Tips For Writing a Winning Resume in 2016
Haven’t updated your resume in a long time?
The beginning of 2016 is the perfect time to get your resume up to speed. Read on for not-to-miss tips on writing a resume.
Only Include Relevant Information – Your resume doesn’t have to include every single thing you’ve done since high school. Only include information that’s relevant to the job you’re applying to. The only exception is if you would show a large gap in your experience – if that’s the case, provide an explanation for the gap or add back in the missing job history.
If you have a lot of past experience, keep a master list of your entire work history and experience, along with a description for each. That way, when you need to apply to a specific type of job, you can simply plug in the appropriate information.
Replace the Objective With a Summary – The objective section of a resume is defunct in today’s modern job world. Instead, write a short summary of three to five sentences that highlights the most important aspects of your resume, the same way your cover letter does. Or, you can get rid of this section altogether and jump right into the important information.
Use a Classic Layout – Layout is a big question when it comes to how to write a winning resume. There are a million resume templates out there to choose from, but the classic layout is still best. Keep everything simply organized and list experience in reverse chronological order. Some specific applicants may want a skills-based resume, but for most people, the chronological resume is the better option. Creativity may have its place at the job you’re applying for, but your resume still needs to be straightforward and easy to read.
Limit the Amount of Pages – Most people should have a one-page resume, bottom line. If you have years and years of relevant experience, you can stretch it to two pages. However, anything more than that is too much, regardless of your work history and accomplishments. Trim down the information as much as possible while still including important details – if it still has to go onto the second page, that’s fine.
Include an Online Supplement – Sometimes your story won’t fit on a one-page text resume. When you need to supplement your experience with a visual portfolio of work examples, include a link to your website or online portfolio.
Are there components that I have not covered that you have found useful in landing your dream job? Leave me a comment below.
