A resume template is a document that contains specific information and instructions about how to write a resume. It may also include tips on what to include in your resume and how to present yourself the best way possible. With these templates, you’ll be able to point out your unique qualifications and highlight your skills.
When writing resumes, it’s important to understand the purpose of the resume. You want your resume to get you in the door for a job interview. An effective resume is different from a cover letter or CV (curriculum vitae). A resume is specifically designed to help employers quickly determine if you are qualified for a position based on your qualifications and experience.
Contents
What is a resume?
A resume is a summary of your skills and job experience. It is a document that lists all of your work experience, education, work history, and relevant training. It contains your detailed contact information, education history, job descriptions, and most importantly, career objective. A well-written resume helps employers get to know you instantly without reading through hundreds of pages. Resumes always include a summary and it’s one of the most important parts of this document. A resume is written in chronological order, which means that you start listing your most recent job experience first.
What do I put on a resume?
The main goal of a resume is to clearly communicate all the relevant qualifications and work experience. It can also be used as an example for your future job applications since employers normally provide you with a template when requesting resumes. Therefore, it is crucial to read the template and follow all the instructions.
The resume template should provide employers with the basic information necessary to get to know you better. It allows employers to quickly determine if you are qualified for a position based on your qualifications and experience. If you use this template, your resume will be easier for hiring managers to review.
Here is the list of sections to include in your resume:
1. Contact Information:
Contact information includes your name, address, email, and phone number. It is very important to include a cell phone number and current email address as most employers use email to contact potential employees. If you don't have a cell phone, then you should leave that field blank. If you fear possible spam calls, you can include the main office line instead of the cell phone number.
You can also add additional contact information that is more specific to the position applying for. If you have additional skills that make you a more valuable candidate, you can include them on your resume. This is especially important for technical positions.
Example:
Name: Juan Garcia
Address: 123 Main Street, Department 7, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Cell phone: 123-456-6789 Email address 1: juan@email.com
Email address 2: ggarcia@email.com
2. Objective Statement:
An objective statement should be clearly stated and concise for those who do not have a high school education. Your objective should reflect a company's values, mission statement or business strategy. If you are applying for the job as an interior designer, you might say that you are interested in designing luxurious interiors and creating a more stylish environment. The objective should be no more than 2-3 sentences long and should include statistics about your work history. If you have no previous job experience, stating that you are looking for a challenging position is considered a good objective statement.
Advanced resume users can add different sections to their resumes to highlight key skills and achievements. You can use this as an opportunity to emphasize your transferable skills and provide additional information for potential employers.
Example:
"Objective: Seeking a challenging position in the commercial real estate industry where I can contribute my design skills by creating more stylish and luxurious interiors."
"Objective Statement: I am seeking a challenging position as an IT Technician that will require me to work in a team with other technicians. I am also interested in working in a company that offers great benefits and professional growth opportunities. "
3. Education:
Education is one of the most important fields on a resume since it shows your achievements and expertise. It may also indicate your qualifications for a certain position or skill level. The education section should be no more than two lines long and highlight relevant degrees, diplomas, or certificates. You can also include any active scholarships that you are receiving.
Briefly describe your degree and major. Include the schools, city, and state or country of your alma mater, as well as your GPA (if you wish). If applicable, list any other education or certifications you wish to include here.
Different schools have different requirements for including this section on your resume. However, most schools will accept a catalog copy if requested from either the school's registrar or from the student admissions office.
Education: Bachelor of Science, Engineering, 2013-present
Minor: Business Management, 2015-current
Name of University: San Diego State University
Major: Engineering
Degree description or title: Bachelor of Science in Civil and Architectural Engineering
GPA (out of 4.0): 3.4 (on a scale of 4.0)
You can also include any special courses, workshops, or extracurricular activities that you have completed in the past three years.
4. Professional Experience:
The experience section is another opportunity to highlight your achievements and qualifications for a certain position or skill level. You can also include specific company information like where you worked, main responsibilities, and dates of employment.
When writing the professional experience section, it is important that you highlight your achievements that relate to the job objective or skills. The more impressive you are as a candidate, the higher your chances of being hired.
Example:
Employer: Google Company
Position: Assistant to the Regional Manager
Dates of Employment: August 2012 to March 2014
Responsibilities included: Assisting in creating regional sales forecasts for all sales territories, preparing bids for new business, analyzing territory sales reports, and providing feedback to top management.
5. Key Skills:
It is important to include your key skills and achievements for a job that you are applying for. The more impressive and transferable your skills are, the higher your chances of being hired. Employers look at previous experiences as a positive factor when deciding whether or not to hire you.
When writing your resume, it is important that you highlight only the most important skills. You should check the job description carefully to find out which specific skills are required in order to get those particular positions filled. Your resume should be no more than two lines long and be written in a concise, organized format.
Example Skills:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent team player
- Proven attention to detail and ability to problem solve
- Ability to work well under pressure and prioritize tasks
It is important that you include your accomplishments in specific statements that directly relate to the job objective or skills. Your resume should be no more than two lines long and be written in a concise, organized format. It is also recommended that if you have an example of a specific achievement from your past, it should be included here.
6. Awards & Recognition:
If you have won any awards or received any recognition for the work that you have done, you can include it in this section. You can also include your academic achievements and honors. Your resume should be no more than two lines long and be written in a concise, organized format.
Example:
Shared First Place - Marketing Award – XYZ Company
Mentored under famous entrepreneurs in an entrepreneur leadership class at San Diego State University.
7. Reference:
A reference you make on your resume should be someone who can vouch for your abilities. You can have a personal reference or a professional reference who has witnessed your work in the past.
It is important that you include a list of references on your resume, but many employers prefer not to have them in order to focus on the skills that are listed on the resume. If you do want to include references, you should list each person by name, title and contact information.
Example:
James Dow
Professor of Finance, Management, and Marketing
University of Phoenix
rwayman@ucd.edu
(123) 211-121212
8. Additional Sections:
There are many types of additional sections that can be added to your resume. These include a list of interests, summary, awards or honors, education & training, non-profit involvement, leadership experience, and languages. You should be careful when adding any additional sections to your resume since including too much information may make it harder for employers to read.
Additional sections can be placed at the end of your resume. When listing these sections, it is important that you include a short statement about what the awards or recognition mean to you. Do not overdo the information listed on your resume as this will only make it hard for employers to read.
How do I format my resume?
What your resume should look like is entirely up to you. Your resume can be laid out in different formats including chronological, reverse chronological, functional, or a combination of all of the above.
However, there are certain standards that every resume should follow. First and foremost, your resume must be easily readable for employers to look over without any trouble. It is important that your resume is clear and concise with no spelling or grammar errors. It is also important that your resume is truthful and aligned with the job description. When writing your resume, be sure to include only the most important information in a way that clearly benefits you as a candidate.
When laying out your resume, it is recommended that you keep it neat and organized with all of the information listed in a clear manner. Make sure to give sufficient white space so that employers will not get distracted by random words or phrases on your resume. Your resume is the first impression that employers will have of you and represents your skills, qualifications, and abilities.
1. Chronological Resume:
A chronological resume lists your work experience from most recent to least. This allows employers to easily see how long you have been in the workforce, as well as how quickly you progressed in your career. This is often the preferred format for students graduating from college or high school.
The chronological resume format is best for students who are just now entering the workforce. This resume type is ideal for students seeking entry-level positions since it does not take long to write and is easy to understand.
2. Reverse Chronological Resume:
The reverse chronological resume formats your work experience from least recent year to most recent. This type of resume format lists your most recent employment first which allows employers to get a good idea of what you have done in the past few years. This is often preferred by candidates over a chronological resume because it allows employers to easily see how much experience you have in a short amount of time. This type of resume is often preferred by applicants who have numerous years of experience.
3. Functional Resume:
The functional resume format lists your work experience from most recent to least. Instead of listing your employment starting with the most recent, this format lists your experience from the first job to the latest so it can display the progress you made through the years. This makes it easier for employers to see how your skills have progressed through the years. This type of resume is primarily used by applicants in their mid-twenties the to early thirties who have several years of experience but are looking for a promotion or change of career path.
4. Combination:
Clerical resume with a summary statement, followed by reverse chronological and chronological resumes. This format can be quite confusing for some as it can make your resume appear disorganized or out of order. This type of resume is often used by candidates who are changing careers since it allows them to highlight their previous work experience while still being able to show how they qualify for the position. This format is also recommended for students seeking entry-level positions since it gives employers a chance to see all of their qualifications and not just the most recent ones.
How long should my resume be?
How long your resume should depend on the job that you are applying for. For most entry-level jobs, it is recommended that you keep your resume to one or two pages at most. Employers will only have a few minutes to read your resume so being concise with all of your skills and qualifications is important when submitting your application.
For those looking for higher-paid jobs or positions in a competitive workforce, it is recommended that you keep your resume to three pages or less. Most employers will be looking over multiple resumes at once so putting all of your qualifications into a short and concise document is important. It is important to keep your resume updated with all of your current qualifications and accomplishments so be sure to periodically check for current job listings and update your resume accordingly.
How do I write a professional summary?
A professional summary is another section that is optional to include on your resume. Candidates can use this section to briefly describe their skills, qualifications or work history by creating a few short paragraphs. Not only does a professional summary allow you to stand out from other candidates but it also allows you to emphasize the most important information that is listed on your resume.
A professional summary can be written in any format that you like but it is usually formatted as three short paragraphs. In the first paragraph, you should briefly describe your skills. In the second paragraph, you should discuss your work history and in the last paragraph, you should emphasize your goals and accomplishments.
It is important to remember that not all job listings will allow you to include a professional summary on your resume. If the job listing does not allow it, it is best to not include one as it can make your resume look disorganized and unprofessional.
Summary Example:
"Having 10 years of experience in accounting, I manage the office bookkeeping and payroll, write all reports and handle taxes for the workplace. I am a skilled accountant who has a thorough understanding of accounting principles. I have excellent communication skills and thrive on maintaining positive and productive working relationships with all employees at my workplace."
There are many different ways to introduce yourself to employers, such as your name, your personal history or even through a combination of both. Introductions to highlight your personal history is important as it gives employers an insight into your previous employment experience and your personality. Your personal history should only be a few short sentences that describe your current position as well as previous positions that emphasize any skills or qualifications which make you more suitable for the job.
What do I put for skills on a resume?
Skills are the qualifications that you have which can be transferable in many different industries. Transferable skills are skills that an employer can use to replace certain tasks or duties at their workplace. This is important because employers are trying to fill positions quickly and when they see candidates with numerous transferable skills, it makes it easier for them to find someone who can fill the position.
Skills should be bolded or listed separately from other text in order to catch the employers eye. It is acceptable to list your skills in a skill section in your resume or you can also break them up into different sections such as education, work experience and community involvement.
Examples of skills include: leadership, communication, customer service, Microsoft office and computer proficiency. It is important to include both work experience related skills (i.e. accounting) as well as transferable skills (i.e. Microsoft office).
Which template is best for resume?
It depends on what type of job you’re applying for. You may even want to use two or three different templates depending on the position you’re going after. In most cases, a chronological resume is the best choice. You may also want to use functional resumes if you are job-hopping because it points out your skills more than your work history.
However, if you’re getting promoted or are looking for a higher paying job, it’s probably better to use a combination of both a chronological and functional resume. A chronological resume is the most common resume format. This resume format documents work experience and education in reverse order (i.e. the most recent work experience first). It is often used by professionals who are changing careers since it allows them to highlight their previous work experience without having to mention it in chronological order.
A functional resume takes note of your skills and qualifications but does not focus on your previous career history or education. Instead, it highlights your transferable skills in a few different sections. This resume is often used by individuals who are changing careers to avoid including previous employment history that may not be relevant to the position they are applying for.
What is a CV vs a resume?
A CV is a more in-depth document which highlights all your professional achievements and accomplishments. A resume summarizes your career and education, typically presented as chronological. So most resumes will have a section for background, and then another that will present education, qualifications, and experience in reverse chronological order. Many resumes will do this in reverse-chronological because employers prefer to see the most recent work experience first. An example of a CV. The term 'CV' can also be used to describe a resume that focuses on education rather than experience. There is little differentiation between CVs and resumes in some English-speaking countries, but in many European countries CVs (or curricula vitae) are more distinguished. Resumes are also called CVs when they highlight educational qualifications above work experience.
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The above resume template are designed by ResumeKraft. You can also download this sample resume to use as your own starting point when creating a new resume. Before using this resume in print or on screen, note that it has been professionally formatted for optimal readability.