Resume (from French "resume") is a document in the form of self-presentation for the purpose of employment, in which the applicant briefly explains to the employer the necessary facts about themselves that correspond to the desired position: education, work experience, professional skills and abilities, personal qualities.
A resume, like any business document, should have its own structure that meets the requirements for the design of such documents, and it should be adhered to. By structure, we mean information that should be reflected in a specific sequence. We will talk more about the structure later in this article.
The traditional size of a resume is one, maximum two sheets, so if you have a lot of information, then try to select only the one that best suits the position for which you are applying. For example, if you have a long track record, then select from it only those positions and work experience that will be useful to you at a new place of work and will be interesting for a particular employer. Separately, you can attach a cover letter or recommendations from previous employers to your resume.
The language should be simple, easy to understand. Avoid complex sentences. Break long sentences into two simple sentences. If you know professional terminology, you can use it. This will highlight your competence, but don't overdo it. The resume text should remain legible. Check your resume for grammatical and punctuation errors. Do not waffle, all the information should be specific and to the point. Avoid denials and negative wording, change them to positive ones. For example, “I never lie” is better to replace with “I always tell the truth”! A resume has a lot in common with selling texts. Read about How to write selling texts here.
Don't try to trick an employer by pointing out non-existent work experience or skills that you don't really have. At the interview or during the probationary period, it will become clear that you are not fit for the position. As a result, you will most likely lose the trust of your employer and will not be able to count on employment. List your strengths on your resume. And if the hiring specification indicates those skills that you do not yet have, then it would be more correct to master them or honestly tell the employer that you feel the need for their development and are ready for training.
So, as we have already mentioned, a resume should follow a certain structure:
Should I write the word "Resume" in the title? In our opinion, this is optional. In our templates, we do not use the word "Resume", because it is already clear what kind of document lies in front of the employer.
In the Resume objective, it is recommended not only to indicate the desired position, but to justify in two sentences why you are the best candidate for it.
We consider a photo to be a necessary attribute of any resume. The employer would be glad to meet you in absentia even before the invitation for an interview. Some of the person's qualities can be judged from their appearance, so pay considerable attention to your photo. Ideally, your appearance in the photo matches the position you are applying for. For example, if you want to get a job as a manager, then a photo in a business suit will come in handy, and if you are applying for a job as a builder, then choose a photo in overalls. Thus, having a photo on your resume is not only a sign of good manners, but also an extra opportunity to convince an employer that you are suitable for an open vacancy.
Highlight the last name, first name and patronymic in a separate large and well-readable font.
It is imperative to indicate the age, and it is better to write not the year of birth, because the employer will have to calculate your age in his mind, but the age in a number.
For example, Age: 30.
Also, we recommend you to indicate your marital status and whether you have children. As a rule, candidates with families are rated by the employer as more reliable and your
chances of getting a job will increase.
Here you can indicate your hobbies or interests, your character traits, all the information that you consider necessary to evaluate you as an employee ideally suited for this
position. But do not overdo it - too much of this information will be superfluous for the employer.
Additionally, you should indicate your contact information: phone number, e-mail address, city of residence (metro or district for large cities), readiness to move.
Pay attention to the email address. Your e-mail should be in a business style. It is better not to use personal e-mails like cutie@mail.ru, but to create a separate
e-mail with the first and last names.
List your jobs, starting with the most recent one, in chronological order. In each item, reflect the company's name, its field of activity, job title, period of work,
main responsibilities and achievements. It's important to base your achievements on specific numbers. For example, you did not just "manage the sales department", but
"increased sales by 50% in a month by introducing a new motivation system."
It is enough to indicate 3-4 places of work in the resume. If you have a lot of experience, then select only those companies whose work experience is as close as possible
to a new position, even if these were not the most recent jobs. In this case, it is much more important for the employer to evaluate your experience in areas similar to their company.
If you have had breaks from work, you can indicate the reason. This can be either maternity leave, a period of study, private practice or moving to another city.
If you are a beginner specialist or a student and you have no work experience, then feel free to write about this, supplementing your resume with the phrase that you are ready
to study and agree to a lower salary at the time of training. The employer will appreciate this.
The resume should indicate higher education or secondary specialized education. The school can be omitted. Educational institutions are also listed in chronological order, starting with the latter. Indicate the institution's name, years of study and major. If you have additional education (courses, trainings), then be sure to indicate them. The desire for additional development and training is an important feature, and the employer will definitely notice this. If you have completed a lot of courses, then indicate only those that may be useful to you in your new position.
In this block, tell the employer about your additional skills that were not indicated in the Work Experience section. It can be the knowledge of foreign languages and computer programs.
A cover letter is optional, but a desirable attribute. Indicate in the letter in free form everything that did not fit in the resume, but could be useful to the employer. Explain why you would like to take this position, what suits you in this vacancy. And what is most important is to convey to the employer what your skills can be useful to their company, why they should choose you! Send only personalized emails for a specific job. Don't send all employers the same cover letter. It should be targeted. It should become clear to the employer that you have carefully read the job description and offer your competencies in solving specific problems. We recommend you to end your cover letter with a call to action. For example, willingness to drive up for an interview.
Cover letter text sample:
Hello! My name is NAME
I was interested in the vacancy VACANCY.
I have read the job description.
I think this vacancy suits me due to the fact that ..
I am sure that I can be useful to you because ...
I would be glad to come for an interview for personal communication. Thank you!
Best regards, FULL NAME
Tel: +7 (111) 111-11-11
A letter of recommendation is a powerful tool of influence. A letter of recommendation usually contains a testimonial about you as an employee from your previous employer. If you have a letter of recommendation, be sure to send it along with your resume. If there is no letter, you can indicate in the cover letter the contacts of your previous employers with their consent. Even the very presence of links to employers will already inspire more confidence in you.
Some of Wilda online editor's core features are not supported by your mobile device. To create and edit documents, use a computer with a screen resolution at least 1200 pixels. Enjoy your work!