Resume Building 101: Essential Strategies for Job Seekers

Creating a strong resume is a crucial step in landing your desired job. It serves as your first impression to potential employers, showcasing your skills, experience, and qualifications. 

At Goodwill, we understand the importance of finding the right career fit for you and your life. A well-crafted resume can help you stand out.

How to Write a Resume

1. Choose the Right Format:

• Chronological: Lists work experience in reverse order, highlighting your most recent roles first.
• Functional: Focuses on skills and qualifications, ideal if you have gaps in employment.
• Combination: A mix of chronological and functional, showcasing skills while detailing your work history.

2. Start with Contact Information:

• Include your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable).

3. Craft a Compelling Summary:

• A brief statement that summarizes your career goals and what you can offer to the employer. Offer some of your career highlights. 

4. Detail Your Work Experience:

• List your job title, company name, location, and dates of employment.
• Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements. Focus on results and use action verbs.

5. Highlight Your Skills:

• Include both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (communication, teamwork). If you can relate your skills to the job you’re applying for, this can help you get into the interview portion of the application process.

6. Education:

• List your degrees, the institutions attended, and graduation dates. Include relevant coursework or honors.

7. Additional Sections:

• Consider adding sections for certifications, volunteer work, languages, or hobbies if they are relevant to the job.

What to Include and Exclude

Do include:

• Relevant work experience
• Skills that match the job description
• Quantifiable achievements
• Keywords from the job listing

Do not include:

• Irrelevant personal information (age, marital status)
• Unprofessional email addresses (or an unprofessional online presence – this includes your social media accounts)
• Long paragraphs; use concise bullet points instead
• Excessive jargon or technical terms

Best Practices

• Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each job application by highlighting the most relevant experience and skills.
• Create an ATS-friendly Layout: ATS-friendly designs for resumes are crucial for ensuring your application passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) used by employers. Use a clean, simple layout with standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman. Avoid graphics, tables, and unusual formatting, as these can confuse the software. Use standard section headings like “Work Experience” and “Education,” and include keywords relevant to the job description. This approach helps increase your chances of being noticed. 
• Use Professional Language: Keep the tone professional and avoid slang or casual language. This can also come down to the type of email you use. Try not to use an email you’ve used since middle school, but instead, use a professional email that centers around your name. 
• Proofread: Ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors. Consider asking a friend or using online tools for a final check.
• Keep It Concise: Aim for one page if you have less experience, or two pages if you have extensive work history.
• Use a Clean Layout: Make your resume easy to read with a clear font, consistent formatting, and adequate spacing.

Why a Good Resume Is Important

A well-crafted resume is your ticket to securing an interview. It allows employers to quickly see why you’re a strong candidate for the job. A strong resume can set you apart from other applicants by clearly communicating your qualifications and demonstrating your professionalism.

There are often layouts and templates online that can help with the layout of your resume. Simplicity and good design can help your resume stand out from the rest. 

Visit us for more resources and guidance on building the perfect resume. Our career services team is ready to help. Find the location closest to you by visiting: Goodwill Career Center