A professional resume is what stands between your dream job and other choices. As we say, “first impression always lasts”, a resume is the first thing job recruiters consider while hiring. Most employers spend not even a minute reviewing your resume.
If you don’t have a good resume, no matter how long you wait, you won’t get any response. When pondering over “how to make a resume,” it’s important to realize that your resume is your professional story.
It’s the document that prospective employers see before they meet you in person. In a highly competitive job market, it’s your chance to shine above the rest and get that interview call.
Let’s delve into how you can make a job-winning resume.
How to Make a Resume for Your Dream Job?
To make a professional resume stand out you can follow simple practices. Aim to make it simple and easily readable. Follow these steps to make a resume for the job to apply for your next job:
1. Choose the Right Format:
A format is the design and order of how you display information in your resume. There are three standard resume formats you can choose from according to your preferences, each of them uses the same information but organizes it differently.
Chronological Resume Format – Emphasizes professional history and work experience. In this format, you include your work experience from the most recent job to previous positions. Moreover, It’s the most popular format for candidates and recruiters.
Functional Resume – Points up the skill section rather than experience. This format is good if you are seeking a job for the first time, or if a professional is going to change his/her career.
Combination Resume – Highlights both skills and work experience. If you have good professional job experience and skills, go for it.
2. Add Your Personal Details:
There are some basic things that you must include to make a resume look professional. Start by adding your full name and contact information, phone number, and email address.
Moreover, make sure your name is highly visible on the top of your resume, you can bold it or use a larger font size ( not more than 14). Lastly, you can add your address and links to your online portfolio, for example, a LinkedIn profile or a website.
3. Summary and Objective to Make a Resume:
A career objective explains your motivation for the job you are applying for. After adding contact information, you can add either a resume summary or an objective statement.
An objective statement illustrates your aims for the proper job, what you perceive, and how you will contribute.
On the other hand, a resume summary usually includes a short explanation that gives your work experience and skills. Also, the summary or objective should consist of 2 to 3 sentences conveying your whole message.
4. List Down Your Work History:
Write down your current and previous work experience in reverse order to make a resume stand out. This is where you get the attention of recruiters by displaying your past accomplishments.
Write the job title on top of each work experience entry, then write the company name followed by the time you worked for it.
Moreover, add the list of achievements and responsibilities of the job under it. Tailor your work history with the specific job you are applying for, the recruiters will only look at the aspects useful for them.
5. Add a Skill Section:
Reread the job description and note down the keywords specific to the relevant job. When making a resume ensure to add a list of skills irrespective of the format you are using.
Take some time and consider your top skills suitable for the particular job. Add both hard (technical skills) and soft skills with the keywords relevant to the employer.
6. Include Your Education Accurately:
Even if you don’t have any professional experience, education still matters to make a resume. Must add an education section with the degrees and diplomas you have done.
Write down the degree name in bold, followed by the name of the institution, date of attendance, and area of study. You can also add certifications and licenses relevant to the job in this section.
7. Optional Sections to Make a Resume:
Other than must-have sections for your resume, you can add some additional sections to boost your resume.
Make sure the additional information you provide is according to your career goals and job requirements. You can add language, projects, publications, hobbies, and award sections.
8. Format and Proofread:
If you’re asking yourself “how to make a professional resume,” remember, it needs to be concise, well-structured, and free of any spelling or grammar errors.
Firstly, pay attention to the font size, margins, and spacing as well. Make it look clear and professional to improve its readability.
Your font size should be clear with 10 to 12 size, margins should be 1 to 1.5 inches, and section headers should be slightly bigger font size.
Lastly, reread the resume for spelling mistakes, grammar, and pronunciation mistakes.
Final Verdict:
Understanding how to make a resume that stands out is crucial in today’s job market. From defining clear resume objectives to tailoring them for each application, these steps can significantly increase your chances of success. We all have different interests and strive to work for those. But sometimes, we can excel in other careers much better than the job we want for ourselves. For Pakistani students and job seekers, platforms like Kamyabi are a beacon of guidance. They provide numerous resources and job opportunities, making the journey from career counselling to job application a seamless experience. When it comes to crafting a standout, job-winning resume, professional guidance is invaluable.