Job Search Skills - Resume Writing

No matter how smart you are until it properly reflects on your resume your skills will go unnoticed, because employers first see your resume not you. Therefore, being selected for an interview totally depends on your resume.

What is Resume Writing?

Resume Writing is writing about your personal and professional achievements in chronological order on a piece of paper. Since, this the first and the most important aspect of job search, your professionalism and skills have to be reflected on your resume. The language that you use on your resume should be simple, brief, and clear.

Elements of a Resume

Every resume has the following essential elements (without which it is incomplete) −

• Personal Data − It includes your name, address, and contact details (email ID and phone number).

• Career Objective − Mention your career objective in such a way that explains how you will meet the demand of the job that you are applying for.

• Employment History − No matter how versatile your work experience is - Write only the relevant work experience, which is in the interest of the company where you are applying. For example, if you are applying for the computer programming job, you write only the computer related work experience. Though, you have also worked as a salesperson, do not mention this because your sales experience is not at all relevant for the computer programming job. It might create a negative impression.

• Education − Mention all your educational qualifications including name of the programs/diploma, subjects, grade, passing year, schools/institutions name.

• Optional Information − It includes your other skill sets such as technical skills, and projects (that you have handled) relevant to the job and some other achievements including award and recognitions. For example, you are a state/national level sportsman, etc.

• Personal Information − It includes personal details, such as sex, religion, marital status, etc. which is not mandatory to mention. Hence, it can be skipped.

• Hobbies − Not imperative, but worth mentioning on your resume. Many companies across the world consider it positively.

• References − Put at least two persons’ name, designation, address, contact details, and your relationship with them. Mention only those people who know you very well and can speak positively about you; preferably, your professor or your boss from a previous company or one from each category.

• Chronological Order − Your work experience and education should be arranged in chronology. You need to start with the current job and the last study program and then previous that and so on.

However, for detailed information, check the tutorial "Effective Resume Writng".

How to Deal with Awkward Points on Resume?

Awkward points on your resume refers to employment gaps or short stints during your career span. You have to be very careful while mentioning these in your resume.

It is suggested to acknowledge gaps in employment in such a manner so as to not create a negative impression. This can be done by being honest and mentioning the reason for gap. If you did some volunteer work or took up a course to enhance your skills during the gap, it is always worth mentioning in your resume. However, it is advised to always do away with short stints in jobs. Mentioning these suggests instability.

Organizing Your Resume

Once you complete your resume, do not forget to −

• Review it.
• Check it twice (to see if all the points included are in order).
• Organize it (to check in terms of order, font, color, spacing, etc.).