Guide to Writing an Effective Resume
Posted on December 17, 2022 by Amanda McCroskey, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
A resume is a thoughtful, detailed compilation of your work story that brings to life all that you've done and all that you're prepared to do.
A solid resume is still a very vital part of the application process and it’s your opportunity to tell your story. You possess many strengths along with experience and while you know what you can do, the company you’re applying to doesn’t. So it’s up to you to effectively convey the value you will bring to their organization and those they serve.
So how do you do that?
1.Regarding the look of your resume, keep it formal and simple. While there are some amazing resume templates out there with bold colors, tables and even the option of adding your picture, don’t do it. Applicant Tracking Systems have issues with reading these along with tables and text boxes, headers and footers, abbreviations and columns.
2. Include your name, city and state only (no address), phone number and your LinkedIn URL.
3. Add an objective that’s tailored to the role or type of role for which you are applying. Or you can choose to add a brief professional summary that may consist of a few sentences or bullets.
4. Skills and proficiencies are next and should align with the job you are seeking. Make sure though, that any words you add from the job posting don’t just end up on this list. They need to be included in the resume itself under your work experience.
5. Education and/or licenses and certifications should be added here and make sure nothing is abbreviated. Regarding education, if it’s been awhile since you graduated, there is no need to add the year. If you’re still in school, you can list it and include “currently enrolled” with an estimated graduation date.
6. Now it’s time to add your employment history (past 10 years). This is where it’s important to add highlights of your role versus listing all of your job duties. For example, under each job, share process improvements, projects you developed or implemented, sales made etc. and use data if possible to back it up.
7. No need to include references.
8. And finally, be sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and accurately describes who you are, the work you’ve done and what you are capable of doing. While LinkedIn does offer premium service for a fee, the free option provides you will all that you truly need. It’s important to make sure that all the sections available to you are being used, i.e. your headline, “about” section and publications if you have any. And verify that the education and experience listed on your resume matches what’s on LinkedIn, don’t allow room for discrepancies.
Creating or updating an effective resume takes time and understanding of the process which is why many seek out resume writers or career coaches. But whether you compose your own resume or hire someone else, make sure it accurately depicts your abilities and passion for the work. You have what it takes to do the job, now it’s time to show them.
