How To Write A Powerful Resume In 2022?: Land Your Dream Job

A resume plays a crucial role in the job-hunting process. If you are a job seeker, you need to have a resume that clearly defines your strengths to the potential employers. But, most people do not possess the skills of writing a resume. There is a high chance that you are losing the job opportunities due to your weak resume game. Are you unable to understand how to write a resume that catches the eyes of HR managers and lands you in your dream job? We are here to put an end to all these worries with our detailed resume writing guide.

 

What Is A Resume? 

Your resume is a reflection of your entire career experience. It is a formatted document that includes details about your academic background, accomplishments, employment history, and other related information. It gives the employers a brief description of your career graph by taking them through your career journey. A resume, also known as Curriculum Vitae or CV in Latin, is an integral part of professional life. While writing a resume you can also prepare a cover letter to define your skills. It is an excellent way to persuade prospective employers into believing that you will be an asset to their organization.

 

 

Here are some essential sections that you need to mention in your resume, without a fail

• Contact information.
• An introduction about yourself.
• Your educational background.
• Your employment history.
• A list of skillsets you possess relevant to the profile you are applying for.

You can check out resume writing examples on the internet to pick out some necessary segments as per your requirements and include them in your CV.

 

Why Do You Need A Strong Resume?

There is a high possibility that you have all the necessary skills for a job post, yet the companies are not hiring you. Maybe it is high time you have a good look at the resume you are sending out!

Before we move on to discuss how to write a resume, let us first understand what role a resume plays in the professional journey.

Look at a resume as a tool for “your” marketing. Yes, you read it correctly!

A resume shares an outline of all your relevant professional and academic skills as well as your educational history. You can grab this chance and turn it in your favor. Every company is looking for an employee who understands the work and can help them grow. This is exactly what you need to understand to convince the potential employer for hiring you. Highlight your best achievements and inform the companies how you can contribute to their success.

 

Let’s have a quick look at the top reasons why you need to learn resume writing tips!

• It is highly helpful in capturing the attention of the recruiters and employers.
• Your resume showcases that you are the perfect match for a job position or a specific project.
• It puts forth your best skills and achievements which increases your chances of selection.
• All this makes it possible for you to appear in the interviews.

 

How To Write A Resume That Helps You Land Your Dream Job?

Writing a resume is a slightly challenging task. However, if you want to be shortlisted by potential employers you need to focus on building a perfect resume.

First thing first, go through several resume samples to decide upon how you would like to proceed. The example of a resume will help you paint an image in the mind with valuable insights about how you want the outcome to look. You can also go for a text editor or a resume builder to make things easier.

It is time we dive in and layout the important tips to craft an impressive resume that compels employers to get you on board!

Download Resume Sample

  1. Select A Resume Format

Choosing a resume format is the primary task that you have to accomplish. It is a deciding factor for what your resume will look like. There are three standard resume writing formats that you can select from, which are chronological format, functional format, hybrid format. Every format is different as per its approach.

 

 

• Chronological format

This is a highly popular and most common resume writing format adopted by job seekers. The details encompass your professional history as per the information when routing for a certain position. Your most recent job is enlisted at the top.

 

• Functional format

The entire focus is on the skills, rather than your professional work history. The functional resume writing format is often utilized by people who are always switching careers and want to move the attention away from their uncertain career choices. Thus, it perfectly categorizes your skills and experience by making you look like an achiever.

 

• Hybrid format

As the name suggests, a hybrid or combination resume format is an amalgamation of the above two formats. If you are an experienced and skilled professional, the hybrid resume writing format is perfect for you! The work history is enlisted chronologically and the skills have to be mentioned in a dedicated section.

 

2. List Your Name And Contact Details

Once you are clear in your head, which resume format is most suitable for you, let us move further and start working on crafting the resume. At the top, you need to include basic details such as your name and contact information.

 

 

Your resume header should contain the following details

• Name

Write the name in the largest font size on the resume page. You can skip mentioning your middle name.

 

• Contact Number

Add an active phone number where employers can reach you.

 

• Location

Mention your current location details such as city, state, zip code. It helps employers filter out job seekers in a specific geographical region.

 

• E-mail Address

Mention your professional email address. Do not add casual e-mail addresses that look straight foolish.

 

• Link Your Portfolio

If you are wondering how to write a resume turn into an excellent opportunity, then a portfolio is the answer! Add a link to your portfolio if it is relevant to your job profile. This provides the employer’s idea about your potential, instantly.

 

• LinkedIn Profile Link

The new-age social media advancements have evolved platforms that make it easier for job-seekers to create a strong persona of their professionalism. Link your LinkedIn profile URL and ensure that your profile is updated.

Double-check all the above-mentioned points to verify that you have included everything and provided the correct information.

 

3. Craft A Winning Headline For Your Resume

The headline of your resume reflects your caliber as a potential candidate. It always has to be short, and crisp. This is a fantastic way to captivate the employer. Therefore, the headline needs to be compelling enough to push the recruiter to have a good look at your resume details.

 

 

This is one of the most underlooked resume writing tips that job seekers often skip. A headline is powerful enough to help you grab the opportunity you had been eyeing for years. Hence, you must use it to your benefit and create a lasting impression on the recruiters.

We have some useful tips for you to create an impressive headline.

• You should include relevant keywords matching the job position.
• Do not stretch the length. Keep it concise and follow the rule of a maximum of ten words.
• Use only title case. It is important to capitalize the first letter of each word and stay on the bold side of the font.

 

4. Write An Impressive Resume Introduction

The resume introduction highlights your professional skills and your qualifications. It is a great element to catch the employer’s attention and compel them to further read your application. Wondering how to write a resume introduction that gets you to interview invitations?

 

A resume introduction includes multiple types. The job seeker should go for the one that’s most appropriate for their requirements. Let us share what those are:

 

 

• The objective of your resume. It basically describes your career goals.
• A resume summary that comprises your professional summary.
• A brief about your educational qualifications.
• A resume profile.
• A personal statement of the resume.
• An “about me” section in the resume describes you both as a person, as well as from the professional viewpoint.

The most common types of resume introduction styles used by the applicants are resume summary and resume objective. We will help you understand these two in detail.

 

Resume Summary

The resume summary consists of around 4-5 sentences about your career accomplishments, and journey. This is the best introduction style for experienced professionals which allows them to highlight their work history and skills right in the beginning. If you look at some resume writing examples, these are the points generally covered in a resume summary:

• The job position and years of experience.
• 1-2 major achievements, or core responsibilities that you have handled.
• Your desired goals or passion.

 

Resume Objectives

You need to conclude the resume objectives within 2-3 sentences. Pen down all your career objectives, concisely which is basically a quick brief about your experience, and professional skills. Moreover, mention your reason to apply for the specific position. The resume objective is a reflection of your professional ambitions. If you are a graduate without any prior experience, a resume objective style of introduction would be the best choice for you.

 

Things to include in a resume objective to get noticed by the recruiters

• Mention the relevant skills that you hold.
• Include the details of your educational background and additional but relevant certifications.
• The type of responsibilities you could handle successfully.

These tips will help you craft a strong resume introduction. But, it is always better to scan an example of a resume from other applicants. Doing this will help you get a precise idea of additional ways to make your CV look attractive.

 

5. Add The Relevant Work Experience Details

The work experience section is a significant part of your resume. After all, it represents your professional history and allows the recruiters to understand what value you bring to the table. This is the section where you need to literally “sell” yourself. Hence, you should share the details of the work responsibilities you have handled in the past.

You need to provide a logical and well-informed representation of your professional experience, in reverse chronological order. This should include the following information:

 

 

• Your job title

This should come at the top of a work experience description. The job title gives HR a quick view of what makes you an appropriate choice for the job posting.

 

• The company’s name

Mentioning the name of the company you have worked for in the past allows the employers to understand your working style. Share a brief description of the company and the location.

 

• Your past achievements

This can be a game-changing factor for your resume. Thus, make sure to enlist your responsibilities and achievements.

 

• The date of employment

Here, you need to add the time frame of your professional record in each organization. Include the details such as month and year of employment.

Here are some tips about how to write a resume, work experience section as per your experience level.

 

• No Work Experience

Job seekers who do not have any prior work experience may find it difficult to write this section. Thus, you can either skip it or details of your association with NGOs, community activities, social contributions, student organizations, etc.

 

• Entry Level Applicants

You can add all the information regarding the internships, or you have done so far.

 

• Mid-Level Candidates

Here, it is important to add the work experience which is relevant only to the job position you are routing for.

 

• Senior Level Professionals

This is your chance to outshine all the other applicants by enlisting up to the last 15 years of professional experience. An employer will be keen on knowing about the most senior-level role you have served in an organization rather than a general, entry-level one.

 

6. Enlist Your Skill-Sets And Use Keywords

The skills section is an integral part of your resume. It emphasizes your prowess as a potential candidate, which makes it a “must-have” segment while writing a resume. So, what type of skills should you add to your resume? There are primarily two categories of skills:

 

 

• The Hard Skills

They reflect measurable skills. Whether you are good at JavaScript or prepare excellent Chinese food, this is what you come under the hard skills.

You need to add the hard skills along with the experience level or your proficiency in a certain field. This includes beginner, intermediate, advanced, or expert.

 

• Soft Skills

This is more of a personal skill-set, such as communication skills, social abilities, career traits as well as personal traits. It also involves management, leadership, critical thinking, etc.

 

• Universal Skills

The universal skills apply to every job post. It involves both hard skills and soft skills. So, feel free to list your specialties, from team player to an expert in Photoshop.

Try mentioning both types of skills. Doing this will give the recruiter a deeper idea of your personality and abilities.

Additionally, it is essential to use the relevant keywords to up your resume game. It helps you appear at the top of the ATS, the Applicant Tracking System. Optimization is the key, and keywords in your resume do exactly that for you! It helps your resume get filtered through multiple applications and takes you to the top of the pool.

If a person possesses many hard and soft skills relevant to the job post, include them in the skills section of your resume separately. An example of a resume skill section to demonstrate how it should look like:

 

[Section]: Relevant Skills

• Adobe Photoshop | Adobe InDesign | Adobe Illustrator | AutoCAD
• Time Management | Team Player | Communication Skills
• MS Excel | Slack | Hootsuite | Concur | Salesforce

 

7. Cover All Other Significant Sections

After you have built a resume it is time that you further add important sections that improve your chances of getting hired. Are you wondering “how to create a resume that can boost my application appearance and impresses the recruiter?” Let us explain.

You need to add some important sections that provide further information about you as an applicant. So, let us discuss the important sections that you can further add to your resume to make it stand out.

 

 

• Languages Section

You must be aware of the language segment in a resume. It gives you a fair chance to grab the opportunities if possess expertise in certain languages. Whether you know a single language, are bi-lingual or multi-lingual, always mention it in your CV, regardless of the job position.

Here is how you enlist the languages in your resume as per your knowledge level:

• Native
• Fluent
• Intermediate
• Basic
• Proficient

This is a part where you need to be completely honest as an employer may test your skills during the interview process.

 

• Mention Your Hobbies And Interests

You probably don’t know this, but the hobbies section plays a strong role in your CV. Your hobbies and interests represent you as an individual. Imagine, what if you and the interviewer have something in common and you instantly connect! Therefore, always make it a point to share about yourself as a person.

 

• Experience In Volunteering

Do you know how impressive, it is when a person believes in giving to the community without expecting anything in return! This shows your personality as a human, which transcends professional barriers.

This is one of the most underrated resume writing tips that shows you believe in serving others and devoting yourself to good deeds. It is one of the best ways to impress your prospective employers even if you do not possess any work experience.

 

• Licenses, Certifications, And Awards

Needless to say, certifications, awards, and licenses showcase your learning experience. This shows your expertise in certain fields. Although, it is important to add the details that are relevant to the specific job post you are applying for. This is especially helpful in cases of the fields that strictly require licenses of qualifications, such as technical posts of nursing.

 

• Publications

The published work acts as a portfolio, thus you should never miss this section. Whether you have just graduated, are an experienced professional, or a freelancer the publications play a huge role in your resume.

The best way to include the published work is in reverse chronological order. Also, use a referencing style that best suits your specific discipline. In case there is work pending for publication, then title it as “Submitted for Publication”. Lastly, do add a URL to your published work. This will let HR check it and understand your capabilities.

 

• Projects

If you have been hustling on the professional front, never hide it! Have you worked on a side project? Mention it in your resume. It shows how dedicated you are to the field. It could be anything, a freelancing project, a part-time entrepreneurial idea, etc.

Those who contemplate how to write a good resume should always include such details in their CV. It highlights their passion and puts them at the top of the list of highly eligible suitable candidates. Whether you are a Software Engineer, an artist, a writer; it applies to every field.

 

Conclusion

Resume writing could seem like a time-consuming process, but all the efforts bring you one step closer to your dream job. All the steps we have mentioned in this blog are your blueprint to building a strong resume. It helps you in standing out as the best candidate among all the applicants. We have laid out the essentials of resume writing, for both inexperienced job hunters and professionals. However, if you want, you can hire resume writing services to do the job for you! These experienced and skilled resume writers know what it takes to create an excellent CV that sets you apart from the competition. Just share your requirements, provide all the essential details and get a powerful resume prepared by the masters.

 

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