Let’s talk about writing a good resume. The vast majority of people applying have problems with writing their resumes, but there is no reason to. It is not only a task quickly done, it’s also easy to do it well.

(Note: There are different styles that are common depending on which country you are applying in. This guide focuses on American companies. For example in Europe it’s often okay to write two page resumes and include a photo.)

Here is a guide on how to write a resume:

1. Keep it short! One page is enough, really. Even if you had 50 other jobs before, you must absolutely keep everything to one page. No excuses.
2. Style and whitespace are not as important as you may think. Readability is. Use a plain Serif font, 10 point size.
3. Contact info (Name, Address, private E-Mail, Phone) should be centered at the top. You can make this bold.
4. Your job history should be in reverse order, the most recent job at the top. For each position give the name of the company and its location, dates and your title. Then add a short paragraph about what you did in that position. One or two brief sentences about your responsibilities.
5. Below each position: Your accomplishments. Use bullet points, one accomplishment per bullet.
6. Finally end your resume with your education info.

Writing a resume this way will allow the hiring person to quickly read and judge your eligibility for a position. Writing a novel or 20 page summary of jobs showing how great you are will rather repel prospect employers.

Sure, sometimes you will have to leave things out, but that is ok. Think about what is relevant for the job you are applying to and mention the things that could help you get it.

Remember, for the employer, your resume is about what you will probably be able to do in the future.

Did you like this article? Subscribe to our career advice RSS-Feed.

Comments are closed.