writing techniques resume

How to Make a Resume in 2024 | Beginner's Guide

For most job-seekers, a good resume is what stands between a dream job and Choice D. Get your resume right, and you’ll be getting replies from every other company you apply to.

If your resume game is weak, though, you’ll end up sitting around for weeks, maybe even months, before you even get a single response.

So you’re probably wondering how you can write a resume that gets you an interview straight up.

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about how to make a resume, including:

• The 8 Essential Steps to Writing a Resume
• 11+ Exclusive Resume Tips to Up Your Resume Game
• 27+ Real-Life Resume Examples for Different Professions

….and more!

So, let’s dive right in.

How to Make a Resume (The Right Way!)

Before we go into detail about how you should make a resume, here’s a summary of the most important steps and tips to keep in mind:

• Choose a resume format carefully. In 99% of cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format .
• Add the right contact details. Leave your headshot out and make sure to include your job title , a professional email address, and any relevant links. (E.g.: your LinkedIn profile , online portfolio, personal website, etc.).
• Write an impactful resume summary. Unless you’re an entry-level professional, always go for a resume summary. If you do it right, it’s your chance to get the hiring manager to go through the rest of your resume in detail.
• Pay attention to your work experience section. Take your work experience section from OK-ish to exceptional by tailoring it to the job ad, making your achievements quantifiable, and using action verbs and power words.
• Add the right skills for the job. Keep this section relevant by only including the hard and soft skills that are required for the position.
• Keep your education short and to the point. Your most recent and highest degree is more than enough for a strong education section. You only need to add more details here if you’re a recent graduate with barely any work experience.
• Leverage optional resume sections. Optional sections like languages, hobbies, certifications, independent projects, and others can set you apart from other candidates with similar skills and experience.
• Include a cover letter. That’s right, cover letters matter in 2024, and the best way to supplement your resume is by adding an equally well-crafted cover letter to your job application. To make the most of it, check out our detailed guide on how to write a cover letter .

To get the most out of our tips, you can head over to the resume builder and start building your resume on the go as you read this guide.

New to resume-making? Give our ‘7 Resume Tips’ video a watch before diving into the article!

#1. Pick the Right Resume Format

Before you start filling in the contents of your resume, you have to make sure it’s going to look good. 

After all, the first thing hiring managers notice is what your resume looks like, and then they start reading it. So, this is your best chance to make a great first impression.

Start by choosing the right resume format.

There are three types of resume formats out there:

• Reverse-chronological. This is by far the most popular resume format worldwide and, as such, it’s the best format for most job-seekers.
• Functional. This resume format focuses more on skills than work experience. It’s a good choice if you’re just getting started with your career and have little to no experience in the field.
• Combination. The combination resume format is a great choice for experienced job-seekers with a very diverse skill set. It’s useful if you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in several different fields and you want to show all that in your resume.

So, which one should you go for?

In 99% of cases, you want to stick to the reverse-chronological resume format . It’s the most popular format and what hiring managers expect to see. So, in the rest of this guide, we’re going to focus on teaching you how to make a reverse-chronological resume.

Fix Your Resume’s Layout

With formatting out of the way, let’s talk about your resume’s layout , which determines the overall look of your resume. 

Does it look organized or cluttered? Is it too short or too long? Is it boring and easy to ignore, or is it reader-friendly and attention-grabbing?

Here are some of the best practices you should apply:

• Stick to one page. You should only go for a two-page resume if you have decades of experience and you’re sure the extra space will add significant value. Hiring managers in big companies get hundreds of applications per job opening. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
• Add clear section headings. Pick a heading and use it for all the section headers so the hiring manager can easily navigate through your resume.
• Adjust the margins. Without the right amount of white space, your resume will end up looking overcrowded with information. Set your margins to one inch on all sides so your text fits just right on the page.
• Choose a professional font. We’d recommend sticking to a font that’s professional but not overused. For example, Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass. Avoid Times New Roman, and never use Comic Sans.
• Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
• Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there’s a good chance they’ll mess up your resume’s formatting.

Another thing you need to consider in terms of your resume’s layout is whether you’re going for a traditional-looking resume template or something a bit more modern :

If you’re pursuing a career in a more traditional industry, like law , banking , or finance , you might want to stick to the first.

But if you’re applying to a tech company where imagination and innovation are valued, you can pick a more creative resume template .

Want to Save Time? Use a (Free) Resume Template

Anyone who’s ever tried creating a resume from scratch knows how boring the formatting can be.

Before you can even start filling in the contents, you need to tweak the margins, adjust font sizes, and make sure everything fits into one page while still looking good.

What if you could skip past all that and still create a compelling resume?

Try one of our free resume templates . They’re pre-formatted, so all you have to do is fill in the contents.

They’re also created in collaboration with recruiters from around the globe, ensuring that the templates are visually appealing and ATS-friendly!

See for yourself how one of our templates compares to a resume created in a standard text editor:

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that we’ve got all the formatting out of the way, let’s get into what your resume is all about— the information you put on it .

The first thing you want to do when filling out the contents of your resume is to add your contact information .

This section is pretty straightforward but crucial. Your contact details belong at the top of your resume in a designated resume header , so the hiring manager can easily find them.

Even if everything else about your resume is perfect, that all flops if you misspell your email address or have a typo in your phone number. If the hiring manager can’t contact you, it’s a missed opportunity.

So, double-check, and even triple-check your contact information section and make sure everything is factually correct and up-to-date.

Must-Have Information

• Full name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top of your resume.
• Email address. Stick to an address that’s professional and easy to spell, like a combination of your first and last name. (E.g.: [email protected])
• Phone number. Add a reliable number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
• Location. Add your city and state/country. If you plan to relocate for the job or want a remote position, specify it on your resume.

Optional Information

• Job title. Add your professional title underneath. Write it down word for word, whether it’s “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Junior Data Scientist.” Just don’t make up job titles like “Marketing Wizzard” or “Data Manipulator.” They’re not quirky; they’re just unprofessional. 
• LinkedIn profile . We recommend that you include a link to your updated LinkedIn profile since over 77% of hiring managers use the platform when evaluating a candidate. 
• Relevant links. Include links to personal websites or any social media profiles that are relevant to your field. For example, a developer could include a Github profile, while a graphic designer could link their Behance or Driblle account, and so on.
• Date of birth. Unless this is specifically required in the job ad, the hiring manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not important for their decision-making, and at worst, it might lead to age-based discrimination.
• Unprofessional email address. Your quirky, old high school email address doesn’t belong on your resume. Instead of [email protected] , go for a [email protected] type of address.
• Headshot. (USA, UK or Ireland) Depending on the country where you’re applying, it might even be illegal to include a picture of yourself on your resume . While it’s the norm to include a picture in most of Europe and Asia, always check the regulations for each specific country or industry you’re applying to.

All clear? Good! Now, let’s look at what a great example of a resume's contact information section looks like:

#3. Write a Resume Headline (Summary or Objective)

It's no secret that recruiters spend an average of less than seven seconds on a resume .

When you receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications daily, it's physically impossible to spend too much time on each.

So, what the hiring managers do to go through resumes more effectively is to skim through each resume and read it in depth only if it piques their interest.

This is where the resume headline comes in.

Placed right next to (or underneath) your contact information, this brief paragraph is the first thing the hiring manager is going to read on your resume.

Now, depending on how far along in your career you are, your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

So, how do you choose between a resume summary and a resume objective? Here’s all you need to know:

Resume Summary

A resume summary, as the name suggests, is a two to three-sentence summary of your career so far. If done right, it shows that you’re a qualified candidate at a glance and gets the hiring manager to give you a chance.

Here’s what your resume summary should include:

• Your job title and years of experience.
• A couple of your greatest professional achievements or core responsibilities.
• Your most relevant skills for the job.

Here’s an example of a well-written resume summary: 

Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions.

Unless you’re a recent graduate or amid a career change, we recommend you stick to a resume summary. Otherwise, a resume objective might be a better option for you.

Resume Objective

A resume objective is supposed to express your professional goals and aspirations, academic background, and any relevant skills you may have for the job.

It communicates your motivation for getting into a new field, so it’s the go-to headline for recent graduates and those going through a career change. As with a resume summary, a resume objective should be brief—around two to four sentences long.

So, here’s what it would look like if you’re a student:

Hard-working recent graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design from New York State University seeking new opportunities. 3+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, creating illustrations and UX/UI design projects. Looking to grow as a designer and perfect my art at XYZ Design Studio.

Or, on the other hand, if you’re going through a career change, it might look more like this:

IT project manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Managed a team of developers to create products for several industries, such as FinTech and HR tech. Looking to leverage my experience in managing outsourced products as a Product Owner at Company XYZ.

#4. Prioritize Your Work Experience

The most important part of your resume is your work experience.

This is where you get to sell yourself and show off your previous accomplishments and responsibilities.

If you manage to master this section, you’ll know most of what’s there to know about how to make a resume.

There are plenty of good practices for writing your work experience . But before we dive into all the nits and grits, let's start with the basics.

The standard format for each work experience entry is as follows:

• Job title/position. Your job title goes on top of each work experience entry. When the hiring manager looks at your resume, you want them to know, at a glance, that you have relevant work experience for the job.
• Company name/location/description. Mention the name of the employer and the general location, such as the city and state/country where you worked. In some cases, you may also want to briefly describe the company, like when the organization isn’t particularly well-known.
• Dates employed. Add the approximate timeframe of your employment at each company. You don’t need to give exact dates since the standard format for this is mm/yyyy.
• Achievements and responsibilities. This is the core of each work experience entry. Depending on your field, you want to list either your achievements or responsibilities. List them in bullet points instead of paragraphs, so they’ll be easier to read.

Here’s a real-life example:

Your work experience entries should always be listed in reverse chronological order , starting with your most recent job and working your way back into the past.

Now that you know how to list your experience, we’re going to show you how to write about it in a way that makes you stand out from the competition, starting with: 

Are you a student with no work experience? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to writing a resume with no experience here.

Focus on Achievements Whenever Possible

One of the most common resume mistakes is only listing responsibilities in your work experience section.

Here’s the thing—in most cases, the hiring manager knows exactly what your job responsibilities are.

For example, if you’re a sales manager, your responsibilities would be:

• Reach out to potential clients over the phone or email.
• Maintain relationships with existing company clients and upsell relevant products.
• Tracking and reporting on leads in CRM.

Coincidentally, this is also the same list of responsibilities for every sales manager out there. So, 90% of all other resumes probably mention the same thing.

To stand out from the competition, you want to focus on writing achievements in your resume instead. These can be how you helped your previous company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on.

Let’s compare how responsibilities hold up next to achievements for the same job:

• Exceeded sales team KPIs by 30%+ for 3 months straight.
• Generated over $24,000 in sales in 1 month.
• Generated leads through cold-calling
• Managed existing company clients

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there just aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you’re a warehouse worker .

Your day-to-day responsibilities probably include:

• Loading, unloading, and setting up equipment daily.
• Packaging finished products and getting them ready for shipping.
• Assisting in opening and closing the warehouse.

In fields like this, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself through achievements, so it’s okay to stick to responsibilities instead. You can still make them shine by following the rest of our advice about listing your work experience.

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you work in a warehouse. Your day-to-day responsibilities probably involve:

• Loading, unloading and setting up equipment on a daily basis.
• Package finished product and get it ready for shipping.
• Assist in opening and closing the warehouse.

In such fields, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself, so it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities instead.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Tailoring is what sets an amazing resume apart from an okay one.

Hiring managers don’t need to know about every single job you’ve ever worked at or every single skill that you have.

They only want to know about your jobs, experiences, or skills that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job doing Google Ads, you don’t need to talk about your SEO internship from eight years ago.

By focusing your resume on whatever is important for the specific role, you’re a lot more likely to stand out and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s take a look at an example of a job ad:

As you can see, we’ve highlighted the most important requirements.

To tailor your resume accordingly, you just need to mention how you meet each of these requirements in your resume.

You can highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications in different parts of your resume, such as:

• In your resume summary, where you should recap your years of experience.
• Throughout your work experience section, where you should list achievements and responsibilities that reflect your social media marketing experience.
• In your education section, where you can let the hiring manager know you have the degree that they’re looking for.

Include the Right Amount of Work Experience

If you’ve got over a decade’s worth of work experience, you’re probably wondering whether all of it belongs on your resume. In most cases, you’d end up writing a novel if you listed everything you’ve ever done, and that’s not how long a resume should be .

If you’re new to the job market, on the other hand, you probably don’t have any experience, and you’re wondering what you could even add to this section.

So, here’s how much information your resume should include, depending on your level of experience:

• No experience. If you’re looking for your first job , you won’t have any work experience to fill this section with. So, you can either keep it empty and focus on all the other sections or fill it up with any experience gained in student organizations, extracurricular activities, volunteering, and other projects.
• Entry-level. List all your work experience so far. While some of it won’t be relevant, it can still show the hiring manager that you do have some actual work experience.
• Mid-level. Only mention relevant work experience to the position you’re applying for. There’s no need to waste space on jobs that aren’t related to what you’re after.
• Senior-level. List up to 15 years of relevant work experience, tops. If your most recent experience is as a marketing executive , the hiring manager doesn’t care how you started your career as a junior marketing specialist 23 years ago.

Consider Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software

Did you know that over 70% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager ?

Most companies these days use ATS to evaluate hundreds of resumes instantaneously and automatically filter out the ones that don’t meet their criteria.

For example, if a resume doesn’t mention a specific skill or isn’t formatted correctly, the ATS will automatically reject it.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make an ATS-friendly resume .

Here are a couple of tips to help you get past those pesky robots:

• Stick to one page. Sometimes employers set a limit on how long a resume should be. This means that if your resume is longer than one page, it might get automatically disqualified.
• Incorporate keywords. Tailoring your resume to the job helps a ton with beating the ATS. Just carefully read the job description to find hints for what the ATS will be looking for. Then, whenever you find keywords related to your responsibilities and achievements, make sure to include them in your work experience section.
• Use an active voice. Passive voice is too vague and unclear, so make sure to use active voice as much as possible when describing your previous jobs. (E.g.: “Managed a team of ten people,” instead of “ A team of ten people was managed by me.” )
• Leverage powerful action words. Instead of starting each of your sentences with “was responsible for," make your work experience impactful by using words that can grab attention. Saying that you “spearheaded” or “facilitated” something sounds a lot more impressive than “helped.”

Want to make sure your resume formatting passes the ATS test? Choose one of our tried and tested ATS-friendly resume templates , and you’ll be good to go! 

#5. List Your Education

The next section on your resume is dedicated to your academic qualifications. Let’s start with the basics!

Here’s how you should format the education section on your resume :

• Program Name. Your major and degree type should be listed. (E.g.: “B.A. in Business Administration” )
• University Name. Add the name of the institution. (E.g.: “New York State University” )
• Dates Attended. Use a mm/yyyy format for the dates you attended. (E.g.: “08/2008 - 06/2012” )
• Location. If your university is less well-known, you can also add the location. (E.g.: “Stockholm, Sweden” )
• GPA. Use the appropriate grading system for the country you’re applying to work in. (E.g.: In the USA, it would be “3.9 GPA” )
• Honors. Add any honors and distinctions you’ve been given. (E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude )
• Achievements. You can mention interesting papers you’ve written, projects you’ve done, or relevant coursework you’ve excelled in.
• Minor. “Minor in Psychology”

Pretty simple, right? Now let’s see what an education section looks like in practice:

This example includes all the necessary information, plus an eye-catching award and relevant classes this candidate has taken.

Resume Education Tips

Now that you know how to list your education on your resume, let’s take this section to the next level.

Just follow these expert tips:

• If you’re making a resume as a student and don’t have any work experience yet, you can list your education section at the beginning of the page instead of work experience.
• You can add your expected graduation date if you’re still pursuing your degree.
• If you already have relevant work experience, just keep this section short and sweet. Recent graduates can expand on their education more and add optional information like projects, classes, academic achievements, etc.
• Always list your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest degree on top. Your highest and most recent degree is usually enough, so if you have a Master’s degree that’s relevant to the job, there’s no need to mention your earlier degrees.
• Don’t add your high school degree to your resume if you already have a university degree. It doesn’t have as much weight, and you can use the space for something else.
• Only mention your GPA if you had an impressive academic career. Anything below a 3.5 GPA doesn’t need to be on your resume.

Are you in the process of applying for college? Check out our guide to writing a college application resume to wow that admissions officer!

#6. Emphasize Your Know-How in the Skills Section

After your work experience, your skills are the first thing the hiring manager is going to look for. In fact, together, work experience and skills make up 90% of the hiring decision .

So, this is the place where you want to mention all the know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

There are two types of skills you can include when writing your resume:

• Hard Skills. These are measurable abilities. What you can list here can be anything from coding in Python to knowing how to cook Thai cuisine.
• Soft Skills. Also known as personal skills, these are a mix of communication skills , personal traits, career attributes, and more. They can include leadership, critical thinking, and time management , just to name a few.

Your resume should always cover both hard skills and soft skills . Here’s an example in action:

Now, let’s discuss how you should list your most important skills on your resume.

There are a few essential steps you need to follow:

Always List Hard and Soft Skills Separately

Your resume should be easy and neat to navigate. The hiring manager shouldn’t have to waste time looking for a specific skill because you didn’t separate it into the appropriate subsection.

So, just create separate categories for your hard and soft skills.

Depending on your field, you could customize the name of your “hard skills” subsection to something like “technical skills," “marketing skills," or something else related to your field.

Let’s look at an example of what skills look like on a project manager’s resume :

Methodologies & Tools

• Agile Methodology
• SCRUM Framework
• Waterfall Project Management
• Microsoft Project
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Risk Management

Soft Skills

• Team Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Negotiation

Tailor Your Skills to the Job

You might have some awesome skills, but the hiring manager only needs to know about the ones that are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, your gourmet chef skills shouldn’t be on your resume.

Look at the job ad and list at least two to three essential skills you have that are required for the role. Remember—there’s no need to list every skill you have here; just keep it relevant.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design or a related field.
• Tech-savvy, with some background in CMS systems such as WordPress.
• Thrives in a stressful environment and juggles multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Self-reliant, with the ability to manage their own work.
• A can-do attitude and an outside-the-box thinker.
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages.
• Basic understanding of Office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

So, the must-have hard skills here are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages. Other good computer skills to have are WordPress or similar CMS systems.

While you can also mention Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, it’s pretty much assumed that you know how to use them since they’re required for most office jobs.

List Hard Skills with Experience Levels

For each hard skill you list on your resume, you should also mention your proficiency level. This tells employers what they can expect from you and how much training you might need.

• Beginner. You have some experience with the skill, whether it’s from some entry-level practice or classroom education.
• Intermediate. You’ve used the skill in a work environment with good understanding.
• Advanced. You’re the go-to person for this skill in your office. You can coach other employees, and you understand the skill at a high level.
• Expert. You’ve applied this skill to more than a handful of different projects and organizations. You’re the go-to person for advice about the skill, not just in your office but even amongst some of the best professionals in your field.

Just make sure to never lie about your actual skill level. Even if you get the job, once you need those skills you exaggerated, it will be pretty awkward for both you and your employer.

Include Transferable Skills

These are the types of skills that are useful for almost any job out there.

Transferable skills can be both soft skills (e.g.: teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills, and others) and hard skills (MS Office Suite, HTML, writing, etc.)

Whatever job you’re applying to, chances are you have transferable skills from your experience that can come in handy one way or another. So, feel free to include them, even if they’re not specifically required for the position.

Not sure which skills to mention on your resume for your specific field? Check out our list of 101+ essential skills for inspiration!

#7. Leverage Optional Resume Sections

The sections we’ve covered so far are must-haves for any resume. They’re the bread-and-butter for any job application, and if you get them right, you’ll land any job you apply to.

But if you have some leftover space, there are a few optional sections you can choose from to give your resume a boost!

Are you bi-lingual? Or even better  – multi-lingual? You should always mention that on your resume!

Even if the position doesn’t require you to know a specific language, it can still come in handy at some point. At the end of the day, it’s always better to know more languages than less.

To list languages in your resume , just write them down and assign them the appropriate level:

• Intermediate

You can also use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scales.

As a given, you should never lie about your language skills. You never know—your interviewer might turn out to be fluent in the language or even be a native speaker!

Hobbies and Interests

If you want to spice up your resume, hobbies and interests could be just what you need.

While this section isn’t a game-changer, it can help the hiring manager see who you are as an individual.

For example, if you listed “teamwork” as one of your skills, hobbies like team sports can back up your claim.

And who knows? Maybe you and your interviewer have some hobbies or interests in common!

Volunteering Experience

If you’re the type of person who devotes their free time to helping others while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. 

Seeing volunteer experience on your resume tells hiring managers that you’re a loyal employee who’s after something meaningful.

Several studies show that listing your volunteer experience can boost your chances of getting hired, especially if you have little to no work experience.

Certifications

Hiring managers love candidates who invest in themselves, and that’s exactly what they see when you list certifications on your resume .

If you value continuous learning and strive to expand your skill set, that’s always a plus.

Certifications can also show employers how much expertise you have.

For example, if you’re a Microsoft Cloud Engineer and you specialize in Microsoft Technologies, you should definitely include all essential certifications on your resume, such as the Azure Solutions Architect Expert one.

Awards and Recognitions

There’s no harm in showing off a little on your resume. After all, you want to be a candidate that shines above the rest.

So, if you’ve received any awards or recognitions that make you stand out in your field, make sure to add them.

For example, if you’ve been recognized for your contributions to data science or received a hard-to-come-by scholarship , mention it in your resume. Just keep your entries here relevant to the field you’re applying to.

Publications

Whether you’re a freelance writer or a distinguished academic, publications are always impressive.

If you have any published works (online or in an academic journal), you can add them to your resume. Just make sure to include a link so the hiring manager knows where to check your work!

Are you looking for a career in academia? Check out our guide to writing the perfect academic CV to get started!

Working on side projects can show off your passion for your field. Whether they’re university class projects or part-time entrepreneurial endeavors, they’re relevant.

For example, if you worked on a mock software product as part of a university competition, it shows you went through every step of product creation, from ideation to creating a marketing strategy.

This project also shows off your organizational skills , and if you mention it in your resume, you stand a better chance of landing the job you had your sights set on.

But projects can also be personal, not academic. For example, you might manage an Etsy store where you sell hand-made arts and crafts to customers online. This is a great opportunity to highlight your creativity, management, and customer service skills .

Overall, hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time, so projects are always a great section to add to your resume.

Looking to kickstart your career? Check out our guide on how to get an internship for useful tips and real-life examples!

Extracurricular Activities

Every college freshman knows that extracurricular experience can make a difference in their application.

Especially if you don’t have a lot of experience outside of school, extracurricular activities are a great way to show potential employers your skills and give them insight into you as a person. Different clubs and after-school projects can help you gain real-life skills and considerably increase your chances of landing your first job after college.

For example, joining a student government organization can hone your leadership skills and teach you how to work as part of a team.

For example, if you’re part of a student government or public speaking club, these activities can help you hone your leadership and presentation skills.

11+ Expert Resume Tips

You’ve got the gist of how to make a resume. Now, it’s time to make it really stand out from the crowd!

Follow these exclusive resume tips to take your resume game to the next level:

• Match the professional title underneath your name to the job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
• Mention any promotions from your previous jobs. Use the work experience entries for them to focus on the achievements that helped you earn them.
• Describe your achievements using Laszlo Bock’s formula : accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z . This way, your work experience can go the extra mile and show the hiring manager what you can bring to the table.
• Always list your achievements and responsibilities in concise bullet points. This makes your resume more reader-friendly, and it’s more likely that the hiring manager will see your impressive achievements at a glance.
• Don’t use personal pronouns like “I” or “me,” and don’t refer to yourself by name. Stick to a slightly altered third person, like “managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.” instead of “he managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.”
• Name your resume sections correctly, or it might get rejected by the ATS. Swapping out quirky names like “career history” or “expertise” for “work experience” and "skills" makes it easier for the hiring manager to find what they’re looking for, too.
• Prioritize important keywords instead of adding all of them. Make sure the relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences you add all make sense in context, too. Your goal is to get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.
• Focus on transferable skills if you don’t have a lot of relevant work experience. Any extracurricular activities or personal projects can help you stand out here.
• Add a strategic pop of color to headings, bullet points, or key elements you want to highlight. It can help your resume stand out, but don’t overdo it—you want the information to be more impressive than the color palette.
• Don’t include the line “references available upon request.” Hiring managers already know they can request a list of references from you, so there’s no need to waste valuable space on it.
• Make sure your resume is optimized for mobile viewing. Most hiring managers use their mobile phones as often as desktop computers, so save your resume to a PDF file and make sure your formatting stays intact across any device.
• Rename the resume file you plan to send so it includes your name and the name of the position you’re applying for. It’s a small detail that can turn into a crucial mistake if you forget it.
• Read your resume out loud when you’re done. This is a great way to catch awkward phrases or spelling mistakes you might have missed otherwise.
• Use a tool like DocSend to track your resume. You’ll get a notification any time someone opens your resume, and you can see how long they spend reading it.

FREE Resume Checklist

Are you already done with your resume? Let’s see how it holds up!

Go through our checklist for perfecting your resume and see where you stand!

If you missed some points, just go through your resume one more time and perfect it.

And if you ☑’d everything—congrats! You’ve learned all there is to know about writing a resume, and you’re good to go with your job search.

Need to write a CV instead of a resume? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to write a CV with dozens of examples!

9 Resume Templates for Different Industries

Looking to create an effective resume without dealing with the formatting hassle? Just choose one of the templates below.

#1. Traditional Resume Template

Good for traditional industries like finance, banking, law, and manufacturing.

#2. Modern Resume Template

Good for both contemporary and forward-looking industries, including entrepreneurship, medical technology, and engineering.

#3. Creative Resume Template

Good for creative industries, including entertainment, design, and architecture. 

#4. Minimalistic Resume Template

Good for experienced professionals in basically any industry who want to let their achievements do the talking. 

#5. IT Resume Template

Good for any IT-related profession like software development, cyber security, and DevOps engineering.

#6. Tech Resume Template

Good for the tech industry and everything it encompasses.

#7. College Resume Template

Good for college students and recent graduates alike.

#8. General Resume Template

Good for multiple industries, including HR, education, and customer service.

#9. Executive Resume Template

Good for senior professionals across different industries, including hospitality, marketing, and logistics.

17+ Resumes for Different Jobs

Knowing how to write a resume is one thing, but making a resume that stands out is something entirely different. Without inspiration, even top career experts might stumble on a roadblock or two.

Check out the following effective resume examples for specific jobs to get a better sense of what a good resume looks like:

#1. Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a nurse resume here.

#2. Data Scientist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a data scientist resume here.

#3. Business Analyst Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business analyst resume here.

#4. Digital Marketing Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a digital marketing resume here.

#5. Software Engineer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a software engineer resume here.

#6. Construction Project Manager Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a construction project manager resume here.

#7. Customer Service Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a customer service resume here.

#8. High School Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a high school resume here.

#9. Student Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a student resume here.

#10. Server Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a server resume here.

#11. Actor Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an actor resume here.

#12. Web Developer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a web developer resume here.

#13. Engineering Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineering resume here.

#14. Computer Science Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a computer science resume here.

#15. Architect Resume Example 

Check out our full guide to writing a data analyst resume here.

#17. Remote Job Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a remote job resume here.

#18. Sales Associate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales associate resume here.

#19. Receptionist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist resume here.

Want to see more examples? Check out our compilation of 80+ resume examples for different fields .

• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Bartender Resume
• DevOps Engineer Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Flight Attendant Resume
• Graphic Designer Resume
• Paralegal Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Supervisor Resume

Next Steps After Your Resume

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to make a resume, it’s time to talk about the rest of your job application.

After all, your resume is only the first step in your job search. To land the job you deserve, you also need to write a captivating cover letter and ace that upcoming interview. Here’s how:

#1. How to Write a Convincing Cover Letter

The companion piece to every resume is the cover letter.

Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, you’d be applying for a job as a writer !

In reality, though, writing a cover letter is very simple once you know its purpose.

Think of your cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. It’s your chance to briefly explain why you’re such an awesome fit for the position. And with a few cover letter tips to point you in the right direction, you’ll write the perfect cover letter for your job application.

Just follow this structure:

• Add the contact details. Include the same contact information as on your resume, plus additional contact details for the hiring manager, including their name, job title, the company’s name, and location.
• Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by mentioning who you are, what your work experience is, and why you’re interested in the position. Mention a standout achievement or two, relevant skills, and what you’d like to do for the company you’re applying for.
• Explain why you’d excel at the job. Find the requirements in the job ad that you meet, and elaborate on how you fulfill the most important ones. Research the company so you know what you like about it, and mention it in your cover letter. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the job and confidence that you’ll be a great fit for their team.
• Wrap it up politely. Conclude your cover letter by recapping your key selling points and thanking the hiring manager for their time. Then add a call to action, such as “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided phone number so that we can discuss my application in greater detail.” Then, add a closing line and follow it with your full name.

Sounds easy, right? Here’s a real-life example to drive the point home:

Do you need more help perfecting your cover letter? Learn what the most common cover letter mistakes are and check out cover letter examples for all professions here.

#2. How to Ace Your Next Interview

Once you’ve perfected both your resume and cover letter, there’s only one thing left.

It’s time for the final step—the dreaded job interview.

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you probably hate the interviewing process. No matter how experienced you are, it can be nerve-wracking. Sitting there while someone’s prodding into your past experiences and judging you isn’t fun.

But did you know that most interviewers ask the same questions?

That’s right—all you have to do is learn how to answer some of the most common interview questions, and you’ll be an interview away from landing your dream job!

Just check out our complete guide to the 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers and learn how to ace your next interview.

FAQs on How to Make a Resume

Do you still have some questions about making a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below!

#1. What does a good resume look like in 2024?

For your resume to look good in 2024, make sure it’s organized and clean and isn’t longer than one page.

Be sure to include information that adds value to your application—leave out the focus on your relevant work experience and skills that you can back up, and list as many achievements as possible. 

If you’re using a resume template, choose one based on your industry. Conservative industries like law, banking, and business require more traditional resume templates. But if you’re going for an industry like design, architecture, or marketing, you can go for a creative resume template . 

Remote work is also big in 2024, so if that’s what you’re after, tailor your resume to match the job you want.

#2. How do you make a resume in Word?

The best way to create a resume in Word is to use a pre-designed Microsoft Word template. To access them, you should: 

• Open MS Word
• Click “file” from the menu bar 
• Select “new”
• Type “resume templates” in the search bar 

That said, Word resume templates are generic, hard to personalize, and overall not very stylish.

Want a resume that looks good and is extremely easy to make? Check out resume templates to get started!

#3. How do I write a resume for my first job?

If you’re writing your first-ever resume for an entry-level position, the hiring manager won’t expect you to have any work experience.

However, you can make up for your lack of experience with your skills and academic achievements.

For example, you can take advantage of extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, and other non-professional experiences. You can use them to highlight the skills you’ve gained and what you’ve achieved so far.

So, your first job resume should have a resume objective, emphasize your education, and replace your work experience with any internships, volunteering, independent projects, or other experiences.

#4. How to make a resume on Google Docs?

You can make a resume on Google Docs by choosing one of their templates and filling it in on the go.

All you have to do is go to your Google Drive’s template gallery, choose your preferred template, fill in your information, and your Google Docs resume is ready to go! 

That said, Google Docs templates aren’t the most user-friendly choice. You don’t have much flexibility with the layout and formatting isn’t that easy. For example, you tweak a section to the slightest, and the whole resume becomes a mess.

If you want an easier option, check out our resume builder !

#5. What kind of resume do employers prefer?

Typically, employers prefer one-page-long resumes that follow the reverse chronological format. 

Hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes every day, so they don't have the time to read three-page resumes. Try one of our one-page resume templates so you don’t go over the recommended resume length.

Meanwhile, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular because it draws attention to your most recent jobs and professional achievements, which is the #1 most important thing hiring managers look at when evaluating a resume.

#6. How many jobs should you put on your resume? 

You should only include relevant job positions on your resume.

This means that your work experience section should be tailored to the job you are applying for. If you’ve worked five different jobs and they can all add value to your current application, then you should include all five. 

If, on the other hand, you’re applying for, say, a customer service position and some of your past jobs don’t have anything to do with customer service, you should skip them.

#7. Should I put my address on my resume? 

You can put your location (city, state, or country) on your resume, but you don’t need to put your entire physical address.

Putting a physical address on a resume was the norm back when companies would contact you via mail. In today’s world, everyone communicates via email, which is why adding a correct and professional email address to your contact information section is far more important than putting your physical address. 

So, just include your location or-–if you’re a remote worker—specify you prefer to work remotely by writing “working remotely from [location].”

#8. What information should I leave out of my resume?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t include your birthday or your headshot on your resume. This norm varies from country to country but it applies to the USA, Canada, and UK.

If you have plenty of achievements to list under your work experience, then you can leave your basic work responsibilities out of your resume. 

In your education section, you should only include your highest and most recent degree. So, if you hold a Ph.D., you can list that and your Master’s degree and leave your Bachelor’s degree and high school diploma out.

Finally, leave out any skills that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for.

#9. Is a resume a CV?

Depending on where you are, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume might be completely different things.

In most of the world, though, including Europe and Asia, they are used interchangeably for the same document. Both CVs and resumes are one to two pages long, and list skills and experiences relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Sometimes more detailed resumes that go over one page are referred to as CVs. These are typically only used by senior professionals, executives, CEOs, etc.

In the USA, however, a CV is a completely different document. Typically, CVs are detailed and comprehensive documents that highlight your entire academic and professional history. They’re often used for academic, scientific, or research positions, which is why this type of CV can also be referred to as an academic CV.

You can create your CV using one of our CV templates !

#10. Should I write my own resume?

Yes, you should always write your own resume.

Your resume is your opportunity to show the hiring manager your communication, writing, and presentation skills . Employers also evaluate you based on how effectively you can convey information about yourself, and there’s no one that can represent you better than yourself.

Writing your own resume lets you introduce yourself authentically. You have the best understanding of your skills and experiences, and you can personalize them to make your resume stand out.

And, as a bonus, the experience of writing your resume yourself can be reflective and insightful, so it might help you understand your professional journey and career goals better.

#11. Can a resume be two pages?

Generally, we strongly recommend that your resume stick to one page.

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes every day, and keeping your resume to one page increases the odds that they’ll see your qualifications faster.

In some cases, like when you have a lot of relevant experience, your resume can go over two pages. But this exception is reserved for senior professionals with over a decade of relevant experience and tons of skills and achievements that simply can’t fit on one page.

#12. Is a simple resume okay?

Absolutely, a simple resume is often more than okay—it's preferable.

Before your resume even gets to the hiring manager, a complicated layout could get it rejected by the applicant tracking system (ATS). A simple resume template can help get your application straight to the hiring manager.

A clean layout can also make sure that your resume is easily readable and looks professional. This can focus the hiring manager's attention on your work experience and skills without excessive clutter or flashy colors to distract them.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

If you’ve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! You’re probably an expert on how to make a resume.

To recap, let’s go through some of the most important lessons we’ve learned so far...

• Use the right resume builder to make the process as smooth as possible. You don’t want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
• Focus on your achievements over responsibilities. This can help you stand out from all the other applicants, especially if you back your claims up with data.
• Include all the must-have sections, like the resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. Then leverage optional sections if you have leftover space.
• Tailor your resume for the job you’re applying for. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for, and you should write a new resume for every new job application.
• Take the time to perfect your cover letter. It’s just as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!

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• Career Blog

70+ Resume Writing Tips & Tricks for 2024

As a job seeker, your resume is your marketing tool that showcases your skills, experience, and accomplishments to potential employers. A well-crafted resume can make a significant difference in landing your dream job. A poorly written resume may not even make it past the first round of screening.

The purpose of this article is to provide job seekers with tips and tricks to create an exceptional resume. This article covers everything from formatting to content and highlights mistakes to avoid. Whether you are starting from scratch or need to update your existing resume, this article will assist you in creating a dynamic and polished document.

In today’s digital age, most companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes. An ATS scans for relevant keywords and phrases to determine whether a candidate’s resume will move on to the next round in the hiring process. Understanding how an ATS works and how to optimize your resume for it is crucial. This article includes tips on how to make your resume ATS-friendly, ensuring your resume doesn’t get overlooked.

With over 70 tips and tricks, this article offers comprehensive guidance for those aiming to create a well-crafted and effective resume. Let’s dive in!

Preparing for a Resume

As you begin the process of creating a resume, there are several key steps you can take to ensure that your document stands out from the competition. These steps include assessing your skills and strengths, understanding the job requirements, gathering and organizing relevant information, and reviewing sample resumes.

A. Assessing skills and strengths

Before you begin crafting your resume, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your skills and strengths. Take some time to reflect on your career thus far, and identify the skills and experiences that set you apart from other candidates. Think about the tasks you enjoy most, and the ones where you excel. By identifying your unique strengths, you can more easily tailor your resume to highlight those specific areas that will make you a valuable asset to potential employers.

B. Understanding job requirements

To create a successful resume, you must first understand the specific requirements of the position you are applying for. Pay close attention to the job description, and make note of any key skills or qualifications that are emphasized. Take time to research the company, and get a feel for their culture and the work they do. By understanding the job requirements and company culture, you can more effectively tailor your resume to match the needs of the employer.

C. Gathering and organizing relevant information

Once you have a clear understanding of your skills and the job requirements, it’s time to gather and organize all the relevant information. This includes your past work experience, education, certifications, and any other relevant skills or accomplishments. Make sure to quantify your achievements as much as possible, using data and specific examples to demonstrate your value as an employee. Organize this information in a clear and concise manner, so that potential employers can easily identify your strengths.

D. Reviewing sample resumes

Finally, take some time to review sample resumes from other professionals in your field. Look for examples that stand out, and analyze what makes them effective. Pay attention to the formatting, layout, and language used in these resumes, and consider how you can adapt these techniques to your own document. By studying successful resumes from others, you can gain valuable insights into how to create a document that truly showcases your skills and experience.

Preparing a successful resume requires careful attention to your skills and strengths, a deep understanding of job requirements, a clear and concise organization of relevant information, and a review of sample resumes to identify best practices. By following these tips and tricks, you can create a resume that sets you apart and maximizes your chances for landing the job of your dreams.

Formatting and Design

As important as the content of a resume, is its presentation. A well-formatted resume can grab the recruiter’s attention and increase your chances of being shortlisted for an interview. This section will cover the various aspects to consider while formatting and designing your resume.

A. Choosing the right font size and type

The font size and type you choose can impact how your resume reads and is perceived. The recommendations are to use a font size of around 10-12 points and a preferred font type such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Ensure that the font type and size are consistent throughout the document.

B. Font formatting

Font formatting includes the use of bold, italics, and underlining to highlight important information. Use these features sparingly and consistently for maximum impact. Avoid using more than one formatting style in one sentence.

C. Margins and spacing

Margins and spacing can make a resume look cluttered or professional. Leave sufficient white space between the sections and have one-inch margins on all sides to avoid the resume from looking cramped.

D. Use of bullets and indentation

Bullets and indentation can make your resume more readable and organized. Use bullets to represent lists of skills, accomplishments, or job duties. Indentation can be used to clearly separate sections and make your resume look visually appealing.

E. Selecting appropriate colors and graphics

While it can be tempting to add colors or graphics to your resume, it is recommended to keep it simple and professional. Stick to black and white color schemes and use minimal images or graphics. Ensure that any graphics or images used are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

F. Avoiding common design mistakes

Some common design mistakes to avoid while designing/resuming your resume include using too many fonts, going overboard with colors or images, and including personal information that could lead to discrimination. Proofread your resume to make sure it is error-free, and ensure that the design aligns with your profession.

Presentation is critical when it comes to resumes. Paying careful attention to the formatting and design elements can help you stand out in a competitive job market. Follow these tips to make sure your resume is visually appealing and professional.

Essential Elements Of A Resume

Your resume is your marketing tool to help you get noticed by potential employers. It presents your professional background in a concise and clear way, highlighting your achievements and skills. It’s essential that you include certain elements in your resume to make sure that it showcases your strengths and convinces the reader that you’re the right candidate for the job.

A. Contact Information

Your contact information should be the first thing that an employer sees when they open your document. It’s crucial that you include your full name, address, phone number, and email address. Make sure that your email address is professional and avoid using a funny or inappropriate name. You want to create a positive and professional first impression.

B. Career Objective or Summary Statement

A career objective or summary statement is a brief paragraph at the top of your resume that summarizes your skills, experience, and career goals. It’s your chance to tell the employer why you’re the perfect candidate for the job. Keep it concise and make sure that it’s tailored to the specific job you’re applying for.

C. Work Experience

Your work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. For each position, include your job title, company name, dates of employment, and responsibilities. Be specific and use action verbs to describe your accomplishments. Quantify your achievements, where possible, to give the employer a sense of the impact you’ve had in your previous roles.

D. Education

Your education section should list your academic qualifications in reverse chronological order. Include your degree or qualification, institution, location, and dates of attendance. Mention any academic honors that you received, such as summa cum laude or Dean’s List.

Your skills section should highlight your relevant skills, both hard and soft. These can include technical skills, such as proficiency in a specific software or programming language, as well as soft skills like communication and leadership abilities. Be honest, but also make sure that you tailor your skills to the specific job you’re applying for.

F. Achievements and Awards

Your achievement and awards section is an opportunity to showcase your successes and accolades. Include any relevant professional achievements, such as exceeding sales targets or completing a large project ahead of schedule. You can also include any relevant awards or recognition that you’ve received, such as Employee of the Month or a professional certification.

Your resume is your personal marketing tool that showcases your skills and experience. To create an effective document, be sure to include the essential elements of contact information, career objective or summary statement, work experience, education, skills, and achievements and awards. Tailor your content to the specific job you’re applying for and focus on highlighting your strengths and accomplishments.

Writing Style Guidelines and Techniques

When it comes to writing a resume, there are certain writing style guidelines and techniques that can really make your application stand out. By implementing these writing tips, you can create a resume that will impress potential employers and help you get one step closer to your dream job.

A. Using Active Voice

One of the most important writing style guidelines is to use active voice. This will help make your resume more engaging and dynamic, and can help convey confidence and leadership skills. When using active voice, the subject of the sentence is performing the action, rather than the action being performed on the subject. For example, instead of writing “Responsibilities included managing a team,” write “Managed a team.”

B. Being Specific and Concise

It’s important to be specific and concise when writing your resume. Avoid using vague language that could be interpreted in a number of ways. Instead, use descriptive words and precise phrases that directly convey your skills and experiences. Keep in mind that employers often have limited time to review applicants and prefer resumes that are easy to read and understand.

C. Varying Sentence Structure

Using a variety of sentence structures can also help make your resume more engaging. Mix short and long sentences, use different types of punctuation, and vary your language to prevent your resume from becoming monotone. This will capture the attention of the reader and show that you have a strong and varied skill set.

D. Avoiding Jargon and Acronyms

Unless you are absolutely sure that the person reviewing your resume will understand the jargon or acronym, it’s best to avoid using them altogether. Instead, explain your accomplishments and experiences in plain language that anyone who is not familiar with your industry can easily understand. This will make your resume more accessible and you a more attractive candidate for different types of jobs.

E. Using Keywords and Action Verbs

In order to get past automated screening processes, it’s important to use keywords and action verbs that match the job description. Use power words and strong verbs that match the skills and qualities the employer is seeking. This will not only help you get noticed, but can also demonstrate that you have the skills necessary to excel in the position.

F. Using Quantifiable Data

Lastly, using quantifiable data can also help make your resume stand out to potential employers. Rather than simply listing your accomplishments, quantify them using numbers, percentages, and other measurable metrics. For instance, instead of writing “increased sales,” write “increased sales by 20%.” This will help demonstrate the impact of your work and make you a more attractive candidate.

By following these writing style guidelines and techniques, you can create a standout resume that is sure to get noticed. Keep in mind that a well-crafted resume may help you land an interview, so invest the time and effort necessary to make yours the best it can be.

Special Situations and Considerations

As an experienced copywriter and subject matter expert, it’s important to understand how to craft a great resume for specific situations and audiences. In this section, we’ll cover five special situations and considerations you’ll want to keep in mind when creating a standout resume.

A. Resume for Recent Graduates

If you’re a recent graduate, your resume might seem a little sparse compared to those with more experience. But fear not, there are plenty of ways to make your resume shine. Instead of focusing on work experience, highlight relevant coursework, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities. Include any internships or volunteer work you’ve completed as well, as they can speak to your skills and work ethic.

B. Resume for Career Changers

Crafting a compelling resume when transitioning to a new field can be tricky, but it’s certainly not impossible. Start by highlighting the transferable skills from your previous career that are relevant to your new career. Be sure to focus on any relevant training or education you’ve received as well. You can also use a functional resume format rather than a chronological one, which emphasizes skills and achievements over work experience.

C. Resume for Freelancers and Gig Workers

For freelancers and gig workers, traditional resumes can be less applicable. Instead, consider creating a portfolio that showcases your work and achievements, along with any relevant certifications or training. You can also highlight your soft skills, such as communication and time management, which are especially valuable in these roles.

D. Military to Civilian Transition

Transitioning from military service to civilian life can be challenging, but a thoughtfully crafted resume can help ease the process. Be sure to highlight your military experience in a way that emphasizes transferable skills, such as leadership and problem-solving. If relevant, include any training or certifications you earned while in service.

E. Addressing Employment Gaps

Employment gaps can be a red flag for some employers, but there are ways to address them effectively. Be honest about why there is a gap in employment, and consider using a functional resume format that emphasizes skills over work experience. You can also highlight any volunteer work or other activities you participated in during the gap, as they can speak to your work ethic and commitment.

No matter what your situation, a well-crafted resume can be a powerful tool for landing your dream job. By keeping these special situations and considerations in mind, you’ll be well on your way to a standout application.

Editing and Proofreading

As crucial as it is to have a well-crafted resume, it is equally important to edit and proofread the document. A resume that contains errors, be it grammatical or typographical, can leave a bad impression on the employer and might lead to rejection. In this section, we shall discuss some common errors to avoid, tips for effective editing, and tools for proofreading.

A. Common errors to avoid

When it comes to resume writing, some common errors can easily slip through unnoticed. To present yourself as a professional and competent candidate, you need to steer clear of these mistakes. Some common errors to avoid are:

• Spelling and grammatical errors: Typos, punctuation errors, and grammatical mistakes can make you appear careless and unprofessional.
• Using jargon and buzzwords: The use of jargon and buzzwords can make it hard for recruiters to understand your resume.
• Lengthy bullet points: Lengthy bullet points can be overwhelming and difficult to read.
• Irrelevant information: Including irrelevant information in your resume can create confusion and distract the reader from your strengths and qualifications.

B. Tips for effective editing

Editing is all about paying attention to the details of the content you have written. You need to review your resume for clarity, conciseness, and accuracy. Here are some tips for effective editing:

• Read your resume aloud: Reading your resume aloud can help you pinpoint awkward phrasing, missing information, or any errors that may have gone unnoticed.
• Use active voice: Using active voice can make your resume more engaging and dynamic.
• Stick to the format: Consistency in the format of your bullet points, headings, and fonts can create a cohesive and professional look.
• Take breaks: Editing can be a tedious task, so it’s a good idea to take frequent breaks to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

C. Tools for proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage of polishing your resume. Though it’s always a good idea to ask a friend or family member to proofread your document, you can use the following tools to detect errors.

• Grammarly: Grammarly is a useful tool that can detect and highlight grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, and spelling errors.
• Hemingway Editor: Hemingway Editor can help you improve the readability and clarity of your resume.
• Google Docs: Google Docs has built-in proofreading tools that can suggest edits and detect errors.

Editing and proofreading are vital parts of resume writing. By avoiding common errors, using editing tips, and utilizing proofreading tools, you can ensure that your resume is polished and professional.

Online Profiles and Social Media Presence

As technology continues to evolve, employers are increasingly turning to online platforms to screen candidates for job opportunities. Therefore, it is crucial to make a good impression online in addition to crafting an impressive offline resume.

A. Social media as a job search tool

Social media can be a powerful tool for job seekers when used correctly. Employers often use social media platforms to hunt for potential employees or to vet applicants, so it’s essential to keep your profiles professional and up to date.

Start by updating your profile picture to a professional headshot and ensuring that your usernames are appropriate and easy to remember. Also, take the time to review your previous posts and delete any that may be considered controversial or inappropriate.

Additionally, LinkedIn is a particularly valuable resource for job seekers. Ensure that your profile is up to date and includes a professional headline and a detailed summary of your skills, experience, and achievements. Use keywords relevant to your industry and customize your URL to make it easier to find.

B. Enhancing online profiles

Your online presence should complement your resume, not overshadow it. Ensure that your profiles are consistent in terms of message, format, and tone. Be concise and clear about your skills and accomplishments to catch potential employers’ attention.

Furthermore, consider adding a personal touch to your online presence by sharing your thoughts on industry trends or participating in online discussions related to your field. This can demonstrate your expertise and dedication to your profession.

C. Ensuring consistency between online and offline resumes

Consistency is key when it comes to job applications. Ensure that your online profile matches the information on your offline resume, including job titles, dates of employment, and qualifications.

Inconsistencies between your online and offline resumes may raise concerns among potential employers and cause them to reject your application.

Finally, ensure that your employment history is current and accurately reflects your experience. Review your profiles regularly and update them when necessary to portray yourself in the best possible light.

Making the most of your online presence can enhance your job search efforts by making you more visible and recognizable to potential employers. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of securing the job you want.

Cover Letters

Cover letters are a crucial aspect of any job application process. They serve as an opportunity to introduce yourself and highlight your qualifications to the hiring manager. In this section, we will cover the purpose and structure of a cover letter, how to format it, and the essential components it should contain. Additionally, we will discuss how to tailor a cover letter to a specific job opening.

A. Purpose and Structure of a Cover Letter

The primary purpose of a cover letter is to complement your resume and provide additional insight into your skills and experience. It should be a concise document that showcases your qualifications and explains why you are the ideal candidate for the job. A cover letter should be structured in several paragraphs, each with a specific focus that builds on the previous one.

B. How to Format a Cover Letter

When formatting a cover letter, you should ensure that it is professional and easy to read. A standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial, size 12-point, is ideal. Single spacing should be used between lines, while double spacing should be used between paragraphs. The document should be left-justified and have a 1-inch margin all around.

C. Essential Components of a Cover Letter

A cover letter should be composed of the following essential components:

Header: The header should include your contact information, including your name, address, phone number, and email address.

Salutation: Address the letter to the person responsible for the hiring process at the company. If you are unsure who this is, address it to the hiring manager or the department head.

Introduction: Begin the letter by introducing yourself, the position you are applying for, and where you found the job posting.

Body: In this section, emphasize your qualifications and relevant experience. Draw attention to the aspects of your resume that relate to the job opening and explain how you can contribute to the company.

Call-to-action: Close the letter with a call-to-action. Ask for an interview, and explain why you are the best fit for the job.

Closing: Thank the employer for their time and consideration, and include a sign-off such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards.”

D. Tailoring a Cover Letter to a Specific Job Opening

To tailor a cover letter to a specific job opening, begin by researching the company and the job. Review the job description and note the qualifications and requirements listed. Use this information to craft a cover letter that speaks to the needs of the employer. Focus on how your skills and experience align with the requirements of the job, and provide specific examples of your accomplishments. By customizing your cover letter, you demonstrate that you have taken the time to understand the company and the position, making you a more desirable candidate.

A well-written cover letter can be the key to securing an interview and landing your dream job.

Submitting and Following Up

When submitting your resume, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Here are some tips to help you get your resume noticed:

A. File format and size considerations

Most employers will specify the file format and size they prefer for resumes. Typically, PDF or Microsoft Word formats are accepted. Keep in mind that some companies may have software that automatically scans resumes for keywords, so make sure your file can be read by these systems.

In terms of file size, aim for a maximum of 1-2 MB. Large files can take longer to download and may be rejected by employers’ email systems.

B. Email etiquette

When emailing your resume, make sure the subject line is clear and specific. Include your name and the position you are applying for. Keep your email concise and professional. Avoid using emoticons or slang.

Make sure to proofread your email and attachment carefully. Check for typos, grammatical errors, and formatting issues.

C. Following up after submitting a resume

After submitting your resume, it’s important to follow up with the employer. This shows that you are interested in the position and are taking initiative.

Wait a week or two before following up. Send a polite email asking for an update on the status of your application. If you don’t hear back after a second follow-up email, it’s best to assume that you were not selected for the position.

D. Handling a request for references

If an employer requests references, make sure to provide them promptly. Choose references who can speak to your work ethic, skills, and qualifications. Contact your references ahead of time and let them know you are applying for jobs and may be using them as a reference.

After you provide your references, follow up with the employer to confirm they received them. If you are not selected for the position, ask your references if they received a call and if they have any feedback to share.

E. Rejection and feedback

Not every job application will result in an offer. If you are not selected for a position, it’s important to handle the rejection professionally and learn from the experience.

Don’t take the rejection personally. Use it as an opportunity to reflect on your strengths and areas for improvement. If the employer provides feedback, take it into consideration and make changes to your resume or job search strategy as needed.

Remember that job searching can be a lengthy process. Stay positive, stay focused, and keep working towards your goals. With persistence and hard work, you will find the right opportunity.

Examples of Good and Bad Resumes

A. analysis of a strong resume.

A strong resume is one that effectively markets the candidate’s skills and experience to appeal to the hiring manager. This type of resume uses appropriate language, targets the specific job requirements, and highlights relevant achievements. The following is an analysis of a strong resume:

Header : The header includes the candidate’s name, professional title, and contact information. The title must be relevant to the job being applied for.

Summary : This section is a brief overview of the candidate’s experience, skills, and accomplishments. It must be tailored to the specific job description and include keywords that the hiring manager will be looking for.

Skills : This section lists the candidate’s core competencies that match the job description. It can include both hard and soft skills.

Experience : The experience section lists the candidate’s work history in reverse chronological order. Each job must include the job title, company, dates of employment, and relevant duties.

Education : This section lists the candidate’s degree(s), institution(s), and graduation date(s).

Achievements : This section highlights the candidate’s relevant achievements, awards, or recognitions.

B. Common Mistakes to Avoid

To ensure a resume stands out, it is essential to avoid common mistakes that can turn off the hiring manager. The following is a list of mistakes to avoid:

• Spelling and grammar errors: Candidates must proofread their resumes for errors.
• Including irrelevant information: Candidates should only include information that is relevant to the job being applied for.
• Using generic language: Candidates should tailor the resume language to the specific job description.
• Lack of focus: Candidates must be clear on their career goals and ensure that the resume reflects that.
• Overly designed resumes: Candidates should avoid using too many colors or graphics that distract from the content.

By avoiding these common mistakes, candidates can increase their chances of impressing the hiring manager and landing an interview.

A well-crafted resume must be compelling, concise, and relevant. A targeted resume that effectively markets the candidate’s skills and achievements will get the attention of hiring managers and increase the chances of getting hired.

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50+ Resume Building Tips (Tricks and Writing Advice)

Writing a resume that helps you get noticed is very important as you embark on your next search for a dream job. In 2022, your resume needs to be easy to review quickly, concise with the most important highlights related to the job you’re pursuing, keyword-friendly for the AI resume bots that may be reviewing it first, and more.

When deciding to update your resume for a new job search in 2022, don’t feel like you must do a complete overhaul when considering the below-mentioned resume -building tips. In most cases, you’ll edit it to reduce the fluff and highlight the things that matter the most . Your number one goal is to get an interview for the particular job you’re applying for; it’s not telling your life story. Many job seekers believe that every little experience they’ve had or project they’ve completed has to be on their resume , and that’s not the case, as you’ll see below.

We advise you to print out your current resume  and the job posting you’re most interested in and have a red pen available as you walk through these tips and tricks for writing a great resume in 2022.

Best Resume Building Tips

Reduce Your Resume to One Page

Decide whether or not to include your mailing address, utilize a straightforward and easy scan format, maximize the use of format spacing, margins, all-caps, and bolded font for readability, remove the fluff by sifting through dated and unnecessary buzzwords, show off your hard and soft skills, scrub your personal info and social media accounts, do not match your resume to your linkedin profile.

When considering these resume -building tips, the first thing to do is reduce it to one page . A single-page resume is a widely held preference for most recruiters and HR leaders. Back in the day, we used to think of a long resume as proof of professionalism, and that’s no longer true. You can still include all the bright moments of your career and many of the different jobs you progressed through. Just try not to elaborate too much, and remember to be concise. If you’re stretching to get your resume to one page, adjust your font to a minimum of 11 for the body, and a max of 14 font sizes for your name.

Below are quick resume writing tips that you should use to highlight relevant skills, your educational background with academic honors , and your work history to reduce a good resume to one page.

• Only include relevant experiences to the job you are applying to
• Cut repetitive bullets for different jobs
• Leave out “references available upon request,” as employers will ask you when they want them
• Make your name smaller, with max 14 font size
• Get rid of your objective and skills section, especially if it’s taking up significant real estate
• Leave out volunteer work if it takes you to two pages unless it’s very relevant to the job to which you’re applying
• Leave out your high school unless you are in college looking for an internship or summer job
• Put information about each position on one line
• Format relevant leadership experience under work experience
• Adjust your spacing but make sure everything is easy to scan
• Put your contact information (city, professional email address, phone) on one line
• Use a smaller font, minimum 11 font-size though
• Don’t feel pressure to put three bullets but make sure they get your points across
• Use bullet points with relevant information that makes you stand out
• Only mention self-explanatory awards that are relevant
• Leave off irrelevant experience
• Submit it as a PDF unless otherwise specified
• Save your resume as “Your Full Name Resume ” and not something like “First Initial Last Name Resume Update 2022 March – The Newest”

Should you put your full address on your resume? Yes, you should add some form of location identifier , but it doesn’t necessarily need to be your complete address. There are different opinions about adding a street address to your resume . Some people find it necessary to have your prospective employer aware of your exact location, while others disagree. The consensus seems to point towards adding some form of location identifiers, such as adding just your city or state, your metropolitan area, or that you work remotely.

Reasons to put your full address on your resume include some employers expect it. It makes your resume ATS (Applicant Tracking System) friendly, makes the hiring process shorter, matches time zone compatibility for remote positions, and puts you in consideration for other jobs.

The reasons against putting your full address on your resume include personal security issues, the risk of employer location bias, unintentional disqualification if an employer sets up a location boundary, an outdated look, and space used.

Your career timeline isn’t as important as what you learned along the way. When updating your resume , even on an entry-level resume , state the milestones of your professional journey chronologically , and explain how they added to your skillset.

Generally speaking, there are four types of resume formats. Recruiters spend only a few seconds on every resume that lands on their desk. It would help if you crafted yours so that the most vital pieces of information are front and center. The good idea is to choose the proper format for your resume to do this. In some cases, resume templates can help get you started.

• Chronological
• Combination

Browse effective resume formats online for inspiration and choose a clearer  and more concise outline than your outdated resume . The aesthetics should first please you, but it should also be straightforward to read without exuberance. Choose a theme that’ll fit the image of your industry and a potential employer.

Below are a few resume formatting tips that may help you stand out and improve your current version.

• Set half-inch margins on the top and bottom and .7-inch margins on the sides
• Pick an 11 or 12-point resume font and stick to it
• Utilize times new roman font for the cleanest, least dramatic look
• Create a proper resume header format for your contact details with your name in a larger font than your address and phone number
• Divide your resume into distinct sections, for example, contact information, work experience, and education (add skills, awards, and summary if room otherwise remove)
• Use  relevant bullet points with action verbs  to talk about your experience
• Be consistent with your resume formatting and stick to the same date format, for example, 1–2023, or January 2023
• Use single spacing for bullets but add white space as necessary for readability
• Add an extra space before and after each section heading
• Don’t use photos on your resume unless the job description specifically asks for them
• Make sure the company, job title, and dates are in all caps, highlighted, or bolded so they stand out and are easy to scan

An average human nowadays has an attention span of a little less than a Goldfish. The short attention span suggests that a three-page resume would seem overwhelmingly long. A busy employer will quickly move on to a briefer document and may miss out on your excellent qualifications.

Let’s remove the following fluff or dated items from your resume .

• An objective or skills section at the top of your resume
• Weird or potentially polarizing interests
• Third-person voice
• An email address from your current employer or an outdated one from Yahoo or Hotmail
• Unnecessarily big words
• Tiny, unimportant jobs from 20 years ago

As you know, resume space is vital, and utilizing unnecessary words and verbose language can backfire. Here are more terms to never include on a resume .

• Team player
• Hardworking or hard worker
• Microsoft Office
• Reference available upon request
• I, she, he, him, her
• Can’t or won’t
• Unnecessary personal information
• I know HTML, photoshop
• Generalizations
• Accomplished
• Stay-at-home Mom
• Responsible for
• Results-oriented

Another great resume writing tip is to describe your current and previous work to frame your best traits. If you’re an expert in your field, write that before anything else. Leadership, conflict resolution, successful negotiation, and effective communication are among the most needed soft skills in the 2020s. Don’t just say that you have these skills, give examples that shed light on your best traits . If you missed it, check out our post on soft skills employers seek in the residential construction industry. Are you learning a new skill while searching for a new job ? Make sure to add it when building your resume .

Believe it or not, there was a time when marital status and the number of kids you had needed to appear on a resume . Familial status is no longer the case; recruiters generally avoid asking about these details. That said, go light on personal information in this uber-professional document, including non-relevant hobbies, and only present relevant social media handles. Lastly, this is an excellent time to remind you to scrub your social media channels that might have the information you don’t want to share with a potential employer.

• Make your accounts private if necessary
• Hide or delete any inappropriate posts
• Deactivate all old or unused accounts
• Add more appropriate photos
• Add a professional bio to your accounts if necessary
• Edit your handles and URLs
• Post-industry-related news, quotes, or articles

Tailor Your Credentials with Pertinent Keywords, the Job Requirements, and the Industry

Lastly, as you consider these resume writing tips, do your best to tailor your credentials to the job requirements to show you’re a good fit. We recommend updating your resume for each job, if different, and focusing  on keywords and notable topics in your industry .

Like the points above, keywords are words or short phrases related to specific job requirements. They are the skills, abilities, credentials, and qualities a prospective hiring manager might look for in a candidate. When a hiring manager looks through a pile of resumes, they scan each resume to find these keywords. Many companies even use automated applicant tracking systems (ATS), or talent management systems, to screen candidates for job openings. An ATS works by eliminating resumes that are missing specific keywords. If the software or the hiring manager does not detect any of the keywords in your resume or cover letter , your application might get thrown out.

Embedding keywords in your resume or cover letter is a great way to demonstrate, at a glance, that you fit the position’s requirements. That said, it’s essential, when updating your resume , that you have many of the crucial keywords specific to your background and the job you are applying to in your resume . We advise referencing the job description for many of the most relevant keywords.

You do not want to make your resume and LinkedIn profile the same. While your job history, dates, and education should match, LinkedIn should be more informal . Hiring managers will go to your LinkedIn profile to learn more about you, which is generally evident in your writing style. There are significant differences between resumes that get you hired and your LinkedIn profile, and it’s important to distinguish the two.

That said, don’t mistake an informal voice for being unprofessional. There are creative ways to make your LinkedIn profile professional and relaxed. Further, recruiters want to see different information, and it could signal to a recruiter that you’re lazy, not creative, or don’t understand what LinkedIn is used for. Generally, an executive resume should talk about business details, while LinkedIn should be more conversational about how you accomplished certain things.

There’s a fine line between crafting the perfect executive resume and writing a solid LinkedIn profile. Many executives use executive resume services to help distinguish the two.

Additional Resume Writing and Interview Tips for 2022

At Matchbuilt, in addition to helping you build a resume , we pride ourselves on supporting our candidates during the interview process. We’re jam-packed with tips regarding evidence-based recruiting practices, how to answer difficult interview questions such as “Why should we hire you?”, preparing for a Skype or Zoom interview , and tips for your LinkedIn profile —getting ready to resign from your current position? Try to leave without burning bridges .

About Mark Matyanowski

As the founder of MatchBuilt, with over 18 years of recruiting and coaching experience and 8+ years in executive roles at a leading Fortune 100 company, I am deeply committed to guiding professionals in their career paths.

Our team at MatchBuilt offers expert support in enhancing resumes, optimizing LinkedIn profiles, and preparing for interviews. Our blog, drawing on our rich experience and industry insights, is a valuable resource for job seekers.

We take pride in successfully guiding job candidates to top-tier company roles while empowering individuals to achieve their career ambitions, irrespective of their background or educational level.

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How to write a good resume.

Your resume must clearly, concisely and strategically present your qualifications to get a recruiter interested in meeting you. It should convey your skills, work experience and assets. The resume is used to describe what you can accomplish professionally in a manner that also illustrates what you can do for an employer. Job opportunities can arise unexpectedly. An updated modern resume is the key to a successful job search. Here are some do's and don'ts of how to write a good resume and what to include.

Resume Writing Do's

An employer takes an average of 30 seconds to skim a resume. You want them to see right away that you are qualified for the position.

Be sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Have someone else read it over as well. A simple spelling mistake on a resume can give a negative impression to the employer. It can even prevent you from getting the job.

Place the emphasis of your resume on your most recent experience. Older jobs and experience that are more than 15 years old should either be cut out or minimized. This way, the employer can focus on more relevant information.

Specify work experience or achievements that are related to the position you are applying to. This can be done by reviewing the job description or the employer website.

You want to be able to identify the best examples of where you demonstrated your skills. These examples should speak to what you achieved in your role, and should demonstrate what kind of employee you are. It is best to include this information in the "Work experience" section of the resume.

Lying on your resume is never a good idea. You don't want to overstate your skills or results as it will mislead the employer. Have confidence in what you have to offer.

Use firm numbers that the employer will understand and be impressed by. For example, how many people you supervised, how many products you sold, by what percentage you increased sales, etc.

The person reading your resume might not always be the employer. Resumes can be reviewed by recruiters or Human Resources specialists who may not be familiar with your specific field. Use simple and plain language, but also persuasive verbs such as handled, managed, led, developed, increased, accomplished, leveraged, etc.

If you have volunteered with a well-known organization or worked for an important cause, put it in your resume. You should include these experiences under the "Work experience" or the "Volunteer work" section, especially if they are related to the position you are applying for.

Your resume should list your name, address, email and phone number. This information should be placed at the top of the first page. Also, make sure this information is accurate. Otherwise, the employer won't be able to contact you.

Resume Writing Don'ts

Make sure your email is easy to read, easy to type, professional and non offensive. In general, your email address should be based on your name. Exclude any nicknames, numbers, or special characters.

It is best to leave out any personal details such as age, weight, height, marital status, religious preference, political views, or any other personal attributes that could be controversial. This will prevent any potential bias. Most importantly, never include your Social Insurance Number in your resume.

Although in some countries it may be acceptable to include a photo, it is not the norm in Canada. It can actually lower your chances of obtaining a position and divert the whole focus of your resume. You want the employer to focus on your skills and experience, not what you look like.

Make your resume easy to read by limiting each resume section or sub section to 5-7 bullet points. This will make it easier for the employer to scan your resume and identify your potential. Each bullet point should be used wisely by keeping the information relevant and concise.

Do not use "I," "my," or "me". Write your resume in the third person, as if it's being written by someone else.

Your job duties will be obvious from your job title. Instead, highlight your achievements by putting a personal spin on your job duties and providing specific examples.

Steer clear from vague statements that don't highlight your actual contribution. Unclear statements such as, "Responsible for improving efficiencies and making cost savings", does not provide any information to an employer. Personalize your experience!

The main purpose of your resume is to promote you, your skills, experience and achievements. It should be entirely positive, and therefore should not include reasons for leaving as it does not add any value to you as a candidate.

An employer only requires references if they are seriously considering hiring you. Keep references on a separate sheet and provide them only when they are specifically requested.

It is not recommended to mention hobbies because of the judgments potential employers can make. However, if your hobbies relate to the position, you may include them as they can demonstrate to the employer why you are a good fit.

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How to Add an Expected Graduation to Your Resume + Examples

9 min read · Updated on August 13, 2024

Yes, you should include your expected graduation date on your resume.

You've been working hard for the past few years to make the grades and graduate from college. Now, that imminent graduation date is approaching, and you're excited about what lies ahead while also being a bit nervous about landing a job and starting life in the “real world.”  

It's okay. Some nerves are to be expected as you begin your job search journey. Fortunately, you have plenty of resources at your fingertips to support you in that journey, like this post.  

One of the first steps any college graduate has to take to land a job, similar to job candidates at any level, is to craft a well-written resume to garner the attention of prospective employers. As a soon-to-be college graduate, one common consideration as you embark on this task is whether you should include your expected graduation on your resume. 

In this post, we cover:

When to include an expected graduation date for college on your resume

When you shouldn't include an expected graduation on your resume

How to include an expected graduation on your resume

Tips on writing your education section

Expected graduation date resume examples

Pro tip: As you continue your college courses, bear in mind that you want to begin applying for jobs before you graduate. It's best to begin searching for jobs at least a semester prior to your graduation. It's common for employers to present job offers to college students before they graduate.  

Should you include an expected graduation date for college on your resume?

In short, yes, if you're on the traditional college path and know what your graduation date is expected to be, you should include that expected graduation date on your resume. Sharing your expected graduation date helps potential employers understand your current academic status and when you will be available for full-time work. It also presents them with information that helps define your level of experience – i.e., that you should be considered an entry-level candidate with little to no work experience for open positions.

But what if you're not on the traditional college path or going straight through college? Let's take a deeper dive into this question based on different scenarios that might define your situation.

Should I include an expected graduation on my resume if I'm far from graduating?

Suppose you still have a ways to go before you graduate or have just started a program. In that case, it can still be beneficial to include an expected graduation on your resume. This is especially true if you're applying for internships or co-ops during college. 

However, if your graduation date is more than a couple of years away, another option to consider using is “Anticipated Graduation Date” vs. “Expected Graduation Date,” since a lot of things can happen over a four-year period that could impact your graduation date.

Should I include an expected graduation on my resume if I'm taking a break from college?

It's not uncommon for students to take a break from college for various reasons today. You might be taking a semester off to clarify your goals or to gain experience through travel or work. Regardless, if you're still on the course to finish college, you should include your expected graduation date on your resume. To reiterate, this information is relevant to prospective employers when you're applying for jobs that commence after you complete your college degree. 

What information should I include if I'm not completing or didn't complete my degree?

If you didn't complete your studies to graduate or you know you're not going to complete your degree, then you won't have an expected graduation date to include. If you did include an expected graduation date under these circumstances, it would lack integrity, which is no way to start your job search journey. Instead, you will include the dates you attended following the degree you were pursuing, with the relevant coursework you completed. We include an example of how to do this near the end of this post.  

When should you not include expected graduation on your resume?

There are several reasons why including an expected graduation date on your resume is a smart idea. There are also a couple of reasons why you don't need to or shouldn't include it.

It's not relevant to the job you're applying to. It might be that you're applying for a job that doesn't require a college degree, or it's a part-time job that isn't related to your degree. In those cases, you don't need to include your expected graduation on your resume. 

You're not yet in college. If you haven't started college courses yet, don't include anything related to a college degree on your resume, even if you know for certain that you're going to college. Only include your college degree once you're in college, and at that time, include your expected or anticipated graduation date.

How to include an expected graduation date on your resume

When including an expected graduation on your resume:

Place it in the Education section next to the degree you're pursuing.

Include only your expected graduation date. Leave off the start date.

Use one of the standard formatting options and the mm/yyyy style for your date. 

In terms of what belongs in your education section, here are the required pieces of information if you have recently received or are pursuing a college degree:

Name of the degree

Issuing institution

Expected graduation date if still in college

If you recently graduated, you can include your graduation date, as well, though it's not required.

Here are the optional pieces of information you can include if you're a student or recent college graduate:

Grade point average (GPA) if you achieved a 3.5 or higher

Academic awards, like Dean's List or Latin honors, which include cum laude , magna cume laude , and summa cum laude  

Scholarships

Relevant coursework

Academic projects

Certifications achieved through academic coursework

As you advance in your career after landing your first job, it's good to know that people who graduated from college more than two years ago or have at least a couple of years of work experience under their belts should leave items like GPA, Dean's list, and scholarships off their resume. Employers are most interested in the degree obtained. 

Based on personal circumstances, it can still be beneficial to include academic-related information, like Latin honors, relevant coursework, projects, and certifications, as an experienced hire. 

When in doubt, you can always hire a professional resume writer to guide you.  

Tips for adding education and graduation information to your resume

Below are some tips to consider as you craft your resume's Education section.

Emphasize your education in lieu of experience

If you're a student or soon-to-be college graduate with little relevant work experience to include on your resume, you'll list your education above your work experience. If you happen to have a sufficient amount of relevant experiences, like internships, co-ops, work-study, or leadership roles in extracurricular activities, then you'll include your Work Experience section before your Education section. In either case, the name of your degree should always be listed first, with any additional details you choose to include coming after.

Include relevant coursework

If you've completed coursework relevant to the job you're applying for but haven't yet graduated, including such information on your resume can sometimes give you an edge over other candidates. List these courses under a subheading like "Relevant Coursework" within your Education section to highlight your specialized knowledge.

When writing an expected graduation date, it's important to keep it concise and clear. For instance, instead of writing "Expected to graduate in the spring semester of 2023," use any of the following formatting options following your degree:

Expected Graduation: May 2023

(expected May 2023)

(expected graduation May 2023)

Expected: May 2023

Expected 5/2023

Any of these options provide the necessary information in a more digestible format and don't take up as much space on your resume. Use the formatting that looks the best on your resume as a whole. In most instances, shorter is better.  

Use reverse-chronological formatting

The most used formatting option for resumes is the reverse-chronological format . If you have more than one degree, include your most recent degree first and work backward. The same goes for your Work Experience section – begin with your most recent experience first.

Use consistent formatting

Be consistent with the formatting you use throughout your resume. In other words, the date format you use in the Education section should be the same as what you use in your Work Experience section. The same goes for the type of font and bullet points you might use. 

Always remember that honesty is crucial when listing your GPA or expected graduation date. Misrepresenting this information could lead to complications down the line if an employer finds out that you won't be graduating when initially stated or have a lower GPA. 

Only include your GPA if it's 3.5 or higher. If there are uncertainties about your graduation timeline due to factors like double majors or part-time status, consider using "Anticipated Graduation Date" instead of “Expected Graduation Date.”

Now, let's take a look at some examples of how the above guidance all comes together on a resume. 

1. Expected graduation date example

Bachelor of Business Administration | ABC UniversityExpected Graduation: May 2024

2. Expected graduation date example with GPA

Bachelor of Science in Psychology (expected May 2024)WXY UniversityGPA 3.6

3. Expected graduation date example with honors

Bachelor of Science in Political Science (expected August 2025)XYZ UniversityDean's List, 4 semesters

4. Expected graduation date example with GPA and coursework

Bachelor of Arts — Clinical Psychology | Expected December 2024ABC University

COURSES: Abnormal Psychology, Psychology Theories and Techniques, Trauma-informed Approaches to Treatment, Childhood Development, Basic Pharmacology 

5. Expected graduation date example with multiple and advanced degrees

Master of Education - Counseling (expected May 2025)BBB CollegeBachelor of Art - Psychology ( cum laude ), 2023University of AAA

6. Example with incomplete degree and relevant coursework

Bachelors in MarketingXYZ UniversitySept. 2020 to Dec. 2022

Relevant courses: Introduction to Marketing Communications, Business Statistics, Marketing Analytics, Internet Marketing, Advanced Marketing Techniques 

Expected graduation on a resume is expected

Including expected graduation on a resume is necessary if you want to give prospective employers a clear idea as to your availability for work. Use the information provided here to guide you in incorporating your expected graduation on your resume, and best of luck with your job search!

Are you still wondering the best way to include expected graduation on your resume? Why not submit your resume for a free resume review and let our experts help you decide?

Recommended reading:

How to Include a Minor on Your Resume

How to Check if My Resume Is ATS-Friendly for Free

Hard Skills Explained (and the Top 8 for Your Resume)

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

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• Resume Tips

7 Excel Skills That Elevate Your Resume

Did you know that a lot of employers are looking for job seekers who know how to use Excel? In fact, they specify Excel rather than simply saying that they want someone who knows how to use MS Office. This is because understanding how to use Excel takes more skills than learning how to use Word. There’s dedication and time that has to be spent on mastering the program and all it can do. 

Want some good news?! Of course, you do!

You don’t have to have advanced Excel skills on your resume to land a job that requires proficiency in Excel. Possessing any level of Excel skills can be a game-changer when it comes to standing out from the crowd – it all depends on how you write the information on your resume. 

So, let’s take a look at 7 Excel skills on your resume that will elevate your candidacy and explore how to write about what you know how to do in a way that will land you some interviews.

Describing Excel skills on your resume

Since your resume is the first chance you get to make a lasting impression on hiring managers, the importance of showcasing the skills they want can’t be understated. Not only that, but your resume has to get through the company’s applicant tracking system, or ATS . This makes outlining the right skills in your resume doubly important. 

Just because the job description uses something like “proficiency in Excel required” doesn’t mean that’s all you should say on your resume. You have to be strategic with the language you choose. Pick wording that proves you are proficient with Excel. 

Be specific: Describe tasks and functions from your career history that point to your abilities in using the program. Are you good at using formulas? Can you analyze data using pivot tables? Can you make charts and graphs?

Use action verbs: This means you can’t just say, “Responsible for compiling data into an Excel sheet.” Rather, you should use a power verb at the beginning of your sentence that says what you actually did. Example: “Analyzed Excel data to make forecasts about customer buying behaviors.”

Add numbers to your text: In the spirit of proving your skills, you should add numbers every chance you get. It doesn’t matter whether you talk about the size of the datasets you’ve handled or the number of reports you generated; there’s almost always a way to quantify your Excel talents. 

The 7 Excel skills that elevate your resume

When you effectively portray your Excel skills on your resume, you demonstrate that you have what it takes to organize information, analyze data, make informed decisions, and improve productivity. So, what are the seven Excel skills that you need to know about to ensure you make the cut?

You may notice that some of the seven skills we’re about to cover really have nothing to do with the functionality of Excel itself. For example, continuous learning and adaptability are soft skills that highlight your capacity for advancing your abilities and overcoming challenges, which, as you learn more and more about using Excel, you’ll find are incredibly crucial. 

1. Basic Excel skills on your resume

The expert at anything was once a beginner. Remember that as you start to describe your basic Excel skills. Just because you can’t use VLOOKUP and pivot tables – yet – what you have to offer is still of value to employers. Companies seeking to fill sales, marketing, project management, human resources, research, and data entry positions rely on candidates with basic Excel skills.

Basic Excel skills examples:

Data entry and formatting

Basic formulas (SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, and IF statements)

Cell formatting

Sorting and filtering

These basic Excel skills allow you to handle data and perform calculations that can inform decisions. Of course, you’ll want to tailor the language you use on your resume to demonstrate these skills based on what the job description says, but here are some example bullets you can use:

Crafted and formatted spreadsheets, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and integrity of database containing over 500 customer records.

Sorted and filtered data to identify trends related to customer conversions and sales.

Generated charts and graphs to visualize and communicate inventory information to senior leaders, reducing stockouts by 15%.

2. Advanced Excel skills on your resume

Today’s workforce is a data-driven environment that relies on people who can manage and manipulate complex datasets. When you possess advanced Excel skills, you gain a competitive edge that opens a world of opportunities. 

Advanced Excel skills examples:

Advanced functions (INDEX-MATCH, VLOOKUP, AND SUMIF statements)

Pivot tables, scenario analysis, and regression analysis

Macros and automation

You can demonstrate the unique value you bring to a job by leveraging your advanced Excel skills through quantified bullets on your resume. Here are some examples:

Created complex financial model in Excel to analyze investment opportunities, increasing ROI by 20%.

Used pivot tables to identify cost-saving opportunities, reducing operational expenses by 10%.

Streamlined monthly reporting processes by automating data extraction, saving 3 hours per day in manual report generation time.

3. Analytical thinking and problem-solving Excel skills on your resume

One of the major benefits of using Excel at work is the ability to analyze data and solve problems with the information contained in the spreadsheet. By manipulating and interpreting the data correctly, you can help company leaders solve the most complex problems no matter what industry you’re in. 

Analytical thinking and problem-solving Excel skills examples:

Identify trends and correlations within datasets

Streamline processes

Improve efficiency

Save money and time

Troubleshoot data discrepancies and fix errors

When learn to properly utilize Excel to solve problems and analyze situations, you have the ability to affect decision-making on an organizational level. Here are some examples of how you can demonstrate this on your resume:

Increased customer satisfaction by 20% by analyzing feedback information in Excel and identifying areas for improvement. 

Implemented data-driven pricing strategies using Excel to bring about a 15% increase in profit margins within 6 months.

Improved on-time delivery rates by 30% by implementing an Excel-based project tracking tool. 

4. Data management and organization Excel skills on your resume

Since the company you want to work for probably values accuracy and efficiency, talking about your ability to manage data in an organized way can propel your candidacy for the position above other job seekers. By emphasizing your data management and organization skills in Excel, you demonstrate your ability to handle and manipulate data effectively, ensuring its accuracy, accessibility, and reliability.

Data management and organization Excel skills examples:

Organize data based on specific criteria

Data consolidation 

Data analysis using power query

Conditional formatting 

Data validation rules

Data cleansing

Validating the data in Excel and checking that it’s error-free are critical aspects of ensuring that the right decisions are made at the right time. You can prove your abilities in managing data in an organized way by using quantifiable bullet points on your resume like these:

Led a team of 4 to consolidate and clean 50+ datasets.

Designed comprehensive data validation process that reduced inconsistencies by 25%.

Implemented a new data management system in Excel that corrected data errors and improved accuracy by 30%.

5. Data analysis and visualization Excel skills on your resume

Almost every industry on the planet needs people who can analyze and apply visualization techniques to datasets to help identify patterns and trends and make informed decisions that not only increase profitability but can also help with market expansion. When you’re good at data visualization, you make it easier for stakeholders to understand what’s going on with their business. 

Data analysis and visualization Excel skills examples:

Analyze large datasets from multiple perspectives

Provide comprehensive overview of data

Communicate key insights to both technical and non-technical audiences

Data-driven decision-making is one of those qualifications that you’re likely to come across on a job description. When you can demonstrate that you know how to make decisions based on complex data, combined with the ability to extract that data from Excel, you present a valuable skill set no matter your career target. Here are some examples of how to highlight these skills on your resume:

Created visually appealing dashboards using Tableau.

Grew revenue by 10% within 1 year by using Excel to analyze sales data and identify market trends.

Increased customer engagement by 20% by creating data-driven marketing strategies based on customer segmentation analysis.

6. Collaboration and communication Excel skills on your resume

You already know that being able to effectively communicate with your colleagues, leaders, and customers is critical to the success of business. Did you know that Excel can be qualified as a collaborative tool? The “Share” button allows multiple users to work in Excel at the same time, which is great for simultaneous editing and co-authoring. 

Collaboration and communication Excel skills examples:

Track changes

Collaborate with multiple users – across the building or on the other side of the world

Utilize Excel comments and notes features

Share workbooks

Establish data entry and validation guidelines

Cross-functional communication and teamwork are helpful whether you want a brick-and-mortar job or a work-from-home job. When you emphasize your ability to work together to contribute to a project or share information, you allow your team to share ideas and make sure that everyone is on the same page. It’s easy to demonstrate these particular soft skills on your resume. Here’s how: 

Worked with a geographically dispersed team of 10 to successfully implement a new project management system using Excel.

Reduced project delays by 20% by organizing weekly status meetings and utilizing the Notes feature of Excel for instant project communication. 

Authored data entry and validation guidelines to shorten the learning curve of new hires and reduce the number of errors in Excel data.

7. Continuous learning and adaptability Excel skills on your resume

If there’s one constant in life and work, it’s that things will change. Hiring managers are constantly on the lookout for people who embrace the concepts of continuous learning and adaptability . This is especially true when they need someone who will be working with Excel a lot because new features and functionalities get rolled out all the time. 

Continuous learning and adaptability Excel skills examples:

Excel shortcuts

Emerging technology advancements

New tools and functionalities

Certifications and professional development courses for Excel

By demonstrating a willingness to learn and keep up with the times, you can really make your resume stand out from the crowd. Here are some sample bullets you can use to prove you are a dynamic individual:

Completed 2 Excel courses on advanced formulas, data analysis, and visualization techniques.

Learned about a new Excel tool that could reduce data analysis time by 20% and implemented it within 3 months. 

Researched  Excel add-ins and plugins (e.g., Power Map and Solver) to expand data visualization efforts and increase efficiency by 15%.

Use Excel skills on your resume to win interviews

Excel is one of those tools that’s quickly dismissed as something everyone knows how to use. The fact is, it isn’t. Highlight your Excel skills on your resume to stand out from the crowd and wow the socks off prospective employers. 

Invest in your career and your future by working with one of our professional resume writers to incorporate your Excel skills into your resume properly.

Recommended reading: 

15 Free Certifications for Your Resume

How to Get Your Resume Past the ATS Scans (2024 Updated)

How To Impress Your Boss In 10 Easy Steps

Marsha Hebert, Professional Resume Writer

Marsha is a resume writer with a strong background in marketing and writing. After completing a Business Marketing degree, she discovered that she could combine her passion for writing with a natural talent for marketing. For more than 10 years, Marsha has helped companies and individuals market themselves. Read more advice from Marsha on ZipJob's blog .

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How To Write a Resume for Your First Job

Imagine yourself stumbling across your dream job listing. You’re reading through the responsibilities and job tasks and you find yourself getting more and more excited as the list goes on. Then, it’s time to apply. But you have no real-world job experience. You’re just a student! How will you ever write a resume for your first job when you haven’t had one yet?

Knowing how to write a resume for your first job does not come naturally. In fact, it feels like a daunting task. If you have little applicable experience yet, or you’re just entering the workforce, how can you prove you’re the right fit for the position? 

Resumes are an excellent way to tout your knowledge, training and (if applicable) skills in the field. You can create an attractive resume highlighting your candidacy without any direct experience or prior work history.

We’ll show you how to write a resume for your first job so you can kick off your work experience with preparedness and confidence.

• Do you need a resume?
• What should you put on a resume?

Crafting a resume with no experience

Finalizing your first job resume, quick guide: write your first resume in 6 steps, do you need a resume for your first job.

While a resume may not be required to apply for your first job, it is highly recommended that you do so, and it will undoubtedly set you apart from the other applicants. A resume reflects your professionalism and commitment to the job application process. It showcases your knowledge, skills, training and prior experience in an easy-to-digest and relatively standard format, making it easy for potential employers to decipher between candidates to choose the best person for the job.

Even for entry-level positions, when many applicants don’t have a prior work history, sharing a resume will give you a competitive edge when written persuasively.

The role of a resume in job applications

A resume plays an important role when applying for jobs. It serves as an introduction to potential employers and those in the company who will decide whether or not to move forward with your application. It also provides a summary of what you bring to the table for those who will be interviewing you during the application process.

The resume is essential for showcasing your skills. A well-crafted and persuasive resume can highlight your achievements and knowledge, even if you have limited work experience in the field you’re applying to. Because your resume is the first contact point between you and a potential employer, it’s crucial to understand how to write a resume for your first job – and how to write it well.

What should you put on a resume for your first job?

There are a few things every resume must include – and those are some of the most essential details.

Contact information

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include the most important part of your resume – sharing your contact information. Start by listing your full name, phone number, email address and a link to your LinkedIn profile. Without your contact information, potential employers will have a hard time contacting you, which can prevent you from getting an interview.

Why share a link to your LinkedIn profile ? LinkedIn is now an essential part of the job search market. It serves as a shareable resume in addition to showcasing your network. Employers can see if you have any professionals in common from work or personal life, which may help build your credibility as a candidate.

Be sure to act professionally on LinkedIn. Share relevant news and insights to highlight your interest and knowledge of an industry, but be wary of getting too personal or engaging in inappropriate dialogue. Behave on LinkedIn as you would in an office setting with colleagues.

Educational background and achievements

Start by listing your educational information, such as schools attended, graduation dates and relevant academic achievements or awards. Include your major and minor, field of study and GPA. If you were enrolled in courses, projects or study abroad programs relevant to the job, include details to show your knowledge and interests.

Skills section

While you likely have some combination of hard and soft skills, a skills section will showcase the hard skills you’ve learned to prepare you for the job. Soft skills are best to be included in the bullet points to describe your accomplishments in your experience section.

• Hard skills include specific technical skills you’ve learned along the way. For example, computer proficiency, language skills, lab skills or specific training or certifications.
• Soft skills , or human skills, include job aspects that apply to many (if not all) job roles. These include communication, teamwork and problem-solving. If you’re particularly adept in any of these, showcase them and be prepared to share real examples of these skills in action.

Extracurricular activities and volunteer work

Employers look for candidates who go the extra mile to be involved in extracurricular activities. This demonstrates your commitment to becoming a well-rounded human being. Highlight clubs, sports or volunteer activities that you were involved in, especially emphasizing leadership roles or particular responsibilities you had in these activities. This extracurricular activity showcases your ability to multi-task, prioritize time and develop skills and interests.

Example Resume & Writing Guide

See a real-life example of a strong resume, including tips for gathering your own persuasive experience and skills using our Resume Writing Guide !

As a young adult or new graduate, you may wonder how to write a resume for your first job with no real-world experience. Don’t fear – there have been many in your shoes before you!

What does a resume look like for a first job?

Your resume should be straightforward with a clean and concise design. It should be easy to read with a simple flow highlighting information from most important to nice-to-have details. Do not go overboard with design details, fonts or graphics. 

Furman recommends that you use Microsoft Word to build your resume as it can be easier to make changes to a Word document than it is to change a template. However, you can use free resume builder tools online to build your resume in standard formats.

• Myperfectresume.com
• Resumenerd.com

Using strong action words and job-specific keywords in your resume for your first job will significantly impact you. Describe experiences and achievements using strong action verbs, such as:

• Collaborated
• Volunteered

What to put on a resume with no experience?

You can learn how to write a resume for your first job that impresses potential employers, even without relevant work experience, by emphasizing relevant coursework. Doing this demonstrates skills learned in a classroom or group project setting. Highlight personal or academic projects showcasing your abilities, such as experiences where you took the lead as a group or team leader.

Before submitting your first job resume, review and edit the document for mistakes or improvements.

Proofreading and editing

Attention to detail is critical to potential employers. Check your resume for typos and grammatical errors. Mistakes on your resume may eliminate you as a candidate, especially if grammatical adeptness or attention to detail is essential to the job.

Similarly, ensure a consistent design throughout your resume. Stick to one format, using one legible font and minimal design details. A professional resume appearance can set you apart from other applicants’ resumes that may appear messy or disorganized.

Seeking feedback

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from friends, mentors or even career services at schools or community centers. A peer review from your fellow students, teachers or mentors can provide invaluable input on skills you may be forgetting, plus the extra set of eyes can help detect errors and typos.

Career services at your school or library also serve as an excellent third-party validation and review resource. Furman’s Malone Center for Career Engagement offers in-depth career preparation services for students, such as resume and cover letter assistance , career fairs and networking , personalized advice from advisors and interview prep – just to name a few.

Webinar: Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch

Watch the free Polishing Your Resume & Preparing Your Pitch webinar for an in-depth look at creating your resume and preparing a pitch to potential employers straight from a Furman career advisor.

Now, do you feel ready and excited to write a resume for your first job? We hope you jotted down notes specific to your experience as you read through the post, but in case you didn’t, writing your resume can be simplified to these simple steps.

• Start with your contact information , including full name, phone number and email address. Consider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile.
• List your education experience , including relevant projects, courses and extracurricular activities.
• List both hard skills and soft skills relevant to the job.
• Explain your roles and responsibilities in your projects and extracurricular activities, especially those where you acted in a leadership capacity, using strong action verbs.
• Proofread and gather feedback.

If this is your first time writing a resume for your first job, approach the process with confidence and positivity. Your attitude will shine through the resume, so stay positive!

The perspectives and thoughts shared in the Furman Blog belong solely to the author and may not align with the official stance or policies of Furman University. All referenced sources were accurate as of the date of publication.

What Is the Purpose of a Cover Letter? (And How to Write One)

How to study abroad: a full guide for students, what can you do with a chemistry degree.

Resume writing tips for international students

by Corinne Dorsey | In Career Guidance | 31 July 2024 | Updated on: August 12th, 2024

Entering the U.S. job market as an international postgraduate student can be challenging, but a well-crafted resume can significantly enhance your job search strategy. Here are some resume writing tips for international students like you to help highlight your strengths and align with U.S. job market expectations.

Find job-specific keywords for your resume 

Tailor your resume to each job by carefully reading the job description and identifying key terms and phrases. These keywords often relate to specific skills, qualifications and experiences the employer is seeking. Incorporate these keywords to ensure you write a resume that passes through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Prepare different resumes for each job 

Understand the specific requirements of each company and position you apply for. And then make sure to customize your resume for each job application to reflect the unique qualifications and experiences that make you the best fit for that role. A clear and concise resume that addresses the employer’s needs will stand out more than a generic one.

Avoid using an objective statement 

Objective statements are considered outdated and often take up valuable space on your resume. Unless you’re making a significant career change, it’s better to use this space to highlight your skills and accomplishments. Consider using a professional summary that briefly outlines your key qualifications and what you bring to the table.

Justify serial “job-hopping” 

How do you justify job-hopping on your resume? If you have a history of changing jobs frequently, address this proactively on your resume. Provide a brief explanation for each transition, focusing on positive reasons such as career growth, relocation or pursuit of new challenges. This helps potential employers understand your career path and reduces concerns about your stability.

Highlight your educational background 

As an international postgraduate student, your education is a significant asset. Be sure to prominently feature your academic achievements, relevant coursework and any research or projects pertinent to the job you’re applying for. This can demonstrate your expertise and dedication to your field.

Showcase relevant experience 

Even if your work experience is limited or primarily outside the U.S., highlight the relevance of your previous roles to the position you’re applying for. Focus on transferable skills and accomplishments that are applicable in any context, such as teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills.

Include professional development and certifications 

Pursuing additional certifications and courses can make you stand out from other candidates. Highlight any professional development activities, such as certifications, workshops or online courses relevant to the job. This shows potential employers your commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

Use campus resources 

Leverage the career services offered by your university. Many institutions provide resume reviews, mock interviews and networking opportunities specifically designed for international students. These resources can provide valuable feedback and help you refine your resume.

Leverage online networking platforms 

LinkedIn and other professional networking platforms are excellent tools for showcasing your resume and connecting with potential employers. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and reflects the same information as your resume. Engage with industry-specific groups and participate in discussions to increase your visibility.

Personalize your networking approach

When reaching out to potential contacts, personalize your messages. Mention common connections, shared interests or specific reasons for wanting to connect. A tailored approach shows genuine interest and can lead to meaningful professional relationships.

MPOWER Financing career and resume support 

If you have an MPOWER Financing student loan consider exploring MPOWER’s free Path2Success program, which offers career support services, including:

• A guided internship and job search tool for F-1, OPT and H-1B visa-sponsored roles
• A resume builder to match targeted job requirements
• Job application support with profile and skill set match
• A directory of F-1 eligible job roles for STEM and non-STEM degrees

Path2Success

Final thoughts: Resume tips for international students

By following these tips and using available resources, you can create a compelling resume that effectively showcases your skills and experiences, increasing your chances of landing your dream job in the U.S. job market.

Start refining your resume today to take the next step toward your professional goals as an international postgraduate student in the U.S.

Corinne Dorsey

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ChatGPT Is Writing Lots of Job Applications, But Companies Are Quickly Catching On. Here's How. AI tools may help write your cover letter, but it's also doubling the number of applicants.

By Sherin Shibu Edited by Melissa Malamut Aug 14, 2024

Key Takeaways

• A Tuesday Financial Times report found that about half of job candidates are using AI in their applications.
• Even though over 97% of Fortune 500 companies use AI for hiring, many large companies do not tolerate AI use from candidates.
• Employers can tell if someone used AI by the language of the application materials, including certain keywords like pivotal or delve.

More candidates are using AI to crack a tough job market, and it's not only increasing the number of applications employers have to look through, but it's also requiring hiring managers to pay close attention to the wording of resumes and cover letters.

A Tuesday Financial Times report found that, based on the employers and recruiters the outlet talked to, about half of current job applicants use AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to add keywords to their resumes, write polished cover letters, and complete assessments.

Related: I Tried 3 AI Headshot Generators and There Was a Clear Winner

AI-generated applications have also led to about twice as many applications per job posting as candidates.

But employers say it's getting easier to tell, sometimes with just a glance.

"Without proper editing, the language will be clunky and generic, and hiring managers can detect this," Victoria McLean, chief executive of career consultancy CityCV, told the Financial Times.

AI "simply can't" inject applications with the candidate's story and unique voice, according to McLean.

Related: AI Is Changing How Businesses Recruit for Open Roles — and How Candidates Are Gaming the System

According to Stanford University research , four words are a giveaway that someone may have used AI for writing help: realm, intricate, showcasing, and pivotal.

Another AI keyword that could make recruiters suspicious about AI use is the word delve . Paul Graham, co-founder of startup accelerator Y Combinator, noted in April that he received a cold email proposing a new project. When he saw the word "delve" in the email, he inferred that ChatGPT played a part in writing it.

Many large companies do not tolerate AI use by candidates. An April survey from Resume Genius found that AI-generated resumes were the biggest red flag for 625 U.S. hiring managers.

But that doesn't mean companies oppose using it to make hiring decisions — over 97% of Fortune 500 companies use AI software to filter candidates.

CVS settled a class action lawsuit last month over allegations that the company used AI facial tracking software in interviews without candidates knowing about it. The technology picked up on facial expressions and gave each candidate an "employability score" based on its AI analysis, per the complaint.

Workday, an AI screening software used by 10,000 companies including Adobe and Salesforce, also faces a lawsuit because of how it recommends some candidates and rejects others, potentially impacting who advances to an in-person interview.

Related: This Flexible, AI-Powered Side Hustle Lets a Dad of Four Make $32 an Hour, Plus Tips: 'You Can Make a Substantial Amount of Money'

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How to Write an Application Letter (Sample Included!)

Whether you’re applying for a job , internship , scholarship, or volunteer position, a well-crafted application letter can help you stand out. It's your chance to introduce yourself and make a strong first impression that sets you apart from the competition.

But how do you write an application letter that’s effective? Below, we’ll explain when to use this method of introduction and give you practical tips on writing one that gets results. Plus, we've included a sample application letter and a template to help you create the perfect document for any opportunity.

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What is an application letter?

An application letter is a document sent with your resume to provide additional information on your skills and experience. It's a crucial part of an application for work as it introduces you to potential employers and highlights your qualifications.

While some companies request it at the beginning of the application process, others might ask for it later, or not at all—but it's always a valuable addition.

Unlike a resume, which outlines your work history, a written application allows you to elaborate on your achievements and how they relate to the job you are applying for. It is a much more specific way to introduce yourself and explain why you would be a good fit for the job.

How is an application letter different from a cover letter?

Some people use the terms “application letter” and “cover letter” interchangeably, but there are subtle differences between the two.

An application letter serves as your formal introduction to a potential employer. It highlights your interest in the role, your qualifications, and why you're a good fit for the position. It's a standalone document that provides a comprehensive overview of your skills and experiences.

On the other hand, a cover letter is usually more concise than an application letter and serves as a complementary document to your resume, providing additional context to your job application. It elaborates on specific points from your resume and explains how your background aligns with the job requirements.

Also, job application letters follow a more formal structure, often resembling a traditional business letter. They include your contact information, the date, and the employer’s contact information at the top. An application letter is usually addressed to a specific individual, such as the hiring manager or recruiter. While cover letters also have a professional tone, they can be less formal in structure.

Finally, the application letter is used primarily for job applications, internship applications, scholarship applications, and volunteer positions. In contrast, the cover letter is specifically used to accompany a resume during job applications.

When do you need to send an application letter?

Application letters are typically required when applying for jobs. However, there are other scenarios where you might need one:

• Scholarship applications: When applying for scholarships, this kind of letter can help you stand out by showcasing your academic achievements and career goals .
• Volunteer positions: Some volunteer organizations require an application letter to understand your motivations and skills relevant to the position.
• Internship applications: Internships often require this document to understand your interest in the role and what you hope to gain from the experience.
• Networking purposes: Sending one when reaching out to potential mentors or industry professionals can help you establish a connection and explain your career aspirations.

7 tips on how to write a job application letter

Writing an effective application letter involves more than just summarizing your resume. Here are seven tips to write yours:

1. Research the company—at least do a quick Google search!

Before you start writing, research the company to understand its culture, values, and needs. Tailor your letter to align with the company’s mission and the job description. There is nothing better for an HR professional than feeling that you don’t just want any job; you want to work with them for specific reasons, such as X and Y.

“Address the letter to the hiring manager by name if possible,” says Mike Chappell, CEO of FormsPal , who has more than a decade of experience reviewing application letters. “This shows that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the company.”

2. Use a professional format and design

Your application letter should follow a formal letter of application format. Use a standard font like Times New Roman or Arial, and keep the font size between 10 and 12 points. Include your contact information, the date, and the employer’s contact information at the top of the letter.

There are many layouts online that you can use. Find one that represents your style and complements your resume.

3. Make it engaging from the start with a strong opening

Your opening paragraph should grab the reader’s attention. Mention the position you're applying for and where you found the job listing. If you were referred by someone, include their name. Briefly introduce yourself and explain why you’re interested in the role.

4. Highlight your qualifications—what you can’t fully convey in your resume

In the body of your applicant letter, highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements. “Use specific examples to showcase your accomplishments and how they relate to the job you’re applying for,” Chappell says. “ Quantifiable results can make a strong impact.”

Avoid repeating information from your resume; instead, expand on your most relevant experiences.

5. Show enthusiasm and genuine interest

Employers want to hire candidates who are enthusiastic about the role and the company. Show your excitement for the opportunity. Explain why you are specifically interested in this job and how it aligns with your career goals.

6. Keep it concise

While it’s important to provide enough detail, your application letter should be concise. Aim for one page, with three to four paragraphs. Be clear and to the point, avoiding unnecessary fluff.

7. Proofread carefully

Typos and grammatical errors can leave a negative impression on employers. Carefully proofread your letter before sending it. Consider asking another person to review it as well.

Letter of application sample

Here's a super complete example of application letter to help you get started:

August 1, 2024

Ms. Jane Doe

Hiring Manager

Innovative Solutions Inc.

456 Maple Avenue

Springfield, IL 62705

Dear Ms. Doe,

I am writing to express my interest in the Marketing Manager position at Innovative Solutions Inc., as advertised on your company’s careers page. With more than five years of experience in marketing and a proven track record of successful campaigns, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team and drive impactful marketing strategies.

In my previous role as a Senior Marketing Specialist at Creative Solutions LLC, I led a team in developing and executing a comprehensive marketing strategy that resulted in a 30% increase in brand awareness and a 25% boost in lead generation. My responsibilities included overseeing digital marketing campaigns, analyzing market trends, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with overall business goals. This experience has honed my skills in strategic planning, data analysis, and team leadership.

I am particularly impressed by Innovative Solutions Inc.’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver innovative marketing solutions. Your recent campaign, which utilized artificial intelligence to optimize ad targeting, is a testament to your forward-thinking approach. I am eager to bring my expertise in digital marketing and campaign management to your team and contribute to similar groundbreaking projects.

My strong analytical skills, combined with my ability to lead and inspire a team, make me a great fit for this role. I am confident that my background and enthusiasm for innovative marketing strategies align well with the needs of Innovative Solutions Inc.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experiences can contribute to the continued success of Innovative Solutions Inc.

123 Elm Street

Springfield, IL 62704

[email protected]

(555) 123-4567

Template for an application letter

You can also use the following application format to structure your application letter for a job:

[Recipient’s name]

[Company’s name]

[Company’s address]

[City, State, ZIP Code]

Dear [Recipient’s name],

I am writing to express my interest in the [Job title] position at [Company name] as advertised on [Where you found the job listing]. With my background in [Field or industry] and a passion for [Specific aspect of the job or industry], I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to your team.

In my previous role at [Previous company], I developed [Specific skills or achievements]. I successfully [Describe a project or responsibility], which resulted in [Quantifiable result or achievement]. This experience has equipped me with [Relevant skills] that I am eager to bring to [Company name].

I am particularly impressed by [Company name]’s commitment to [Specific company initiative or value], and I am enthusiastic about the prospect of working with a team that values [Related value or skill]. I am confident that my skills and experiences align well with the requirements of the [Job title] position.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background, skills, and enthusiasm can contribute to the success of [Company Name].

[Your Name]

[Your address]

[Your email address]

[Your phone number]

Common mistakes to avoid

When writing a letter of application for employment, be aware of these common mistakes:

• Being too generic: Focus your letter on the specific job and company, and mention detailed information about them. Don’t default to a one-size-fits-all approach or AI-written document. “It is generally best to avoid using generative AI to write your application letters for you,” says Edward Tian, CEO of AI detector GPTZero . “Only you can write about those specific aspects of your identity and experiences in such a personal way.”
• Focusing too much on yourself: While it’s important to highlight your qualifications, make sure to explain how you can benefit the company. “You can talk about your career goals, college classes that piqued your interest in the type of job you're applying to—just make sure that they tie into why they make you uniquely qualified or well-positioned for the job,” Tian says.
• Including irrelevant information: Avoid discussing unrelated jobs or hobbies, for example.
• Using a casual tone: Maintain a professional tone throughout your letter. Avoid slang or overly casual language.

Need a bit more guidance in your job search? Read this next: How to Apply for a Job Online: 10 Tips to Stand Out and Land an Interview