In today’s competitive world, landing a decent job needs more than just a simple resume! If you want to stand apart from the crowd of job seekers, you need to know how to make a resume. This simple document is the key to landing job interviews.
Do you know nearly 40% of HR managers spend less than 60 seconds reviewing a resume?
That’s why it’s important to create an impressive resume that perfectly captures HR’s attention.
So, to help you land your dream job, we have created a step-by-step guide to build a perfect resume. In this guide, we’ll show you how to make a resume, along with an example.
Let’s not wait any longer and learn how to create a resume.
What Is a Resume?
To put it in simple words, a resume is a formal document that job seekers must prepare to successfully land job interviews. This document summarizes your work experience, education, and skills. Employers use it to assess your qualifications for a job.
The term “resume” derives from the French word meaning “summary”. This perfectly describes its purpose: to provide employers with a summary of your qualifications.
Fundamentally, a resume consists of five key components:
- Contact details
- Introduction
- Educational background
- Work History
- Relevant skills
These sections collectively present a comprehensive profile that highlights your strengths and capabilities. When effectively organized and tailored to specific job requirements, a resume becomes a powerful tool to capture the attention of potential employers and increase your chances of securing an interview.
Understanding the Purpose of a Resume
The primary objective and underlying essence of a resume is to present your qualifications and skills to potential employers. It serves as an informative record that narrates your professional journey, organizing all pertinent information in a comprehensible format.
You need to understand the purpose of a resume before you start building one. It will help you to effectively craft a resume that meets all the essential requirements. Here are a few key reasons why understanding the purpose of a resume is essential:
- It serves as your introduction to potential employers.
- A resume highlights your relevant qualifications and experiences.
- Resume works as a personal marketing tool.
- It provides a concise summary of your professional background.
- They are often used as a screening tool by employers.
- It helps you to secure an interview.
Different Types of Resumes
Chronical Resume
The chronological resume format is widely used and focuses on presenting your work history in sequential order. It typically begins with your most recent position and progresses backwards. This format effectively showcases your career progression and work experience.
Functional Resume
The functional resume format is commonly utilized when you wish to emphasize your skills and areas of expertise rather than your work history in chronological order. It prioritizes your abilities and competencies, making it suitable for individuals who have changed careers or had frequent job transitions.
Combination Resume
The combination resume, also known as a mixed resume, combines elements of both the chronological and functional formats. It highlights your skills and experience at the beginning, followed by your employment history.
Importance of a Well-Crafted Resume
First Impressions
A good resume creates a positive first impression on employers. It serves as a reflection of your professional image and can make a lasting impact on their perception of you as a candidate.
Easy to Read and Understand
HR managers don’t have enough time to fully read and understand every resume that lands on their desks. They often shortlist resumes that are well-crafted and easy to understand.
Relevance to the Job
A well-crafted resume precisely highlights your eligibility and qualifications that align with the requirements of the job you are applying for. It helps hiring managers quickly assess your suitability as a candidate.
Alignment with Company Objectives
A good resume demonstrates how your aspirations and achievements align with the objectives and values of the company you are applying to. It showcases how you can contribute effectively to their goals.
Showcasing Your Value
A good resume effectively outlines the unique skills, experiences, and qualities you bring to the table. It showcases what you can offer to the company, emphasizing your value as a potential employee.
Foundation for Progress
A good resume sets the foundation for advancing in the hiring process. It paves the way for you to move forward, leading to potential job interviews and further opportunities.
What Are Employers Looking for in a Resume?
Hiring managers often look for a few key elements in your resume for shortlisting. It includes:
- Career Objective (concise objective in resume tailored to the job posting)
- Metrics (quantifiable achievements)
- Volunteer Experience (volunteer work that reflects positively)
- Colour (tasteful splashes of colour for visual appeal)
- Modern Font (attention-grabbing fonts like Calibri, Cambria, Bookman or Verdana)
- Hyperlinks (hyperlinks to your email address, LinkedIn profile, and relevant social media accounts)
- GPA (strong GPA, especially for the first job)
- White Space (concise resume without overcrowding)
- Format (easy-to-read format without grammatical errors)
Tips on How to Make a Resume
Here are some effective tips on how to write a resume:
How to Make a Resume – Resume Writing Do’s
- Tailor your resume for each job application
- Use a professional and clean format
- Include a concise and compelling objective in the resume
- Use bullet points to clearly showcase your accomplishments, responsibilities, and skills
- Quantify your achievements whenever possible
- Proofread your resume thoroughly
- Add relevant keywords to optimize for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Provide accurate contact information
- Include relevant certifications, licenses, or professional affiliations
- Consider including a link to your professional online portfolio or LinkedIn profile, if applicable
How to Make a Resume – Resume Writing Don’ts
- Add personal information such as age, marital status, or social security number
- Use an unprofessional email address
- Include irrelevant or outdated work experience.
- Include a generic career objective in the resume
- Use excessive formatting, colours, or fonts
- Include references unless explicitly requested by the employer
- Exaggerate or lie about your qualifications, skills, or experiences
- Provide unnecessary personal details or hobbies
- Use long paragraphs or dense blocks of text
- Submit a resume without proofreading
Also Read - IT Hub of India
How to Make a Resume – Steps to Follow
Regardless of whether you have never written a resume before or simply need a comprehensive refresher on the process, here are some steps to guide you on how to make a resume:
Step 1: Research and Analyse Your Target Industry or Job Position
If you are wondering about how to make a resume, start with research. It is the key to writing a resume that stands out. Having all the essential information about the industry and job position will save you time as well as help you to craft an exquisite resume.
This research and analysis phase helps you tailor your resume to meet the expectations and requirements of potential employers. To craft a meticulous resume, you need to:
- Study the job description
- Research industry trends
- Identify keywords
- Explore company culture
- Analyze competitor profiles
- Assess transferable skills
By conducting proper research and analysis, you gain valuable insights that enable you to create a resume that meets the job requirements. It will position you as a strong candidate for the job position.
Step 2: Pick Your Format
After conducting research and analysis, the next step in how to make a resume is selecting the right format – a crucial step often overlooked by many job seekers.
Utilizing templates and online resume-building tools can greatly assist you during this stage. Take the time to explore various resume examples and samples to identify the format that best aligns with your career requirements.
The ideal format should be straightforward and easily readable. It should employ a simple font, concise headings, and bulleted lists. Strive for a format that effectively showcases your skills and qualifications while maintaining a professional appearance.
Step 3: Create a Header with Your Name and Contact Information
Always prioritize placing your contact information at the top of the resume. Within this header section, it is essential to include details that enable recruiters to easily reach out to you. Consider adding the following elements:
- Your full name
- Your phone number
- Your personal email address
Additionally, you may opt to include other relevant basic information, such as:
- Your LinkedIn or personal website URL
- Your GitHub profile (for technical roles)
- Your social media profiles (if they are directly related to the job)
- City and Pin code
If a hiring manager cannot easily reach you, the efforts put into perfecting the remainder of your resume become futile.
Step 4: Craft an Effective Resume
When learning how to make a resume, consider incorporating a resume objective statement. If you fall into specific categories, such as being a first-time job seeker, transitioning to a new career, or returning to work after an extended absence, it is necessary to add a career objective.
How to write objective in resume:
- Understand the purpose
- Align with the job
- Be concise and focused
- Showcase your skills and achievements
- Demonstrate enthusiasm and motivation
- Edit and refine
Regardless of whether you choose to include a career objective, it is vital to ensure that it is both captivating and succinct when learning how to make a resume.
Step 5: Showcase Your Education
For individuals still in school or recent graduates, knowing how to make a resume is important. You need to place the education section at the top of the resume. However, for most candidates, it is advisable to position this section near the bottom.
Include essential details such as the educational institution, graduation year (for those within a decade of graduation), major, and degree. Recent graduates may add GPA, honours, study abroad, or notable achievements.
Keep this section concise to avoid overshadowing work experience. If you have unique educational experiences like online courses or certifications relevant to your industry, include them. Arrange entries in reverse chronological order, prioritizing recent and significant achievements.
Step 6: Add In Your Work Experience
The work experience section is typically a substantial part when learning how to make a resume. It holds great importance even if you are transitioning to a different career since employers seek insight into your past employment, responsibilities, and the impact of your work.
When it comes to how to write experience in a resume, arrange the job entries in reverse-chronological order, with your current or most recent position at the top. Follow this guide to understand how to make a resume and create an effective work experience section, including the following details for each role:
- Your job title
- Company name
- Company location (city and state)
- Dates of employment (month and year)
By adhering to this format, you present a clear and organized overview of your professional experience, allowing potential employers to easily grasp the accomplishments you have achieved.
Step 7: Add Achievements
The next step in how to make a resume includes adding achievements. You can either include it in the work experience section or write it separately. You need to write, three-to-five concise bullet points outlining your notable work achievements.
Your work achievements should provide employers with insight into the value you can bring to their organization. Focus on highlighting your achievements for each role using bullet points. Whenever feasible, quantify these accomplishments. Research has shown that job seekers who incorporate numbers in their resumes gain a 40% advantage over their competition.
For instance, rather than stating generic information, a software engineer could write: “Accelerated software development by 30% through agile methodologies and automated testing, enhancing efficiency and timely product delivery.”
Step 8: Add Volunteer Work or Other Experiences
You can also add any other experience you may have to stand apart when learning how to make a resume. Include non-work experiences like side gigs, volunteer work, or special projects. These additions are worthwhile, especially if they enhance your skill set or align with your dream job, showcasing your well-roundedness and passion.
For recent grads, feature on-campus activities such as clubs or leadership roles. Treat these entries like professional jobs, mentioning your title, organization, and responsibilities in concise bullet points.
Step 9: Top It Off With Some Interests and Skills
Learning how to write skills in a resume is important. The skills section in how to make a resume is crucial, allowing recruiters to quickly assess your qualifications. It’s ATS-friendly, incorporating keywords for scanning. Typically placed at the bottom, it may be prioritized higher in skills-based or career transition resumes.
Include relevant hard skills and applications with expertise levels when learning how to make a resume. Avoid listing soft skills; save them for bullet points. Be strategic, omitting irrelevant or exaggerated skills. Consider adding a hobbies section to showcase personality and cultural fit. Mention a few interests (limit to five to seven verbs) to engage hiring managers.
Step 10: Add Relevant Certifications, Licenses and Training
For professions such as data science, engineering, and web development, certifications and licenses are essential. When learning how to make a resume, dedicate a separate section to showcase these credentials and professional training.
Follow these how to make a resume tips to create an effective certifications section:
- Place it directly below your education section.
- Include the title of the certification, course, or license.
- Specify the certifying agency or body.
- Mention the date of attainment for each certificate.
- Add the expiration date if applicable.
By organizing your certifications in this manner, you highlight your additional qualifications and demonstrate your commitment to professional development.
Step 11: Tailor It to the Job
After completing the major steps in how to make a resume, it’s crucial to tailor it to the specific job description. Begin by aligning keywords and phrases from the job description with your resume. Ensure you have listed the required skills and use similar language. Consider the perspective of the hiring manager and strategically position important information near the top of your resume.
Delve into the role and responsibilities of the job. Highlight any relevant experience or find ways to demonstrate your capability to excel in the role. By customizing your resume to match the employer’s expectations, you increase your chances of standing out as the ideal candidate.
Step 12: Check Formatting, Proofread and Refine
Typos and grammar mistakes are resume deal-breakers for 80% of hiring managers. When learning how to make a resume, thoroughly review it to ensure perfect writing and accurate details, including dates and company names.
To create an easily readable resume, follow how to make a resume formatting tips:
- Keep it concise (aim for a one-page resume)
- Set 1-inch margins on all sides of your document
- Use appropriate fonts like Times New Roman.
- Maintain font sizes between 11-12 for the body and 14-16 for headers.
- Choose single or 1.5 line spacing.
- Save your resume as a PDF, plain text, or DOCX with a suitable name.
- Follow any specific file format instructions mentioned in the job description.
By adhering to these guidelines, your final resume should appear clean and professional.
How to Make a Resume – Example (Software Engineer)
Rajesh Joshi
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 400001
Phone: +91 9876543210
Email: rajeshjoshi@email.com
Career Objective:
Highly skilled software engineer with 7 years of experience in full-stack web development and expertise in JavaScript. Proven track record of delivering robust and scalable software solutions. Collaborative team player with excellent problem-solving abilities. Seeking an exciting software engineering role in India to contribute to innovative projects and drive technological advancements.
Experience:
Software Engineer
Tech Solutions Ltd., Mumbai, Maharashtra
August 2016 – Present
● Developed and maintained high-performance web applications using Java and JavaScript frameworks.
● Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and design efficient software solutions.
● Implemented RESTful APIs and integrated third-party APIs for enhanced functionality.
● Conducted rigorous testing and debugging to ensure software quality and reliability.
● Actively participated in code reviews and contributed to continuous improvement initiatives.
Software Engineering Intern
Web Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Pune, Maharashtra
May 2015 – July 2015
● Assisted in the development and testing of a web-based application using Python and Django frameworks.
● Worked closely with senior engineers to implement new features and resolve technical issues.
● Conducted unit testing and documented software functionalities.
● Contributed to performance optimization efforts for improved user experience.
Education:
Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science
Technology Institute, Mumbai, Maharashtra
2012 – 2016
Projects:
● Developed a scalable e-commerce platform using Java Spring and React, enabling seamless online transactions and user management.
● Created a real-time chat application using Node.js, Socket.io, and MongoDB for efficient communication between users.
● Implemented a data analytics dashboard using Python and Pandas to visualize and analyze large datasets.
Skills:
● Programming Languages: Java, JavaScript, Python
● Web Development: HTML, CSS, React, Angular
● Database Management: SQL, MongoDB
● Version Control: Git, SVN
● Software Testing and Debugging
● Agile Development Methodologies
● Problem-solving and Analytical Thinking
● Effective Communication and Collaboration
Certifications:
● Oracle Certified Java Programmer (OCP)
Languages:
● English (Fluent)
● Hindi (Native)
Also Read - Top 35+ NodeJS Interview Questions and Answers
Conclusion
Congrats!
You finally know how to make a resume!
Crafting a perfect resume requires careful attention to detail and a strategic approach. By following the steps outlined in this guide, including conducting research, selecting the right format, and highlighting your achievements, you can create a compelling resume that stands out to hiring managers.
For further assistance and opportunities in the job market, consider exploring Hirist. Hirist is a leading platform that connects talented professionals with top companies.
Visit Hirist.com to discover a wide range of job openings, career resources, and networking opportunities to support your career growth.
Also Read - How to Write a Cover Letter: Essential Guidelines and Examples
FAQs
1. Is a CV the same as a resume?
No, CV and resume are not the same. While a resume is concise, a CV includes a comprehensive overview of a person’s academic and professional background.
2. Can a resume be two pages?
Yes, a resume can be two pages long if you have extensive work experience.
3. How to make a resume for freshers?
To make a resume for freshers, focus on highlighting your education, internships, projects, and any relevant skills or certifications.
4. How to prepare a resume?
To prepare a resume, summarize your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements in a concise and well-organized format.