’t need to rewrite the entire resume for each job, but it does show attention to detail and initiative to make sure that your resume is customized. It also makes it more likely that you’ll get past the first step of the process.

State of New York Department of Labor – Resumes, Cover Letters and Job Applications

Harvard University – Create a Resume/CV or Cover Letter

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Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.

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When to Use a 'Functional' Resume Instead of a Traditional One

W hen you pull up a resume template, it’s pretty straightforward: Your past jobs are listed in reverse chronological order near the top, dating back about 10 years or so. But you may need a “functional” resume sometimes, even if templates for it are a little harder to find.

What is a functional resume?

A functional resume is one that leads with your work-related skills and abilities listed right after your contact information. Most of the time, per Indeed , this is done in a bulleted list. You can have a list for skills you’ve acquired in past positions, in school, or during job training, as well as any awards you’ve gotten.

The goal here is not to show a hiring manager what you’ve done in the past, but what you’re prepared and equipped to do for their company. Leading with your talents and accomplishments shows that you’re competent and capable, not just that you’ve had jobs before or have gone to school.

When to use a functional resume

There are a few times to use functional resumes, as well as a few times to stay away from them. Try one out if you’re any of the following, according to Novoresume :

• A recent graduate lacking work experience
• Switching industries and looking for an entry-level job
• If you’ve held a variety of titles with little relevance to each other and/or the job you’re looking for now

Keep in mind, however, that these are pretty rare and in most cases, traditional resumes are more welcome by hiring managers. Using an unorthodox formatting can show your skills, but could also give the impression you’re trying to hide something, like a gap in your resume. If you’re looking to obscure an employment gap or other blemish in your history, don’t. You need to explain those and be honest with hiring managers . Only use a functional resume if you really want to lead with your talents and potential over your experience and past deeds, but not if you’re angling to be a little deceitful. Keep using a chronological resume when you’re staying in your current industry or have a clearly defined career path that you’re happy to stay on.

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Wondering, ‘What is a resume for a job?’ A resume is an important document that is needed to apply for a job. It shows your work history and your achievements to the employers. Knowing the different kinds of resumes helps to make your CV stand out from others. When you include effective tips and strategies in making your resume, it helps you to be more noticeable and get better job offers. This blog explores what is a resume and looks at the various tips for writing a proper CV.

Types of Resumes

Once you learn what is a resume it’s important to know the types. Various types of resumes are designed to meet distinct requirements, highlighting work experience, abilities, or a mix of the two depending on where someone is in their career and what the job asks for.

1. Chronological Resume

A chronological resume presents job experience, starting with the most recent and going backward. It is good for showing a history of steady employment and career advancement. This type of resume focuses on job titles, responsibilities, and dates.

2. Functional Resume

A functional resume pays attention to skills instead of job history, which is good for people who are changing careers, new graduates, or persons with gaps in their work time. It shows important skills, abilities, and what a person has accomplished without stressing the exact times and locations of their jobs.

3. Combination Resume

A mixed resume merges the chronological style with a skills-based format, displaying job experience and abilities together. It fits people who have a lot of work and study experience, offering adaptability to highlight abilities or job history depending on what the particular job asks for.

Key Elements of a Resume

Contact information.

• Name, Address, Phone Number, Email: Put your complete name clearly at the top of your CV. Write down the city, state, and country where you live if it is relevant, but do not put in your entire address unless it is needed. If you are applying from another country, include a professional mobile phone number with the appropriate international dialling code. Ensure your email address is also professional and does not contain birth years or informal nicknames. 
• Professional Social Media Profiles: Include a link to your LinkedIn profile so employers can find it without difficulty. Make sure to add only those social media links that reflect your professional image. Please make sure to put a direct link to your digital portfolio or personal website on your CV.

Summary or Objective Statement

1. Purpose and Importance

Once you know what is a resume it is important to understand that at the start of a resume, a brief section known as a summary or objective is placed to give an early insight into your main abilities, professional ambitions and the value you bring to a workplace. This part offers hiring managers a swift glance at your competencies and past work history, establishing an initial impression.

2. Tips for Writing an Effective Summary or Objective

As per the resume meaning, you should write briefly and focus on important skills for the job. Change your profile to fit what the job needs and show abilities that go with the role. List particular achievements or abilities that show your worth to the hiring company. Use terms specific to the field in order to get through systems for tracking applicants and gain notice from those who recruit. 

Share what makes you different from others who want this job, and explain why you are the best choice. As per the resume meaning in job, you should avoid saying things that are generic in nature. Keep a formal style and language in your summary to give a good initial impression.

Work Experience

1. Listing Relevant Jobs in Reverse Chronology Order: When you write your work history in a CV, list the jobs from newest to oldest. 

2. Include Company Name, Job Title, Dates of Employment, and Key Responsibilities: Write down where you worked, what your position was, when you were there, and your main duties, using action verbs and numbers that show what you did. 

3. Using Action Verbs and Quantifiable Achievements: ”As a Marketing Manager at Company X from 2018 to 2020, I managed to boost sales by 20% because of the new marketing strategy that we put into action.” This way of presenting work experience shows how you moved forward in your career and points out effectively what achievements you had in every job, helping those who hire to quickly see what skills you bring to the company.

1. Listing Degrees, Certifications, and Relevant Coursework

On your resume, when you write down your educational background, make sure to add in the degrees or certificates you have and any important coursework with them. 

2. Include Institution Name, Degree Earned, and Graduation Date

A way to say it could be “Bachelor of Science in Nursing from XYZ State University, 2019.” This style gives hiring managers a straightforward summary of your achievements, displaying your education history in an organised and brief way.

1. Highlighting Relevant Technical and Soft Skills

Want to know what is a resume and how to list the most relevant skills? When you list skills on your CV, pay attention to the technical abilities and soft skills that match what the job and the sector demands. Making sure these skills fit well with the particular position can make you a stronger candidate. 

2. Tailoring Skills to the Job Description and Industry 

When you apply for a marketing job, look at the resume definition first and focus on showing your abilities in SEO optimisation, using social media for marketing purposes, and making content. It’s also good to highlight that you can communicate well with others, work as part of a team, and solve problems. When you show both your skills in technology and how well you interact with people, it makes clear that you fit the job and distinguishes you as a candidate with varied talents.

Tips for Creating an Effective Resume

After learning what is a resume, it’s important to write an effective one to impress future employers. Here are important advice for writing an effective resume:

1. Tailor your Resume to the Specific Job and Company

Look at the resume meaning and example to understand the importance of adjusting your curriculum vitae for a job by highlighting the skills and past work that are important for the position’s necessities and that are in harmony with what the organisation believes in. Doing this makes it more likely you will be noticed as a good fit for the role.

2. Use a Clear and Professional Format

Have a proper understanding of the resume for job meaning. Then, select a tidy and formal design that looks nice and is simple to use. Pick a font you can read easily, keep your formatting the same throughout, and use enough blank space to make your resume look better overall.

3. Keep it Concise

Keep your resume short, between one to two pages. This makes it easier for hiring managers to see the important skills you have. Put only information that is closely connected to the job you want on your resume.

4. Use Bullet Points and Clear Headings for Readability

Organise your CV by using bullet points for a clear and simple reading structure. Make sure you have distinct headings for different parts so that employers can find important information quickly, which makes your CV easier to read.

5. Proofread for Spelling, Grammar, and Consistency

Understand the job resume meaning and make sure to carefully check your resume for any mistakes in spelling or grammar. Keep the formatting, verb tense, and punctuation uniform across your document so it looks neat and professional.

6. Use Keywords from the Job Description

To make your CV better for the applicant tracking systems and show that you are a good fit for the job, include keywords from the job description in your resume. Using these keywords wisely will help recruiters see your resume more easily.

7. Highlight Achievements and Quantifiable Results

Concentrate on presenting your achievements and measurable outcomes to show the influence you had in past positions. Include precise figures and instances to underline what you contributed and display how valuable you can be to future employers.

8. Include Relevant Certifications, Volunteer Work, or Projects

Include important certificates, experiences as a volunteer, or projects that highlight abilities and knowledge you have apart from your job history. Adding these elements can offer a fuller picture of what you are qualified for and interested in.

Resume Formatting and Design

Wondering, ‘What is a resume format?’ When making your resume format and design, paying close attention to little things can really affect how job recruiters see your skills. These important points will help make sure your resume gets noticed for good reasons:

1. Choosing the Right Font and Font Size

Choose a clear and professional font for your CV, like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman. Keep the font size from 10 to 12 points so people can read it well. Make the titles a bit bigger to show their importance and make important details more noticeable.

2. Maintaining Consistent Formatting Throughout

Maintaining the same style, size of letters, and way you format is very important for a resume that looks well-made and formal. Make sure everything matches in every part of your resume.

3. Using Appropriate Margins and White Space

Adjust the page borders to around 1 inch for each side so your CV has a proper frame and does not look too packed. Having enough white space between parts makes it easier to read and keeps your CV looking neat and well-arranged. Making sure there is a good mix of text and blank space is important to make the document look nice and simple to read.

4. Selecting a Professional Template or Design

Select a tidy and business-like template that enhances your content without being too dominant. Templates designed for professional resumes can assist in organising your details well, so it becomes simpler for hiring managers to review your skills. Avoid overly elaborate designs that may distract from your key achievements and skills.

5. Saving your Resume in the Proper File Format

Keep your resume in PDF format to keep the design the same on all devices and operating systems. This way, PDF files maintain how your resume looks and prevent changes that could happen with other types of files. This format also ensures that your resume appears polished and professional to recruiters.

Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Making a good CV means you should not just show your skills but also make sure not to do things that affect your chances for the job. These are the important errors you should know of while understanding what is a resume –

1. Including Irrelevant or Outdated Information

Keep your resume clean by not including unneeded information like old jobs, hobbies, or personal details that are not connected to the job you want. Concentrate on presenting skills and experiences that match what the job asks for.

2. Using Generic or Vague Descriptions

Avoid descriptions that are too broad or unclear and fail to properly convey what you have achieved and your abilities. You should instead provide exact instances and measurable outcomes to show your skills clearly.

3. Neglecting to Tailor the Resume to the Specific Job

Adjust your CV for every job you apply to. Make it proper by writing the skills and experiences that are important for the job and what the company is looking for. This personalised approach increases your chances of catching the attention of hiring managers.

4. Overusing Buzzwords or Cliches

In the context of the resume work meaning, you must not fill your CV with too many common phrases or cliche words that don’t improve how you present your skills. It’s better to choose clear, strong language that accurately describes what you have accomplished and the special abilities you possess.

5. Exceeding the Recommended Page Length

Make sure your CV is short and clear. Do not make it longer than one or two pages, as this is the suggested length. This helps people who are hiring to understand what you can do and what you have done before without too much extra detail that they do not need.

6. Inconsistent or Unprofessional Formatting

Keep the same professional format in all parts of your CV. If you use different types of fonts, sizes, or spaces, it can make your CV look unprofessional. Opt for a clean and structured layout that enhances readability and visual appeal.

Best Resume Samples

It’s important to look at a few samples to properly understand what is a resume.

Entry-level Resume Sample

Mid-career resume sample, executive-level resume sample, industry-specific resume samples.

IT Resume Sample –

A CV is very important for showing your skills to possible employers. Knowing a lot about a resume helps you pick the most suitable style depending on where you are in your career. To make a strong impression with your resume, it is helpful to use distinct formatting and emphasise your accomplishments. This approach will clearly present your abilities and background, improving the likelihood of obtaining job positions.

Q1. What is the ideal length for a resume?

Ans: Knowing the ideal resume length is necessary to understand what is a resume. Usually, a resume should be one or two pages long. But this can change depending on how much experience you have. It is important to focus on the most significant information and make sure your content is brief so that recruiters can easily see your qualifications.

Q2. How important is it to tailor my resume for each job application?

Ans: Adjusting your resume for every job you apply to is very important. Making sure it fits the needs of the job and the way the company works can make you more noticeable as a good fit for the position, showing that you really care about getting the job.

Q3. Should I include references on my resume?

Ans: It is usually not necessary to put references on your resume. Better to make a different list of references and give it when someone asks for it. Concentrate on displaying your qualifications, abilities, and accomplishments in your CV to grab the recruiter’s attention.

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OpenAI debuts GPT-4o ‘omni’ model now powering ChatGPT

OpenAI announced a new flagship generative AI model on Monday that they call GPT-4o — the “o” stands for “omni,” referring to the model’s ability to handle text, speech, and video. GPT-4o is set to roll out “iteratively” across the company’s developer and consumer-facing products over the next few weeks.

OpenAI CTO Mira Murati said that GPT-4o provides “GPT-4-level” intelligence but improves on GPT-4’s capabilities across multiple modalities and media.

“GPT-4o reasons across voice, text and vision,” Murati said during a streamed presentation at OpenAI’s offices in San Francisco on Monday. “And this is incredibly important, because we’re looking at the future of interaction between ourselves and machines.”

GPT-4 Turbo , OpenAI’s previous “leading “most advanced” model, was trained on a combination of images and text and could analyze images and text to accomplish tasks like extracting text from images or even describing the content of those images. But GPT-4o adds speech to the mix.

What does this enable? A variety of things. 

GPT-4o greatly improves the experience in OpenAI’s AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT . The platform has long offered a voice mode that transcribes the chatbot’s responses using a text-to-speech model, but GPT-4o supercharges this, allowing users to interact with ChatGPT more like an assistant. 

For example, users can ask the GPT-4o-powered ChatGPT a question and interrupt ChatGPT while it’s answering. The model delivers “real-time” responsiveness, OpenAI says, and can even pick up on nuances in a user’s voice, in response generating voices in “a range of different emotive styles” (including singing). 

GPT-4o also upgrades ChatGPT’s vision capabilities. Given a photo — or a desktop screen — ChatGPT can now quickly answer related questions, from topics ranging from “What’s going on in this software code?” to “What brand of shirt is this person wearing?”

These features will evolve further in the future, Murati says. While today GPT-4o can look at a picture of a menu in a different language and translate it, in the future, the model could allow ChatGPT to, for instance, “watch” a live sports game and explain the rules to you.

“We know that these models are getting more and more complex, but we want the experience of interaction to actually become more natural, easy, and for you not to focus on the UI at all, but just focus on the collaboration with ChatGPT,” Murati said. “For the past couple of years, we’ve been very focused on improving the intelligence of these models … But this is the first time that we are really making a huge step forward when it comes to the ease of use.”

GPT-4o is more multilingual as well, OpenAI claims, with enhanced performance in around 50 languages. And in OpenAI’s API and Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service , GPT-4o is twice as fast as, half the price of and has higher rate limits than GPT-4 Turbo, the company says.

At present, voice isn’t a part of the GPT-4o API for all customers. OpenAI, citing the risk of misuse, says that it plans to first launch support for GPT-4o’s new audio capabilities to “a small group of trusted partners” in the coming weeks.

GPT-4o is available in the free tier of ChatGPT starting today and to subscribers to OpenAI’s premium ChatGPT Plus and Team plans with “5x higher” message limits. (OpenAI notes that ChatGPT will automatically switch to GPT-3.5 , an older and less capable model, when users hit the rate limit.) The improved ChatGPT voice experience underpinned by GPT-4o will arrive in alpha for Plus users in the next month or so, alongside enterprise-focused options .

In related news, OpenAI announced that it’s releasing a refreshed ChatGPT UI on the web with a new, “more conversational” home screen and message layout, and a desktop version of ChatGPT for macOS that lets users ask questions via a keyboard shortcut or take and discuss screenshots. ChatGPT Plus users will get access to the app first, starting today, and a Windows version will arrive later in the year.

Elsewhere, the GPT Store , OpenAI’s library of and creation tools for third-party chatbots built on its AI models, is now available to users of ChatGPT’s free tier. And free users can take advantage of ChatGPT features that were formerly paywalled, like a memory capability that allows ChatGPT to “remember” preferences for future interactions, upload files and photos, and search the web for answers to timely questions.

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OpenAI inks deal to train AI on Reddit data

OpenAI has reached a deal with Reddit to use the social news site’s data for training AI models. In a blog post on OpenAI’s press relations site, the company said…

X pushes more users to Communities

X users will now be able to discover posts from new Communities that are trending directly from an Explore tab within the section.

Mark Zuckerberg’s makeover: Midlife crisis or carefully crafted rebrand?

For Mark Zuckerberg’s 40th birthday, his wife got him a photoshoot. Zuckerberg gives the camera a sly smile as he sits amid a carefully crafted re-creation of his childhood bedroom.…

Strava taps AI to weed out leaderboard cheats, unveils ‘family’ plan, dark mode and more

Strava announced a slew of features, including AI to weed out leaderboard cheats, a new ‘family’ subscription plan, dark mode and more.