Your resume is the first impression you will make on a potential employer, and it’s your opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and qualifications. A well-designed resume can help you stand out from the crowd and increase your chances of getting hired. Here are some tips to help you effectively design a resume:
- Keep it simple and clean: A cluttered resume can be difficult to read and cause employers to overlook you. Use a simple, classic layout with plenty of white space (this will make your resume easier to scan, if necessary). One of the most popular resume formats is chronological, which starts with your most recent positions and goes backwards.
- Choose the right font: Stick to a simple, easy-to-read font like Arial or Times New Roman. Avoid using fancy fonts that can be difficult to read and use a font size of at least 10pt.
- Use bullet points: Bullet points make your resume easier to read and help to highlight your skills and achievements. Use bullet points to list your previous job duties and accomplishments under experience.
- Tailor your resume to the job: Make sure to customize your resume to the job you are applying for. Review the job posting and ensure that your resume highlights the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position. You can reference the job posting and use similar language when describing your skills.
- Use keywords: Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes for specific keywords. Make sure that you include the keywords that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Highlight your achievements: Use your resume to showcase your accomplishments and highlight your impact in previous roles. Instead of just listing your job duties, include specific examples of how you have made a positive impact in your previous roles.
Example: Increased sales can be changed to Increased sales by 20% in a two-month period.
- Keep it concise: Your resume should be no longer than two pages. Focus on the most important information and keep your resume concise and to the point. Ask yourself if the positions relate to the current posting.
- Use professional language: Use professional language and avoid using slang or informal language. Your resume should be well-written and free of errors. Ask a friend or family member to review your resume for grammar and clarity.
- Include a summary statement: A summary statement at the top of your resume can help to quickly highlight your skills and experience. Use this statement to give a brief overview of your qualifications and what you can bring to the role.
- Proofread: Before submitting your resume, make sure to proofread it carefully. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and make sure that all information is accurate.
An effective resume design is essential for making a good impression on potential employers. Keep your resume simple, use bullet points to highlight your skills and achievements, and tailor your resume to the job you are applying for. By following these tips, you can create a strong and effective resume that showcases your qualifications and increases your chances of getting hired. If you need extra assistance with your resume and design contact us to register for our Resume Writing Workshop.
If you are looking for a helpful resume design tool, we recommend Canva. This free design platform offers thousands of resume templates for free. To get you started, here is a template we put together: https://bit.ly/chronological-resume-template