If you are seeking full-time or freelance work then you will know the power of having a good professional looking resume or CV: It helps you stand out from the crowd of boring resumes created in Microsoft Word using standard fonts. A well-designed resume with good content adds that final bit of polish to your job application.
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Use resume examples the right way. It's important that you don't simply use these resume examples verbatim, nor should you copy a co-worker's and throw your name on top. Templates should be used as a guide, but they don't allow for the uniqueness of your skills, experience, and career history. After all, a resume sample is just that—a sample.
Resume Templates Find the perfect resume template. March 2018—present Jsather Concept, Chicago, IL. Freelance Conceptual Artist May 2012—September 2017.
The right CV (or Resume) format, professional CV template - what to choose? Most CV templates can be divided into three main categories. Classic, modern and creative templates. Classic CV / Resume, this form of document will work in almost every industry. Simplicity, minimalism and clarity are the most important advantages of this type of. Best resume templates for a job or academia. A resume template is a blank form you fill in with contact information, work experience, skills, and education. Easier said than done. Most free MS Word resume template formats fall apart as soon as you start typing. Pick Zety and stop struggling.
However, not everyone is a designer so if you try creating something more unique yourself you run the risk of creating a poor layout and weak font choices. That is where this post is here to help you – professional designers have created thousands of free resume templates which you can download and customize in your program of choice – there are templates in the following formats: Word, Photoshop, Illustrator, PDF, Indesign and so on.
We have collected together the very best examples we could find which are suitable for all kinds of different job applicants, take a look below and get started on your beautiful new-look resume.
Update: We have just started selling a collection of premium quality resume templates in our brand new shop here on CSSBeauty so we have updated the post with ours. Check them out in our shop here and use coupon code CSSBEAUTY for 10% off any purchases.
Contents
Contemporary Resume
This is a modern designed resume template suitable for different types of job applicants who need a bright and colorful look to their Resume or CV.
Bold Resume Template
Dvd audio extractor 7 6 0. This is a bold and modern resume template ideal for all types of professionals and business people. It has a 2 column layout with blue header area with space for your name and head shot photo.
Iconic
This is a simple resume template which has space at the top for your photo and then different sections with icons for About you, your social media profiles, skills, proficiencies and languages with bars to show your experience with each item. It also has space for work experience and education.
Elegant White
This is an Elegant, Clean and Minimal Resume Template suitable for a wide range of job applicants who need something simple and under-stated for their CV / Resume.
Clean White
This is a clean and minimal resume suitable for all types of professionals who need a simple layout to display their resume / CV details. This purchase includes the resume in a number of formats and also a portfolio page and cover letter to be used when applying for jobs.
Modern Resume
This is a modern resume template with a nice simple and clean layout suitable for all kinds of roles. The resume contains space for your photo and sections for Education, Work Experience, Social Media Profiles, Languages and Skills / Proficiency Bars with sliders affect.
2 Columns Blue Resume
This is a professional and modern resume template with a header space for your name and a blue left column which contains your photo, social media details, education and contact information.
2 Columns Green
This is a modern and clean resume template with 2 columns. The header area has space for your photo, name and short bio. The left column contains social media information, education history, skills and contact details. On the right is your work history, proficiency, languages and hobbies.
2 Columns Bold
This is a bold and modern resume template which uses a 2 column layout. On the left you can add your photo, social media contacts, education and contact details. On the right there is space to add your work experience, proficiency, skills, languages and hobbies to allow potential employers to get to know you.
2 Columns Grey
This is a modern and clean resume template with 2 columns. Left column is grey and contains your photo, name, social media details, education and contact details.
Modern Resume Template
This is a perfect resume template for designers, developers, entrepreneurs, graduates. You can show your skills, portfolio in a modern way by using this modern resume template. This resume template comes in 300dpi resolution and it has CMYK color standards.
Free Creative Resume for Designers
This freebie resume template will help you to build a resume of your dreams. The freebie contains word Docx and Pdf documents so you can easily edit it to your needs. The document can print in A4 paper size and you will get high-quality 300dpi output by suing this template.
CV – Free Resume Template
This is another exclusive free resume template to download. All the elements are easily editable and the freebie contains PSD, AI, word document. Just download the template and replace the text with your own text and you are done.
Free Resume Design
This free resume template is perfect for creating a personal resume. This template is free to download and easy to edit. There are several sections are added in this template to show your personal skills in a modern way.
Elegant Cv Template
If you are searching for a simple but beautiful design that is sure to appeal to any hiring manager than you are in right place. This one-page resume template is free to download and can be edited by Microsoft work and you’re getting a documentation file in this freebie to use it effectively.
Minimal resume Download
By using this you can minimalist look for your personal resume. This is perfect for designers, developers or any types of personal uses. The clean and simple design will help you to show your skills, portfolio items in a great way. This template is free to download and very easy to edit and use.
Chef Resume Template
If you are a chef or restaurant employees, this resume template is perfect for you. There are several sections are added in the resume template to show to cooking experience or skills such a great way. The freebie contains PSD, PDF and Word documents are all of these are easily editable and use.
The Intelligent Applicant
Creativity is one of the key factors to getting your dream job. By using this resume template you’re increasing your document’s chances of getting noticed by employers. You’re getting a Microsoft Doc file in this freebie pack and edit as you wish.
Simple Resume Template
This is a powerful resume template for showing your personal contents such a great way. The freebie pack contains Doc, Docx, IDML, INDD files. It also contains a cover letter and resume template.
Vertical Resume Template
This is another exclusive resume template if you want to pop up among the others and get your dream job. The template comes in AI Illustrator format. This resume template is fully editable and customizable as your needs. By using this vertical resume template you can make a great professional impression with your resume. This freebie was created by Fernando Báez.
Vita / Resume / CV InDesign Template
The template is perfect for creating exclusive vita, resume, and a CV. The design of this template will blow your mind and you can make a great impression with your resume. This template is free to use for any types of personal or commercial projects.
Feminine Resume Design
This resume template is perfect for the skilled female job applicant. The color combination and the fonts used in this template will help you to make your profile more interesting to read particularly for hiring managers.
Free Resume Template Vol.3
Another simple resume, fully editable, A4 size, all layers are named and grouped. SO you can easily edit and customize it in moments. You are allowed to use it for personal purpose, but not allowed to use for commercial purpose. The freebie pack contains high-quality PSD file and the links to download icons pack.
Free Resume Template
Another great resume template to show your personal details in a perfect way to impress the job manager. Clean use of infographics for helping to read about you, such as your specialties, knowledge, language skills and hobbies.
Typographic Resume Tempalate
This typographic resume template will help you to build a resume that leaves an unforgettable impression. This template used free fonts and professionally designed. You can easily customize this template in Adobe Indesign and Microsoft word application. It also comes in two popular sizes: US Letter 8.5×11 and A4 ISO 210 x 297 mm. This exclusive freebie was created by Paolo Zupin.
Self Promotion Free CV
This resume template can help you to present your skills and make the best first impression in a non-traditional way. This template was created by Paolo Pettigiani. This template is free to download and you are allowed to use it for any types of personal or commercial projects. The freebie pack comes in a zip file including all fonts, icons, logos and graphics.
The Minimalist CV Template
This minimalist CV template is perfect to build your self-marketing document more presentable to employers. Making a creative CV is not an easy task, but this CV template has pre-build features that will help you to create amazing cv with a little effort.
Free Resume, & Cover Letter Template
This resume template is perfect for web designers and graphic designers. This perfect resume set contains letterhead, single resume page, and a portfolio page. It also contains business card template mock-ups. The PSD is very easy to edit and customize. The freebie was created by Alamin Mir.
Free Resume template – vol. 2
This is a simple but powerful resume was created by Vivien Bocquelet. The freebie comes with a PSD file and all the layers are named and grouped perfectly and easy to customize to meet your needs.
Mint Resume Template
By using this resume template, you can boost your chances of getting hired for the job. This one-page resume template comes with a professionally developed and streamlined layout so you can add skills in a more presentable and engaging way.
Free Clean And Minimal Resume Template
This clean minimal single page resume template especially for designers. The freebie pack contains three .AI files. Two resume/cv templates and one cover letter to apply that dream job you’ve always wanted. All the layers were created carefully which can help you to build a professional resume within a very short time.
Ultra Minimal Resume
This minimal resume template is perfect for designers, developers, and professionals in any industry. It uses very neat and clean layout which can help you to focus your personal details such a great way. The background colors and others data are easily customizable. This freebie pack was released by Saptarshi Nath.
Free Professional Resume
This is another exclusive one-page resume template. It has a trendy banner at the top which will feature your name and contact details. You can download the resume template for free and can easily edit the template using Microsoft word.
Minimalistic Free Resume Template
This minimalistic resume template will help you to get your dream job today. The freebie pack contains a cover letter, resume, and cv. You’re getting a psd & ai file in the zip file. This freebie was created by CreativeBooster.
Resume Template
This exclusive resume template was created by Drew Chandler. Fileward 1 72. All the text is easily editable to make it uniquely yours. You can show your skills by using included icons set and make a great professional impression with your resume.
Stylish CV Template
This is a one-page CV template that can make you stand out from the crowd. You’re getting full documentation and a doc file in this freebie. The well-polished layout and combination of colors will help to to build a stylish CV in moments.
Clean Free Resume Template
This clean resume template has a well-polished design that will help you to attract recruiters and hiring managers. You’re getting AI file in this freebie pack and customize the text and have it printed in just minutes. This freebie was created by Tilman Roeder.
Modern And Chic Resume Template
This is another modern resume template that could effectively draw attention to your marketing document. Just download the doc file and edit the contents with your own details. The modern design will help you focus your skills, work experience, and education in an interesting way.
Free Resume Template for Word, Photoshop & Illustrator
The freebie resume template pack contains all kinds of small facts such as reference areas, social media contacts, cover letter and of course basic resume stuff like work skills, experience, and education. You can easily edit the template using Microsoft word, Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. You are allowed to use it both for a personal or commercial purpose. The freebie was created by Mats-Peter Forss.
2017 July 1522 min read
For most job-seekers, a good resume is what stands between a dream job and Choice D. Get your resume right, and you’ll be getting replies from every other company you apply to.
If your resume game is weak, though, you’ll end up sitting around for weeks, maybe even months, before you even get a single response.
So you’re probably wondering how you can write a resume that leads to HR managers inviting you to interviews daily.
Well, you’ve come to the right place!
In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about how to make a resume:
How to Write a Resume - Step by step
Pick the Right Resume Format & Layout
Mention Your Personal Details & Contact Information
Use a Resume Summary or Objective
List Your Work Experience & Achievements
Mention Your Top Soft & Hard Skills
(Optional) Include Additional Resume Sections - Languages, Hobbies, etc.
Tailor Your Information For the Job Ad
Craft a Convincing Cover Letter
Proofread Your Resume and Cover Letter
So, let’s dive right in!
How to Make a Resume (The Right Way!)
Before you even start working on your resume, you need to decide how you’re going to build it.
And no - you shouldn’t use a basic text editor. While this IS the most popular method for creating a resume, it’s very far from the best.
With a basic text editor resume, you’ll need to spend hours playing with the formatting. You make a minor change and BAM! Your entire resume layout gets messed up.
Instead of using a text editor, we recommend choosing a resume builder, such as Novorésumé. Our resume builder is fast, easy, and to put the icing on the cake, a Novorésumé looks much better and can fit more information than your average, cookie-cutter resume..
To get the most out of this guide, you can head over to the resume builder and start building your resume on-the-go as you read this guide.
How to Pick the Right Resume Format?
There are three types of resume formats: reverse chronological, functional or skills-based, and a combination of the two. The choice depends on the type of job you are applying for and your level of experience.
The 3 resume formats are:
1) Reverse chronological resume format - This is the most popular resume format and is ideal for people with plenty of work experience that is relevant to the position they’re interested in.
2) Functional/skills-based resume format – If you lack relevant work experience because you are a student/recent graduate, or you are looking to make a career change, the skills-based format is a better choice.
3) Combination resume format – The combination resume is a great choice for job-seekers with a very diverse skill-set. It’s useful if you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in 3-4 different fields, and you want to show all that in your resume. Say, for example, you’re applying for a senior management role, and the requirements are expertise in Management, Sales, and Software Development.
So, which one do you go for?
In 90%+ cases, you’d want to stick to the reverse-chronological resume format. This is the most common one, and most HR managers are used to this. Hence, in this guide, we’re going to focus on this specific format.
If you’re a recent graduate, or possess a diverse set of skills & work experience, you might want to pick one of the other 2 formats. Check out our guide to resume formats to learn how to write either.
What is the Best Resume Layout?
The first thing a job recruiter notices about any resume is the layout.
Does it look organized or cluttered? Is it too short or too long? Is it boring and easy to ignore, or does it scream out “Read me!”?
Here are some of the best practices when it comes to your resume layout:
Resume Layout Must-Haves
1. One page in length. You should only go for 2 pages if you really, really believe that it’ll add significant value. HR managers in big firms get around 1,000+ resumes per month. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
2. Clear section headings. Pick a heading (H2, for example) and use it for all the section headers.
3. Ample white-space, especially around the margins.
4. Easy-to-read font. We’d recommend sticking to what stands out, but not too much. Do: Ubuntu, Roboto, Overpass, etc. Don’t (ever): Comic Sans
5. Pick the right font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11 - 12 pt for normal text, and 14 - 16 pt for section titles.
6. As a rule of thumb, save your resume as PDF. Word is a popular alternative, but it has a good chance of messing up your resume formatting.
One more thing you need to consider in terms of resume layout is whether you’re going for a traditional-looking free resume template or something a bit more modern:
If you’re pursuing a career in a more traditional industry - legal, banking, finance, etc. - you might want to stick to the first.
If you’re applying to a tech company, though, where imagination and innovation are valued, you can go for something more creative.
Resume Content - What to Mention on Your Resume
Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s dive into the essentials of how to write a resume.
The most popular sections for a resume are:
Contact Information
Professional Resume Summary or Objective
Work Experience (and Achievements)
Education
Skills
Optional Sections - Languages, Publications, Hobbies, etc.
Below, we'll explore each resume section from top to bottom. We'll explain what to write and how to write it so that you stand out and get the job you deserve.
Contact Information
The most critical section in your resume is the “contact information.” Even if you get everything else right, you’re not going to go far if the HR manager can’t get in touch with you because you misspelled your email.
Make sure to double-check, and even triple-check your contact information section and make sure everything is correct and up-to-date.
Contact Information to be Included in a Resume
Must-have Information
First Name / Last Name.
Phone Number.
Email Address.
Location - are you located in the area, or will the company have to sponsor relocation?
Optional Information
Title - Your professional title. It can be your position, word-for-word, or your desired job. Think “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Junior Data Scientist.”
LinkedIn URL - If you have an up-to-date profile that can add value to your application, make sure to include the link.
Social Media - Do you have a published portfolio online? For developers, this would be your GitHub, for a designer Behance or Dribble and for a writer, it could be your personal blog.
Website / Blog - Do you have an online presence? Maybe a blog that positions you as an expert in your field? If you do, make sure to mention it!
What NOT to Include in the Contact Info Section
Date of Birth(unless specifically required in the job ad) - The HR manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not important for their decision-making, and at worst, it might lead to discrimination based on age.
Headshot - The HR manager doesn’t need to know what you look like in order to evaluate your application, so there’s no real need to include it.
All clear? Good! Now, let’s examine what a successful example of the contact section looks like:
Resume Summary or Objective
It’s not a secret for anyone that first impressions matter, whether they’re in your personal life, or your career.
If you leave a bad first impression, chances are, it’s there to stay. After all, it’s very hard to change someone’s opinion of you.
The same applies to your job search - the HR manager spends around 6 seconds scanning each resume. Yep, your carefully-worded, hand-crafted resume only gets 6 seconds of attention. Unless, of course, you manage to leave an amazing first impression.
The way you accomplish this is through either a good resume summary or objective. Both are placed at the top of your resume, right around the contact information section:
So, here’s what you need to know about the two:
What’s a Resume Summary & When to Use it
A resume summary is a 2-3 sentence summary of your career. You should use a resume summary in basically any situation, unless you’re a recent university graduate or switching careers (in that case, you use a resume objective. More on that later!).
In your resume summary, you need to mention:
Your job and years of experience. E.g.: Customer support representative with 5+ years of experience in the IT industry.
1 or 2 top achievements (or core responsibilities). E.g.: Specialized in technical support, customer care, and user retention.
Desired goal (generally, passion for working at a specific company). E.g.: Looking for new opportunities as a support lead for a SaaS company.
What’s a Resume Objective & When to Use it
A resume objective is, in a nutshell, the goal of your resume. It communicates your motivation for getting into a new field. As with a resume summary, a resume objective should be around 2-3 sentences.
As we’ve mentioned before, a resume objective is the go-to for anyone that either has no work experience or is going through a career change.
Formula to Create Your Resume Objective:
(1) [SKILL/EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION RELEVANT TO THE JOB WITH JOB TITLE].
Looking to apply my (2) [years/months of EXPERIENCE RELEVANT TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION] at [COMPANY YOU ARE APPLYING TO]
to help (3) [TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES YOU WILL HELP OUT WITH SUCCESSFULLY].
Examples of Resume Objectives
1) So, here’s how that would look like if you’re a student:
“Hard-working recent graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design from New York State University seeking new opportunities. 3+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, creating illustrations & designing UX / UI. Looking to grow as a designer, as well as perfect my art, at the XYZ Design Studio.”
2) Or, on the other hand, if you’re going through a career change:
“IT project manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Managed a team of developers to create products for several industries, such as FinTech and HR tech. Looking to leverage my experience in managing outsourced products as a Product Owner at XYZ.”
Work Experience
The most important part of your resume is your work experience.
This is where you really sell yourself, displaying your past accomplishments and responsibilities.
If you manage to master this section alone, you’ll know 80%+ of all there is to know about how to make a resume.
There are a lot of best practices for writing your work experience. Before we dive into all the nits and grits, though, let’s start with the basics..
How to List Work Experience in a Resume
The standard format for your work experience is as follows:
Job Title/Position - Your job title goes on top of each work experience entry. When the HR manager scans your resume, you want them to know, at a glance, that you have relevant work experience for the job.
Company Name / Location / Description - Then, you mention the name of the relevant employer, as well as the location of the office you work/have worked in. In some cases, you may also want to briefly describe the company, if the organization is not a famous household name.
Achievements and Responsibilities - This is the core of each work experience entry. Depending on your field, you want to list either your achievements or responsibilities. We’ll get more into the how’s and why's of this in a bit.
Dates Employed - The timeframe of your employment in each company. Not sure about the exact dates you worked somewhere? Don’t worry - you don’t have to be accurate by the day, as long as it’s close. The standard format expected by recruiters and employers is mm/yyyy (this is especially important when your job application will be parsed by an Applicant Tracking System).
Here’s a real-life example:
As you can see, the work experience listings should be mentioned in reverse-chronological order - starting with the most recent job, going all the way back into the past.
Now that you know how to list your experience, we’re going to talk about how to write about your experience in such a way that you stand out from the competition.
Are you a student with no work experience? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to writing an internship resume here.
List Achievements When Possible
One of the most common resume mistakes is listing only responsibilities in your work experience section.
Here’s the thing - in most cases, the hiring manager knows what, exactly, your responsibilities were. Let’s say you’re a sales manager, for example. Your responsibilities would be:
Reach out to potential clients over the phone or email.
Maintain relationships with existing company clients and upsell relevant products.
Tracking and reporting on leads in CRM.
Coincidently, this is exactly the same list of responsibilities for every sales manager. 90% of all other resumes probably mention just about the same thing.
So, to stand out, you want to focus on mentioning achievements in your resume instead. Or in simple terms, how exactly you helped the company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on.
Correct Examples
Exceeded sales team KPIs by 30%+ for 3 months straight.
Generated over $24,000 in sales in 1 month.
Incorrect Examples
Generated leads through cold-calling
Managed existing company clients
Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you work in a warehouse. Your day-to-day responsibilities probably involve:
Loading, unloading and setting up equipment on a daily basis.
Package finished product and get it ready for shipping.
Assist in opening and closing the warehouse.
In such fields, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself, so it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities instead.
Tailor Your Resume to the Job
Did you know that over 70% of resumes submitted to job-boards are never read?
Yep, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) keep your resume from being read by HR. An ATS (for resume) is software that helps companies filter through hundreds of resumes they receive per day.
So you’re probably wondering, “What gives?! What’s the point of perfecting your resume, if a robot can just say “No” and single-handedly destroy all the effort you put in?”
Well, don’t worry - getting past the Application Tracking System is not hard, as long as you know how to do it.
The key here is to tailor your resume to each job you apply. To do this, you need to mention the right keywords from the job ad in your resume.
So, let’s cover a simple example on how to do this. Let’s say that after reading the following job ad for the position of a digital marketer, you discover that the most critical requirements for the job are:
5+ years of experience in online marketing
Social media marketing experience, with good knowledge of Facebook advertising
B.A. in Marketing or Business Administration
Experience managing 20,000 USD monthly advertising budget on Facebook
Now, to tailor your resume to these requirements, simply mention each in your resume, considering you have the relevant achievements and qualifications!
How much work experience do you include in your resume?
If you’ve got over a decade’s worth of work experience, you’re probably confused about how much of it you mention in your resume. After all, If you had to list everything you’ve ever done, you’d end up writing a mini-novella.
Or, on the other hand, if you’re a newcomer to the job market, you probably don’t have ANY experience and are wondering what could you even mention.
Here’s how much information you’d mention in your resume depending on your level of experience:
Job hunters with no experience - If you don’t have any experience, it might be a bit hard to fill in your work experience section. You can either keep it empty and focus on all the other sections, or fill it up with work experience in student organizations, non-profits, etc.
Entry-level candidates - List all the work you’ve done up to now.
Mid-level professionals - ONLY mention work experience relevant to the position you’re applying for.
Senior professionals - List up to 15 years of relevant work experience MAX. If your recent experience is as a CEO, no one cares about how you started your career as a cashier in your teenage years.
How to List Education on Your Resume
The next section we’re going to cover is your Education. Let’s start with the basics - how to format the education section & what to mention there. Then, we’ll move on to tips & tricks that’ll help you stand out…
Program Name. E.g.: “B.A. in Business Administration”
University Name. E.g.: “New York State University”
Years Attended. E.g.: “08/2008 - 06/2012”
(Optional) GPA. E.g.: “3.9 GPA”
(Optional) Honors. E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude.
(Optional)Academic achievements. Any interesting papers you’ve written, courses you’ve excelled in, etc.
(Optional) Minor. “Minor in Psychology”
Here's an example:
Tips on perfecting your education section:
If you don’t have any work experience, mention your education section first.
Mention your latest educational entry on top.
If you have a university degree, don’t mention your high school at all.
ONLY mention GPA if you had a very impressive academic career (3.5 GPA plus).
Emphasize Your Know-How with the Skills Section
Another must-have section in your resume is the “Skills” section. Here, you want to mention all your know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job.
There are 2 types of skills you can include when writing your resume:
Hard Skills (Measurable abilities). This can be anything from coding in Python to knowing how to cook Thai cuisine.
Soft Skills (Personal skills). These are a mix of social skills, communication skills, personal traits, career attributes, and so on. Leadership, critical thinking, management, and communication, just to name a few.
A good resume should cover both.
When mentioning skills in your resume, there are 3 essential steps to follow:
Step #1 - List Hard Skills with Experience Levels. For each hard skill you list, you want to mention your proficiency level:
As a rule of thumb, you can divide them by:
Beginner - You have some experience with the skill, whether it’s from some entry-level practice or classroom education.
Intermediate - You’ve used the skill in a work environment with a good level of understanding.
Advanced - You’re the go-to person for the skill in your office. You can coach other employees, and understand the skill on a high level.
Expert - You’ve applied this skill in more than a handful of different projects & organizations. You’re the go-to person for advice about the skill, not just in your office, but even amongst some of the best professionals in your field.
Make sure to NEVER lie about your skill levels. Otherwise, it’s going to be pretty awkward both for you and your employer.
Imagine your first task at work as an Illustrator - to create a graphic vector to go nicely with an article. If you end up delivering a hastily drawn stick figure colored with a paint bucket tool in Microsoft Paint, you’ll be out of the job before your probation period ends.
Step #2 - Tailor Your Skills to the Job. You might have some super rare, awesome skills, but they’re not always going to be useful. For example, it’s awesome that you know accounting, but would you really need it at your new job as a line cook? Exactly!
Take a look at the job ad and list 2-3 essential skills required for the job.
For example:
Qualifications
University Degree
Tech-savy, with some background in CMS systems such as WordPress
Thrives in a stressful environment & manages to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines
Organizational and time management skills
Excellent communication skills
Self-reliant, with the ability to manage their own work
Can-do attitude and an outside-the-box thinker
Systems:
Proficient in Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote and Pages
Basic understanding of Office software - Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook
As you can see, the must-have skills here are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote and Pages. A good-to have is WordPress. You can also mention Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook, but it’s pretty much assumed that you know how to use them, as they’re required for most office jobs.
If you’re qualified, make sure to mention all relevant skills with respective proficiency levels in your “Skills” section.
Step #3 - Include Some Universal Skills - “Universal Skills” are the type of skills useful for almost any job out there. These are both soft skills (leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, etc.) and hard skills (Excel, Powerpoint, Photoshop, writing, etc.). Whatever job you’re applying to, chances are, these skills will in one way or another come in handy, so feel free to include them, even if they’re not specifically required for the position.
Not sure which skills to mention for your field? It might be one of these 100+ essential skills to put on any resume!
Other Important Sections
The sections we’ve covered so far are must-haves for any resume. They’re the bread-and-butter for any job application, and if you get them right, you’ll land any job you apply to.
The following sections, though, can really give you a boost here and there.
Languages
Are you bi-lingual? Or better, multi-lingual? You should ALWAYS mention that on your resume!
Even if the position doesn’t require you to know the specific language, it can still come in handy at some point. At the end of the day, it’s always better to know more languages than less.
To list languages in your resume, simply write them down and assign them the appropriate level:
Native
Fluent
Proficient (Enough knowledge to pass by in a professional environment)
Intermediate
Basic
As a given, you should never lie about your language skills. You never know, your interviewer might turn out to be fluent in the language, or even be a native speaker!
Hobbies & Interests
Want to add some spice to your resume? The hobbies and interests section, while not a game-changer, can help show who YOU are as an individual. Who knows, maybe you and your interviewee have some hobbies in common?
If you end up with some extra space in your resume, don’t hesitate to show off your personality with a hobbies / interests section.
Volunteering Experience
If you’re the type of person to use your free time helping others, while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. It leaves the impression that you’re a devoted, loyal employee.
Several studies show that you can boost your chances of getting hired simply by listing your volunteering experience. This holds especially true if you’re a student with next to no work experience.
Certifications & Awards
Do you have any awards that make you stand out in your field? How about certifications from industry experts?
Whichever the case is, as long as it’s relevant for the position you’re applying for, feel free to add it to your resume.
Let’s say, for example, you’re a Microsoft Cloud Engineer. Assuming you specialize in Microsoft Technologies, you’d definitely want to include all essential certifications, such as the Azure Solutions Architect Expert one.
Publications
Are you a freelance writer? Maybe a distinguished academic?
If you have any published works (online, or in an academic journal), you might want to include them in your resume. Make sure to include a URL, so the HR knows where to check your work!
Projects
Working on side projects can really show off your passion for your field. Whether they’re university class projects or part-time entrepreneurial endeavors, they’re both equally relevant.
Let’s say, for example, you worked on a mock software product as part of a competition in university. You went through every step of product creation, from ideation to creating a marketing strategy.
You can mention the project in your resume and stand a better chance at landing that business internship!
Or on the other hand, maybe you manage an Etsy store, selling hand-made arts & crafts to customers online. Mention all of it!
Hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time.
Perfecting Your Resume - FREE Checklist
Already done with your resume? Interested in seeing how it holds up? Go through our checklist for perfecting your resume and see where you stand!
Free Checklist for Resume Writing
Does your contact information section have all the must-have information?
Did you include all the must-have sections in your resume?
Did you list only the most relevant work experiences?
Did you list achievements instead of responsibilities?
Did you tailor your resume to the job ad you’re applying for?
Did you mention the right amount of work experience in your resume?
Did you list your education in your resume?
Did you list all the right skills for the position you’re applying for?
Did you add any other important resume sections?
And finally, did you proof-read your resume? We’d recommend asking a friend or using software like Grammarly.
If you ☑’d all the points? Congrats! You’ve mastered all there is to know about how to write a resume, and you’re good-to-go to move on with your job search! If you missed some points, though, just go through your resume one more time and perfect it as much as possible.
4+ Effective Resume Examples
Knowing how to write a resume is one thing, actually creating a resume that stands out is something else entirely. Without inspiration, even top career experts might stumble on a roadblock or two.
Check out the following effective resume examples to get a better sense of what a good resume looks like..
Want to see more examples? Check out our compilation of 20+ resume examples for different fields.
Next Steps After Your Resume
Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to create a resume, let’s talk cover letters & interviews.
After all, your resume is only the first step in your job search. To really land that job you deserve, you also need to craft a killer cover letter, and ace that upcoming interview.
Resume Templates 2019 Word
How to Write a Convincing Cover Letter
Every job application consists of 2 parts - the resume and the cover letter. Now that we’ve covered the first, let’s briefly explain the latter.
Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, you’d be applying for a writing job!
In reality, though, writing a cover letter is pretty simple, if you know its purpose.
You should think of a cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. You get to briefly explain why you’re such an awesome fit for the position. When we put it that way, it doesn’t sound as hard, does it?
Here’s a format you could follow:
Introduce yourself (and leave an impression) - As a start, give a brief run-down on your work experience and mention why you’re interested in working for the company you’re applying for. You can also mention 1-2 of your top professional achievements to leave a good first impression.
Explain how you’d excel at the job - Identify the top 3 requirements in the job ad. Then, dedicate one paragraph to explaining how you fulfil each requirement. So for example, if the requirement is “Facebook Advertising Experience,” mention how you have done Facebook ads in the past and how you’ve excelled at it.
Wrap it up and say thanks - Thank the reader for reading your cover letter and propose the next steps. For example, “If you’d like to know more about my experience with Project XYZ, I’d love to chat!”
All clear? Just in case, you can also check out a real-life example below:
Does writing a cover letter still seem a bit complicated? Well, it is - to really explain everything you need to know about cover letters, we’d have to write a completely new guide on the topic. Which we did - thank us later! If you want to learn more about writing a cover letter, check out our full guide. Or if you need some extra inspiration, check out these 5+ cover letter examples.
How to Ace Your Next Interview
You’ve perfected both your resume & cover letter. Now, it’s time for the next (and final) step - the dreaded job interview.
Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you probably hate the interviewing process. After all, sitting there while someone’s prodding into your past experiences and judging the hell out of you isn’t the most fun experience.
Libreoffice Resume Templates 2018
Did you know, though, that most interviewers ask the same questions? Yep - all you have to do is learn how to answer some of the most common interview questions, and you’ll be an interview away from landing your dream job!
Want to learn more? Check out our complete guide to Job Interview Questions and Answers.
..And let’s wrap it all up!
Sample Resume Templates 2018
If you’ve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! You’re probably an expert on how to make a resume.
To wrap it all up, let’s brush up on some of the most important lessons we’ve learned so far..
Resume Template 2018
Use the rightresume builder. You don’t want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
Focus on achievements. Mention your achievements instead of responsibilities, so that you stand out from all the other applicants.
Include the must-have sections. That is, resume summary, work experience, education, and skills.
Tailor for the job. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant for the job you’re applying for.
Perfect your cover letter. It’s as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!
At Novorésumé, we’re committed to helping you get the job you deserve, every step of the way! Follow our career blog to stay up to date with the industry-leading advice. Or, check out some of our top guides…
AuthorAndrei Kurtuy– Resume, CV and Cover Letter Writing Expert