How to Write a Resume

Font Style. The first thing a recruiter notices on a resume is the text. Creating a strong initial impression is crucial. Opt for a professional font with a size of 11 or 12. Times New Roman is a classic serif font, while Arial and Calibri are excellent choices for sans-serif fonts. Although sans-serif fonts are more commonly used in resumes, Yahoo has ranked Helvetica as the best font for resumes.

• Some people find Times New Roman harder to read on screens. If you're sending your resume via email, consider using Georgia for better readability.
• You can use multiple fonts for different sections of your resume, but it's best to limit yourself to two. Alternatively, instead of changing fonts, you can format the text in bold or italics.
• For headings or introductions, use font sizes 14 or 16. Avoid using larger font sizes.
• Your resume should be printed in bold black ink. Ensure that links (such as email addresses) are formatted in black, not blue or any contrasting color that might appear when printed.

Page Layout. Each page should have 2.5 cm margins, with line spacing set to 1.5 or 2. The body text should be aligned to the left, while your personal details should be centered at the top of the page.

Presenting Personal Information. This section should appear at the top of your resume and include your name, address, email, and phone number. Your name should be highlighted in a larger font size, typically 14 or 16. If you have both a landline and a mobile phone number, include both.

Choosing a Layout. Resumes can generally be designed in three formats: chronological, functional, or a combination of both. The type of work experience you have and the job you are applying for will guide your decision on which format to use.

• A chronological resume is used to show career progression. It's ideal for individuals applying for jobs in the same field, as it highlights how responsibilities have changed over time.
• A functional resume focuses more on skills and experience rather than work history. This format is beneficial for those with gaps in employment or those who have worked as self-employed individuals for a period of time.
• A combination resume, as the name suggests, blends the chronological and functional formats. This type works well for individuals who have accumulated a diverse range of skills through various jobs. It’s the best option if your experience spans multiple industries.

List Work Experience. In a chronological resume, list your jobs in reverse order, starting with your most recent position. For each role, provide complete details, such as the company name, location, job title, and your responsibilities during that time.

• It's more effective to list your job title first, as it shows your position within each role. However, you can also list the company name first. Whichever format you choose, keep the structure consistent throughout your resume.
• For each position, include a 'Achievements' section where you briefly describe any significant accomplishments or results you achieved in that role.

Provide Educational Background. Similar to your work experience, list your education in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent course. Include your major, any short-term courses, or vocational classes you’ve attended. If you have graduated and received a degree, mention the degree title and the year it was awarded. If you have not graduated yet, simply list the duration of your studies and the expected graduation year.

• For each listing, provide the name of the institution/program, its location, and the degree or field of study.
• If your GPA is 8 (equivalent to a GPA) or higher, be sure to mention it in your educational background section.

List Special Skills or Expertise. After covering essential information such as work experience and education, you may choose to provide additional details that you consider important. Create a section titled 'Special Skills' or 'Professional Expertise' to include these.

• If you are multilingual, list the languages you speak, along with their proficiency level - e.g., beginner, intermediate, advanced, fluent, etc.
• If you excel at a particular skill that sets you apart from other candidates, such as computer programming, don’t forget to mention your expertise level.

Provide Reference Information. You will need to provide details of 2-4 references (excluding family and friends), including their name, relationship to you, phone number, address, and email.

• References should ideally be supervisors or managers from your workplace, or professors from a subject where you have excelled.
• The company you are applying to may contact your references, so inform them in advance that you are applying for jobs and may require them to provide a reference.

Provide Educational Background. Just like your work experience, you should list your educational history in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent course. Clearly mention your major, any short courses, or vocational classes you've completed. If you've graduated and received a degree, specify the degree and year it was awarded. Otherwise, indicate the period of your studies and the expected graduation date.

• For each listing, include the name of the school/program, location, and degree or area of study.
• If your GPA is 8 or above (equivalent to a GPA of ), don't forget to mention it in your academic section.

List any Awards and Achievements. If you have received awards or honors, clearly state the name, date, and purpose of each award. You can also mention being on the "Dean's List" or equivalent for achieving a high GPA. This will show recruiters that you are a dedicated and successful individual.

• If you've had a part-time job and were awarded special recognition, be sure to include it.
• Don't hesitate to mention any accolades from volunteer work. Highlight the meaningful contributions you've made and the recognition you've earned.

Highlight Special Skills. While the 'Awards and Achievements' section is specific, the skills section should be more general. Include some of your positive personality traits that reflect well on you, such as punctuality, extroversion, enthusiasm, hard work, or teamwork.

List Work Experience. Since this section is not the main focus, list your work experience towards the end, allowing recruiters to see your impressive accomplishments first.

• For each job, use a subheading to categorize your experience, such as "Management Experience," "Legal Experience," or "Financial Management Experience."
• For each role, provide details such as company name, location, job title, responsibilities, and the length of employment.
• Optionally, under each job description, you can add a bolded 'Achievements' section where you list two or three significant accomplishments from that position.
• Make sure your job descriptions include concrete numbers to quantify your experience and achievements. Including metrics in your resume will help recruiters easily understand your impact and success in previous roles.

List Volunteer Activities. If you have participated in various volunteer projects, provide full details. Include the project name, dates of participation/total volunteer hours, and your responsibilities in each project.

Provide Reference Information. The last thing you need to do is supply details for 2-4 references. These should not be family members, but people you've worked with professionally. They can be former managers, university professors, or volunteer group leaders.

• Provide the reference's name, your relationship to them, their address, email, and phone number.
• The organization you're applying to may contact your references, so be sure to inform them that you're applying for a job and may need them to provide a reference.

Choose a Resume Format. Since you're creating a combination resume, there's no need to follow any rigid structure or guidelines. Each combination resume can be unique, so focus on your strengths. In addition to work experience and education, feel free to showcase your skills, awards and achievements, volunteer work, and other professional qualifications.

Present Your Work Experience. There are two ways you can approach this. If you've worked in various fields, consider adding a subheading for each role to categorize the skills you utilized. However, if you want to highlight transferable skills from previous jobs, simply list your jobs chronologically without subheadings.

• Be sure to provide full details for each previous employer, including the company's name, location, job title, responsibilities, and dates of employment.

Provide Information About Your Education. The details about your education will be similar to what you’d include in the other resume formats, but the main difference lies in the arrangement. For each school or program you've attended, include the institution’s name, location, the degree or certification you earned, and the dates of your studies.

• If your GPA is 8.0 or higher (equivalent to a GPA), don't forget to mention it.

Provide Additional Relevant Information. After covering your education and work experience, you may want to include any other information that you believe the employer should know. This could include a specialized skill set, awards, achievements, or details about your volunteer work.

List Your References. Include the details of 2-4 professional references (not family members or friends). Be sure to provide their name, relationship to you, phone number, address, and email.

List Job Titles That Grab the Recruiter's Attention. Review the job titles you’ve listed—are they engaging and informative? Instead of just saying ‘Cashier,’ consider saying ‘Customer Service Specialist,’ or ‘Administrative Assistant’ instead of ‘Secretary.’ However, avoid using titles that could be misleading. Think carefully about choosing a job title that clearly describes what you did while also grabbing the reader’s interest.

• For example, the title 'Manager' doesn’t fully capture who or what you managed. ‘Sales Manager’ or ‘Operations Director’ would be more specific and eye-catching.
• Refer to a job title list to find inspiration for titles that clearly describe your role.

Use Keywords Strategically. Many recruiters now use specialized software to scan for keywords to filter resumes before they even reach HR. You’ll need to ensure that your resume contains relevant keywords that align with the industry and role you’re applying for.

• Look for keywords used in the job posting. If the recruiter lists 'research' as a required skill, be sure to incorporate 'research' into your job descriptions or skills section.
• Avoid overstuffing your resume with too many keywords from the job listing, as this can make your resume seem suspicious.

Use Strong Action Verbs to Describe Responsibilities and Achievements. This will emphasize your skills and your ability to accomplish tasks for the position you’re applying for. Start sentences describing your responsibilities with strong action verbs. For example, if you're a receptionist, use verbs like ‘coordinate,’ ‘assist,’ and ‘provide.’ You might say: 'coordinated meetings,' 'assisted customers,' and 'provided administrative support.'

Proofread and Review Your Resume. This step is non-negotiable. Carefully read through your resume multiple times and have someone else review it as well. Then, ask another person who isn’t closely related to you to read it. Spelling and grammatical errors can cause your resume to be discarded, no matter how strong your experience and skills are.

• Pay attention to spelling mistakes, grammar, accuracy of contact information, typing errors, and punctuation.
• Check several times to ensure all formatting is correct and that you haven’t missed any important details.